I try to bring some food because sometimes you just can't eat right on the road. Def some trail mix, can of tuna, cans of V8, some whey protein. However, when I try to bring lots of leftovers, it is a pain in the butt to keep it cold and even if I do, it's just not appetizing to eat food that has been sitting in a bag like that. There's a lot to be said for fresh food. I allow myself to spend my full per diem but I end up spending about half of it on average. I find out where the cheaper places to get healthy food are and avoid most hotel restaurants (although, sometimes they have good deals) and on some overnights, getting food at the airport before heading to the hotel is the best option.

The part that sucks is just being patient to have discretionary income to do things that you like. Like actually use your standby travel to explore new places and buy things like a pair of hockey skates or the optional leather jacket. The countdown to second year pay continues....