What's in your wallet?

I think I showed up to orientation with $70 to my name, and had been living in my car
Now I have about $80 to my nane, and live in a truck!!

 

The more money you carry with you the more truck stop junk you'll buy. I carry zero cash. I use my credit card on the road.

 

I've only had my visa card cut off once due to "suspicious activity" because I used it in a few states in one day. I told the lady I was a business man and I traveled frequently. Card hasn't been cut off since. Most tow truck companies and taxi drivers accept credit cards. I still carry a few $100 hidden in my truck. Don't carry cash on me.

 

Whoa. I'm pretty sure I can go 2 months without spending $500. (Outside of my truck expenses which OP isn't going to need to worry about)

 

If you plan on stocking up on food to eat while you are in the truck and avoiding fast food at the truck stops, then plan on a budget of about $100 per week. While out training your trainer should take you to a Walmart or other grocery store as often as needed, usually once or twice a week. Your trainer may or may not have available room in a cooler, so figure out whether you will need all dry goods or might be able to buy lunch meats or other cooler items.

When I left home to go through orientation and immediately into training I pretty well knew the score in terms of how long it would take to get my first paycheck and came with a small duffle of food and about $200 in my pocket. That was enough to make it easily to that first paycheck and by the second paycheck I was able to start sending money home and begin growing the bank account.

You can eat well for $100 or less per week if you DON'T buy meals at a fast food joint or restaurant.

Once you get in your own truck invest in a good 12v cooler and go from there.

 

As a more serious answer (although I was serious about the first half of my last post)
I got by on about $30-40 a week, living off pb&j, ramen noodles (trainer had a microwave) and coffee/bottled water. Honestly the ts coffee was probably my biggest expense at almost $2 a day. It can be done... it wasn't fun, but being poor usually isn't. Like the guy above said, for $100 a week you can eat well, with some forethought.

 

It continuously amazes me people don't see the value of cash on hand. Cash is a tool to me. Credit/debit cards are not a guaranteed access to needed funds in an emergency situation. Sometimes you gotta grease palms to get to where you need to go. I carry $700 in cash, minimum in my wallet. Along with several major credit cards, lock pick set, razor blade, condom, and alcohol lens cleaner. As well as a ziplock to keep my wallet dry in case of white water river crossings.

EDC also includes LD01 Fenix single AAA flashlight, Spyderco Manix2 pocket knife, pen, handkerchief, cellphone.