What is an average cost of living driving OTR?
 

Alright, Im getting ready to go to school and have already been looking into a lot of different companies, but nobody talks about the actual cost to live in a truck for weeks at a time. I've been told it cost alot more than living in a house but cant figure out why. I already eat out almost every meal. I have power inverters, tv, laptop, ice chest, warm and cold clothes, and what seems like all the other stuff people say to take so i won't have to buy any of that. I have a really good cell phone plan with internet so I wont have to pay extra to call home. So what else might i expect to have to buy or pay that would make living in a truck cost so much more? Does anyone know how much they spend per week or month on just the necessities? Im trying to figure out how much of my check i will have left after i pay for being away from home?

I used to budget $75/week. Sometimes I spend up to $150. (I $moke and keep low carb groceries in the cooler.)

yeah how much do u spend weekly OTR rookie with a question

What the heck, I'll bite.

I usually spend $150 - 300.00 cash a week while on the road. But that is just me, I own the truck and the company.

If I am in Vegas or Reno, it might be a little more.

Where does it go? I ain't got a clue

:shock:

yeah, about the same. $150-300. i am a co. driver, but i enjoy being comfortable, no matter what.
sometimes i'll find something that someone wants and get it for them. :wink:

Your 'i's are always little- :lol:

guess i just got little i's :lol: actually just don't feel like makin' em BIG :lol:

(my puter has no big i's :lol: )

i c :lol:

Wild,

Sounds like you are being stalked by a cat :wink:

everywhere i go, there's this, this, ummmmm, pu**y cat. :lol:

AHHH, You lucky dog! :wink:

damn, accidently hijacked another thread. i really don't mean to ya'll, i just go with the flow. i'm so laid back, i just enjoy humor. sorry guys! :wink:

this is why i try to stay down in the lower forums! :D

:shock:


It's official - I am the cheapest man alive.

I usually spend about 150 average.
I figure about $21 per day.
But then there are times that I come home with a motorcycle I bought on E-Bay, but that is not included. Just the perks.

(me sorry to BTW) :)

That is now, back then I was the guy wandering the lot with an empty soup can praying for a donation. :lol:

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.

Why Cheaper ..
 

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.

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

Re: Why Cheaper ..
 

Nope - it is $52 per day, and you only get 75% of that.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Re: Why Cheaper ..
 

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

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

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.