$ Savings Ideas

Broompilot · Apr 9, 2005

Please list the two best $ Savings idea or though that you implimented in the past year that worked out. Please do not list (no longer eat out) thats a personal decision. But if you found a way to prepare better meals in the truck let me hear it.

If you have any back up to prove your savings please brag you earned it.

davekc · Apr 9, 2005

Since fuel is the highest expense, I would have to go with the laptop and generator.
Davekc
owner
20 years

redytrk · Apr 9, 2005

Best cost saving thing for us was the Fantastic roof ventilater.It wasabout $300.00 installed.cuts sumertime idling by at least half.

davekc · Apr 9, 2005

Those fans are certainly money well spent. They work great and last for years.
Davekc

DannyD · Apr 12, 2005

I would say the best saving idea is putting synthetic oil in my van for it's oil changes. Yes it's more money, but you don't need to change as often & I'd say I've improved gas milage by about 1.5mpg.

I realize there's all kinds of variables to mpg. I think I've done a pretty good job of keeping things constant when I would try something (like a few thousand miles w/out exceeding 65mph)& to the best of my knowledge, the synthetic oil seems to have been the best cost saver.

Just my 2 cents.

terryandrene · Apr 12, 2005

Redytrk sez:

>Best cost saving thing for us was the Fantastic roof
>ventilater.It wasabout $300.00 installed.cuts sumertime
>idling by at least half.

Great investment. My last van had two Fan-Tastic units. I ran one on incoming and the other on outgoing. That allowed me to keep the windows closed. My favorite feature of the Fan-Tastic is the rain sensor which, when hit by the first drop of rain, closes the lid and shuts off the fan. These fans are ulta-quiet so sleeping is no problem. The best unit is pricey but they have models that are less expensive.

raceman · Apr 12, 2005

It seems this is a repeat of something we did a few months ago. This time though I have my best savings ever. It saved thousands upon thousands. Now not everone will be able to do this but it has worked well for me.

I shut one truck down and drive the other one myself.

Sorry folks I could not resist. It is true but I know it is a smart A@# answer. That really has been my big cost savings.

Raceman
OTR O/O

Broompilot · Apr 12, 2005

Yeah well I did the same thing. Leave the Silverado at home and take the Kenworth with me. Problem is I can't seem to find any savings... Oh probably because I cannot drive two at once.

LDB · Apr 13, 2005

>My last van had two Fan-Tastic units. I ran one on incoming and the >other on outgoing. That allowed me to keep the windows closed.

One of those excellent duhhhhhh, why didn't I think of that ideas. I'll have to file that away for possible future reference.

Leo
truck 4958

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

raceman · Apr 13, 2005

BP, I drive a Frod Excursion with a V10. Last weekend I had two boes to be taken to a Charlotte NC address. When I looked into this it turned out to be a home. I made arrangements with my carrier to allow me to deliver them in my Ford instead of my Freightliner. Turned out to be a bad idea. The Freightliner gets better fuel mielage than the Excursion. How sick is that. My girlfreind may soon find me taking her to dinner or a movie in the Freightliner as my big cost savings.

Raceman
OTR O/O

thunderhorse · Apr 18, 2005

get a divorce and live out of your truck...just kidding broompilot..

merkurfan · Apr 18, 2005

I emptied out the fridge at home. Being single there is no one there when I am gone. Now with the fridge empty I just flip the main breaker on the way out the door. Shuts the whole house off. Protects it from power surges and sends the co-op out there once a month when I call in the same meter reading to verify.

If I had a house payment I would consider selling it. I never see it anymore.

miko · Apr 18, 2005

Guys, seems to me that the savings only work out great for the single guys, I would have to get rid of my wife then, but on the other hand, she IS the one that saves me the bucks...LOL

redytrk · Apr 19, 2005

>I emptied out the fridge at home. Being single there is no
>one there when I am gone. Now with the fridge empty I just
>flip the main breaker on the way out the door. Shuts the
>whole house off. Protects it from power surges and sends the
>co-op out there once a month when I call in the same meter
>reading to verify.
>
>If I had a house payment I would consider selling it. I
>never see it anymore.
How do you keep the pipes from freezing?I understand it can get pretty cold in MN.

Tennesseahawk · Apr 19, 2005

One way I save money is by getting the breakfast buffet if it's good. They only cost 6.50 at TA, and fill me up till dinner.
Another way is to carry cash for the whole trip. No ATM fees, or higher prices at the pump for credit. I haven't built up to that yet, but I plan on doing it.

merkurfan · Apr 19, 2005

Winterizing my house would not be that hard. It use to be a seasonal house so every low spot in the pipes has a drain. However, in the winter I leave the heat on, set at 40 degrees. I still turn everything else off. I also have a freeze alarm that calls both me, and a friend down the road. Since I am never home I actually share the phone line with the fellow next door. 50 dollars a year gets me a line to the house for the freeze alarm and the DSS box (I sometimes pay-preview from home) once the busy season is over I am going to finish the remodeling and either rent it out or sell it. Or, quit expediting and stay home

(of course, I would have to find a job)

Marmino · Apr 19, 2005

Simple little meal

1 green pepper
some cheddar cheese
some bread
small can tomato sauce

wash, core and slice green peper, place in bowl with a couple tablespons water and nuke for 2 minutes (just to soften)
drain, add, cubed cheese and cubed bread, pour on tomato sauce add salt and pepper as desired. nuke for about 4-6 minutes depending on microwave wattage.

Cheap and good:9