Wow, I hope to one day be able to travel for months across the country, just floating where the road takes me! :) I've been a traveling nut since I was 19, unfortunately I had to hide it from the folks and I didn't spill alot of my trips to them until I was 21; Dad still doesn't know about half of them!

I had my little sister with me some of the way and we learned some ways to save $ since during alot of my travels I was just working part time and going to college full time.

Sleeping: We'd only get a motel if it was absolutely necessary, like if it was December and we were in Massachusettes and outside sleeping was not an option. Many Super Wal-Marts and Cracker Barrels allow overnight parking. I don't know if RVs have to pay but I never paid a cent in my car. Also, Pilots, Flying J's, TAs and Loves have ample parking and you can sleep overnight and the good thing about the truck stops is that if you cough up about $6, you can even shower in the AM! Just bring flip flops for the shower. Trust me.

Even some Rest Areas along the interstates allow overnight parking AND have security but check the signs posted; some do not allow overnight parking and the security guards will tap on your window. If you sleep there, you can wash your hair in the sink the next AM (and pray it's NOT one of those 'push the button for 5 seconds of water' faucets for the sink otherwise it'll take forever to wash!) and just use "wet ones" or baby wipes to 'bathe' the rest of you.

If it's a bit nippy outside and running the heat all night is obviously not an option, I invested in these little "Hand warmer" things I found in the camping aisle at Wal-mart. They come in orange plastic packages, for about $2 you would get three of these things. When you take them out of the package, they are activated and stay hot for about 8-12 hours! On really cold nights you can place those under your blankets while you sleep (keep by your feet and head and wear socks!) I forget the company, but someone makes "ThermaCare" heat wraps for your lower back, neck and shoulders... those are much larger (more expensive too) and you can wrap them around you to stay warm all night.

I never really worried much about my safety when sleeping in the car, just use common sense; if a truck stop looks shady or there is an unsavory fellow hanging around and staring at you, go to the next exit.

Speaking of "next exit", if you are going to be doing alot of interstate driving, you gotta buy "The Next Exit", it's a guidebook published every year that lists every interstate, and every exit off every interstate with all the gas, food, hotels and other places within a mile or so of the exit.

Making money on the road... besides the journalism options already mentioned, I never tried this on the road (but have done it locally!) so all I can do is repeat what I've heard... Day Labor places... Labor Finders, Labor Ready, etc... usually drifters, homeless or other folks will work for a day in exchange for about $8 an hour. I'd do a google search for all the locations of Labor Ready and Labor Finders in the areas you'll be in, print a list of the addresses and phone numbers and you might make $40 or $50 a day. You'll be paid in a check usually and have to cash it at a 7-11, be charged $2, but if you need a tank of gas then one day of work should do it. But show up REALLY early, like 5am. The work is divided on a first come, first serve basis. If no work is available, ask if you can DRIVE the folks around. Alot of them do not have cars and cannot get to the sites so they might pay you to simply drive around.

If you are really starting to starve, I'm sure most big cities will have a soup kitchen you can pick up some items or a hot meal.

Regarding the whole "quit the job" thing, yes it's tough because a stable job that pays well is a great foundation for your life and being able to save money for trips. I hope that your boss will let you come back but if he/she doesn't, ah, well, think of it this way: You found a great job once, you can probably do it again! Or at least you won't mind settling for a lower paying one when you return since you are grateful for the opportunity you had. But yeah with this job you have now, save, save, save!!! Save up enough to pay those bills while you are gone, try to pay off credit cards before you go, that'll save money. If you can move out and put stuff in storage, you'll save money on rent each month too.


Ever consider going back to school? Graduate school, if you get a student loan the max amount they give per year is $18K. Yes, that's $18K! If you can take online courses, ask for the maximum amount of loans, buy a laptop with a wireless card then you could go ahead and move out, put stuff in storage, cut all utility bills that you can and then hit the road with your schoolbooks and laptop and about $9K a semester. Your only "regular" bills not related to gas and motels will be a cellphone, auto insurance and maybe a car payment? Someone mentioned health insurance, that's a good idea too... Only trouble is, of course you'll have to actually keep UP with your classes and won't have as much free time. I'm currently taking two grad classes online, it ain't so bad... :) I still travel just as much as I always did, I just get my work done before I go. But look into that! Hey, you'll get tons of money from Uncle Sam to finance your trip (or to pay off all debt now, thus freeing you to save strictly for your trip) and get an education... :) Just remember, after you graduate and have to pay back the loans, hopefully you'll have another good job by then! :)