Managing Money

Hello drivers how do you drivers eat out on the expensive highway, all the the truck stops I been to is expensive, so I'm guessing drivers sometimes just cook in their trucks? For a new driver what can be expected to spend a week on somewhat healthy foods from your experiences??? Many thanks

Hello drivers how do you drivers eat out on the expensive highway, all the the truck stops I been to is expensive, so I'm guessing drivers sometimes just cook in their trucks? For a new driver what can be expected to spend a week on somewhat healthy foods from your experiences??? Many thanks

Hard to put a number on what we spend. It really depends on you. I have a fridge and keep it stocked with lunch meat, fruit, drinks and whatever else I can throw in there. I typically spend about $100 a week on my food. If I am out longer than a week (which I am more lately) it will go up because sometimes I want a real cooked meal plus I will splurge on myself to keep me happy. There are drivers with crock pots and other cooking items and probably spend less than I do. I do have a coffee maker though (which also works great for a hot water source). Then there are also the drivers who prefer to eat at every truck stop restaurant between their shipper and consignee.

So, to answer your question, you decide how much you will spend.

Thank you so much for your response means a lot, i agree it depends on you, I can live off very little food just to save money, but then again I may feel like eating a lot, oh geez I wouldn't eat too much at truck stops seems it could be costly, yes coffee maker is a must for me I live off coffee (haha) I will look into the crock pot I love to cook, i think that's not to bad 100 dollars week, where are you headed this week? Hope everyone has a nice relaxing weekend!

Do a little Google searching for cooking in a truck or such. You'll find discussions about 12v coolers vs. ice chests, use of crockpots or "lunchbox" cookers, installation of microwaves and/or mini fridges (if your truck has a large enough inverter installed). With smaller inverters (plug into the 12v system) you can use a coffee maker or kettle, a crockpot, a small hotplate (I'm checking out the newer induction burners - stay cool to the touch but boil water in 90 seconds or so). Good luck.

Thank you very much for your input David hows your week been? Take care pal

Continuing the discussion about budget and food: Be on the lookout for your fav markets: Aldi's are hard to beat on prices but the parking lots are VERY small - you'd have to plan this one. Walmart SuperCenters and Walmart Neighborhood Markets are good price options. I have used Sam's for years and so know their product line pretty well: they or Costco or BJs would be good for staples. We use them for protein bars and drinks (my spouse an I each lost about 50 pounds over the last few years and have kept it off: protein bars and drinks are staples throughout the day). The big box stores are good for bottled water, some paper goods (way too many rolls of TP or paper towels! Shop rags, gloves, etc.

Regional markets that you know and like can be splurges for sandwiches or certain foods you can only get when "home". Around here it's Publix for their subs!!

Budgeting will save you lots of money. Getting paid weekly will temp you to spend a bit more freely and that's not necessarily a good thing.

Thanks I will keep that in mind, I don't really care for walmart meats for some reason, everything else in wal mart is pretty good priced though! For my meats I will go go regular food stores or such.

I don't eat out much. Cooler in truck, sandwiches, fruit and vegetables. I will stop at walmart a couple times a week to restock. I just buy coffee and ice at truckstops. I do like TA's food bars, will eat there sometimes.

I would suggest if you are going to use a crock pot look for crock pot liners to use. They are located with cooking bags and other things like zip lock bags in most grocery stores. They make clean up do easy which is necessary when running water to do dishes may be in short supply!

Thank you drivers for the feedback means a lot to me. I was just a truck stop I talked to a few drivers there they mention that too to use a liner makes your clean up easier, what are some of your favorite meals to cook? I would say for me Italian foods are sometimes fun to make. Have a safe weekend drivers!