What is an average cost of living driving OTR?

[BanditsCousin]

I budget at least $500/ wk for food and lodging a week. I sit a lot more than 98% of the people here though.

[BanditsCousin]

YOur mortgage, maintenace, insurance, and taxes added up and divided by 52 will decide if its cheaper based on unique budgets.

[Rev.Vassago]

I budget at least $500/ wk for food and lodging a week. I sit a lot more than 98% of the people here though.

I'm proud to be in the 2% that slack off more than you do. :wink:

[millersod215]

Hey Rev., off the topic, and i'll keep it short, were you by any chance down in the Florida area this morning, saw a truck that looked just like yours, and was curious, same colors and all.

[Rev.Vassago]

Hey Rev., off the topic, and i'll keep it short, were you by any chance down in the Florida area this morning, saw a truck that looked just like yours, and was curious, same colors and all.

Nope - wasn't me. I'm freezing my butt off up in Chicago. There is another truck in our fleet that looks SIMILAR to mine, but the truck is a lighter shade of blue, and his tanks are painted blue. He runs FL a lot.

[brian]

just to support me in the truck is about 150 a week, i`m home a couple days a week though.

[ibamars]

I budget at least $500/ wk for food and lodging a week. I sit a lot more than 98% of the people here though.

Wow. thats a lotta food and lodging. Where do u stay the Taj Mahal? You gotta have woman feeding you grapes also.

[ssoutlaw]

If you live out of a cooler or a fridge, and a microwave/lunch box heater you can eat well for $75 - $100 per week. Now the kicker .. the IRS will allow you to substitute your $4K exemption for a $51.75 per day (I think that right for 2007 it is the average of travel between high and low rate areas) per diem. So every day out beyond 77 days and you get reimbursed/paid for living on the road. (You do not get your personal exemption of $4000 and the 50 per day .. it is an either or proposition) So 200 days out is a $10,350 exemption. If you are able to eat at $100 per week you just pocketed back some of your tax money. That does not happen eating at home :wink:

1. This is not a direct tax credit but what you will subtract directly off your adjusted gross income. So if you made 40,000 and you go out 200 days .. your AGI will be 30,000 and you will be taxed on that amount. This lowers the income bracket and the amount of taxable income.

This is way different than personal business expenses on a Form 2106, which the first 3% of your income is excluded and only 50% of the expense counts for meals.

BTW) I often treat myself to a hearty meal at Harris Ranch or some other nice non-truck stop restaurant to reward myself and still stay at $100 per week.

You mention Harris Ranch, you must run I-5 in ca alot.

[richey94]

Between buying groceries and the amount of money he takes it is about $170 a week.

[san415]

jeez, we are cheap. Neither my husband or I spend that kind of money each week. I spend about 40 a week here at home and he spends about the same on the road. We fix most of our own meals. rarely eat out. He has a hot pot and a large 12v cooler, small oven and lots of food fixed and frozen at home. He refills water jugs and we stock up on pop and juice when its on sale.