You being on the road equates to you spending money. Of course, you can always hitchhike but that can be downright dangerous; you can paw through trash for food but that is uber unhealthy; you can bed down on any available bench but that can lead to vagrancy. There are other imaginative ways to save money on the road short of begging and stealing. Hold on to your leather money clip!

Beware of Gourmet

True gourmet food is usually expensive, not just because of the ingredients but also because of the care of preparation, not to mention the ambience you pay for. But on the road, gourmet can mean a totally different experience.

Often, you will be served frozen TV dinner that has been nuked in the microwave. It is then placed on porcelain plates, served on your table with complete dinner settings, and a glass of house wine and voila! You have "gourmet" food taxing your humble leather money clip.

It is to your best interest, both your digestive system and your leather money clip, to order take out and eat inside your car or your motel room. You will save money.

Room Security

When stuck in a dubious motel, you can turn on the TV on a respectable volume, place a "Do not disturb" sign outside your door, lock the door and take your dinner outside (if you can find a restaurant with no "gourmet" on it). Hopefully, the maid and her boyfriend will take the hint and keep away from stealing your suit and the leather money clip hidden in its front pocket. And hurry back!

Be Specific with Your Food Orders

You have to specify your order to the waitress. Your failure to do so would result in wasted food, and consequently wasted money. Let her repeat your order and correct her if necessary, but ever politely so.

When paying, do not brandish your wallet about. Just discreetly get your leather money clip out (yes, the one with money just enough for a meal) and pay the bill from it. This way, you will not be tempted to tip your waitress more than you wanted to.

Stock up on Quarters

The modern saying about a traveler setting out in America without a pocketful of quarters is like a soldier with ammunition is very, very true. You have to pay with coins at toll booths, newspaper boxes, and vending machines, among other quarter-hungry contraptions.

Always pay in paper money as much as possible. If the cashier is friendly enough, you can request him to trade your paper money into quarters. Obviously, you will need a coin purse since your leather money clip is useless in this area.

How can this save you money? Well, when you eat your food from vending machines you usually only settle for chips and a soda, mainly because you are presented with very little choice. If you compare that to shopping at a goodies-laden grocery store where you will be tempted to splurge, you will get a better idea of how this method can save you money.

These tips are meant to help you save money. In the end, your miserly ways will save you from arriving at your destination as poor as the church rat.