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Justruckin
Joined: 02 Dec 2006
Posts: 179
Location: SE Michigan
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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Rev.Vassago wrote: It's official - I am the cheapest man alive.
That is now, back then I was the guy wandering the lot with an empty soup can praying for a donation. :lol: |
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Mattangcobra
Joined: 06 Nov 2005
Posts: 154
Location: Burlington,NC
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:05 am Post subject: |
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| I used to spend 200 a week. I started getting some groceries and now I spend nothing unless I want a still down dinner. I will also say I have a refrigerator and a microwave. |
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Crackaces
Joined: 29 Mar 2005
Posts: 1343
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:49 am Post subject: Why Cheaper .. |
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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. |
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ibamars
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 313
Location: New York
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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My weekly costs include shopping at home. My wife will freeze leftovers and cook food for me at the house and then freeze them as well. This is anything from spaghetti and meatballs to egg and cheese sandwiches, canned soup, or whatever. I am a big coffe drinker. I spend around 10-15 week in coffee. depends if i fuel at flying j or pilot if i use card or if the girl at the counter just says have a nice trip.
I smoke and live in NY. I dont buy smokes in NY (45 a carton) so I buy mine in SC 23.99 carton. I travel the i-95 corridor weekly so its not a probelm usually.
I would say total dollars for food alone would be maybe 40 -60 week at most. depends on whats at the house and what else i may buy.
I do have internet set up at the flying j for internet, thats how im typing this now, I am at the flying j in st augustine fl. 21.95 a month or u can set up for 49.95 for 3 months.
phone 75 a month
thats really bout it. hope it helps |
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Rev.Vassago
Joined: 04 Apr 2006
Posts: 6111
Location: The other side of the coin
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:14 pm Post subject: Re: Why Cheaper .. |
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Crackaces wrote: 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:
Nope - it is $52 per day, and you only get 75% of that. |
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BanditsCousin
Joined: 05 Jun 2004
Posts: 3337
Location: Chicago, IL
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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| I budget at least $500/ wk for food and lodging a week. I sit a lot more than 98% of the people here though. |
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BanditsCousin
Joined: 05 Jun 2004
Posts: 3337
Location: Chicago, IL
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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| YOur mortgage, maintenace, insurance, and taxes added up and divided by 52 will decide if its cheaper based on unique budgets. |
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Rev.Vassago
Joined: 04 Apr 2006
Posts: 6111
Location: The other side of the coin
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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BanditsCousin wrote: 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: |
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millersod215
Joined: 18 May 2006
Posts: 243
Location: Brooksville, FL
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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| 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. |
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Rev.Vassago
Joined: 04 Apr 2006
Posts: 6111
Location: The other side of the coin
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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millersod215 wrote: 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. |
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brian
Joined: 02 Jan 2005
Posts: 1005
Location: over here
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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| just to support me in the truck is about 150 a week, i`m home a couple days a week though. |
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ibamars
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 313
Location: New York
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: 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. |
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ssoutlaw
Joined: 06 Sep 2006
Posts: 793
Location: Indianapolis,In
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: Why Cheaper .. |
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Crackaces wrote: 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. |
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richey94
Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Posts: 237
Location: Western PA
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Between buying groceries and the amount of money he takes it is about $170 a week. |
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san415
Joined: 20 Sep 2006
Posts: 40
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| 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. |
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