Is it easy our difficult to keep up on finances on the road?

Set up auto payment so you don't have to worry about missing a bill. Of course make sure you have the money.

I use this app/software call ynab. (You need a budget) it's pricey but it organize my expense and give you the big picture of where your money goes. There's online videos and classes they offer to help you understand the program and help budget. There's a pc software and an app on your phone. The phone app is optional but everytime I buy something, I take my phone out and I can add the expense on the app and it automatic uploads to the software. If your a techie it shouldn't be hard

Before I used this I just had a saving account I kept throwing money into. But I didn't know how much I was actually spending a month. So this program really help me. Just Google ynab and see if it's for you

 

i set up 10 percent of my check to go directly into savings. i set aside 250$ per week to use on food for myself. always hit walmart for essentials and sometimes ill eat out. whatever i have left over when the next check comes in i throw it in savings, sometimes its 30$ sometimes its 100$ just depends on the week.

i have sprint unlimited and get 4g service around most cities. certain areas i use roaming but for the most part i get great service so im able to pay whatever bills online through my phone. pretty simple. ill pay stuff way before the due date in case theres an instance where im dead on service, though being OTR you arent in one place for too long.

i agree with everyone else set up a budget that works for you. stick to it and you should have no problems.

 

Just sent my landlord 5 checks. No one live in my house, save for me. I'm....not sure what I was thinking there...Because I only go home *checks calendar* uhhhhh, looking like....next August?

 

my rent is real low, and it's nice to have a place to stay, when I'm home

 

I glossed over the post and replies.

Did anyone ask if you are a company driver, lease or owner/OP? Way different financing strategies for each.

Which are you?

Mikeeee

 

Recommend opening up an account over at Etrade or similar. They have all kinds of tools. You could put away money every week in an IRA, money market accounts, stuff like that. As you become an owner operator you can even start your own 401k solo account and put away tens of thousands of dollars a year towards your retirement.

 

Using a debit or credit card makes having the need for cash less important, but I recommend having cash as a back up. Last year I stopped in Jackson, MS, went inside the Petro C-store to spend $5. Pulled out the card and it would not approve the purchase. I called my bank and they told me that I only had $0.81 in the account. Someone had cleaned out my account about 1 1/2 hours earlier. Fortunately, I had other resources and managed, but it was inconvenient. I did get my money back, but things like that happen more frequently than we would like. Just a few weeks ago, there were 6 purchases made on my wife's account. I have made a habit of checking my accounts daily so I caught these prior to the funds actually leaving the account. It was over a weekend which made it easier to catch. It is good to have a back up plan when it comes to money. If you use a credit or debit card, try to not keep a lot of money in the account. I have an account that I primarily use for personal purchases while on the road. I rarely keep more than a few hundred dollars in that account, but I can transfer other funds, if needed. It is a safeguard that I put in place in case my account was compromised.

 

Create a budget and stick to it... always put money away in savings... dont buy anything on inpulse.. think through and budget for all your purchases... if you want to buy something like a GPS or a cooler, or whatever. . Research and buy it at walmart or online. .. or wait for it to go on sale... think ahead and plan ahead... think about how you want to eat on the road... and buget it... dont take $100 dollars into the truck when you are going in to use the restroom and grab some coffee.. you walk out with coffee, chips, hot dogs, and some gadet that you must have but didnt know you needed untl you saw it...

Revamp your budget often and find ways to spend less and save more... it cost me a lot less to be on the road now then it did my first year...