Financial responsibility is not taking out a $100,000 loan to qualify yourself for a $20,000-$40,000 year job. It's not maxing out credit cards and living within your means. Spending per diem on the road is financially responsible. That is what it is there for. That said. I have taken some food from home for my first lunch on the road. I also usually take some sort of trail mix to eat as a snack when I'm flying. To me, taking four days worth of food just seems like a lot of work. I won't judge anymore. Some valid points have been made. When I worked at a regional on first year pay, I was single and living in an apartment with a roommate. My car was paid off. I had very little college loans. Almost all my money was spending money. Now I have a house. First year pay at a regional wouldn't even pay my mortgage.