Road survival?

Well, I don't really like having to deal with money, but probably I will continue to have to deal with it anyhow. That being said, what good ways are there of making enough money to cover expense with on the road? I don't really have all that many practicle skills, the vast majority of my knowledge and experience is academic. While this is good for getting into grad school or getting an internship it is probably useless on the road. So what can you all tell me about surviving on the road for extended periods of time? Also, I can learn just about anything quicker than you can say something really short. I like manual labor generally, unless it involves spreading asphalt or painting.

making jewelry is your best bet, or clothes, any craft that sells really, dream catchers are always a good bet, soap or anything like that is good if you have a van or bus that you can work out of. I heard about some kids that blew glass and had a bus that they would keep all thier equipment on and travel on, and they would stop in towns and fly a sign asking for a place to work, and people were always really willing to have them come stay and then even pay them for some pieces or just throw down cash for gas.

waiting tables is always good too, anything works if you can find a way to pull it off

Neato, thanks. Hey, do you think that people would go for candles? I can make all sorts of candles. I need to get more equipment though, currently mine is scattered all over the place most of it irretrievably.

manual labor, huh? well, the couch surfers that stay with me for a while usually try the day labor places. You need id, ss card to register, and get there EARLY - like 5 - to wait for a "ticket" = job. BUT - it is paid daily, you can usually cash your check at the store right next door (there's always a store). And depending on the type of work you are willing/capable of, you can get anywhere from mimimum wage to $17 an hour is the max I've heard getting from them. No fancy clothes required.

and sometimes it's kinda fun, too - the last guy who was staying with us got a job, $8 an hour, tearing out walls in a restaurant. He had a blast playing "destructo man"... then he got another ticket which turned out to be a really good thing for him, the boss is gonna fly him all over the country to put up shelving, he gets per diam expenses in addition to his regular pay, also $8 an hour, for the next month. Since he's backpacking across the country with his niece (3rd trip across the States for her, he's been doing it forever), this is a good way for them to save up some cash for the road.

I had a job on a crew once tearing down a kitchen, one wall was all full of cock roaches, we tore out the wall and chased the roaches around with hammers. But I figured that neat stuff like that would be had to come by. Also, do you need your actual social security card or do you just need to know your number?

sorry, they need your card, or the slip from the ss office that says you applied for it. something about that goofy tax stuff... proof of citizenship - government stuff. If you do decide to day labor, go the day ahead to register & hang out, talk to the guy behind the counter - cuz at 5 in the morning they are too busy to care about how cool you are and probably a little grouchy too. When you get to know the people runnin the place a little, your chances of getting a job go way up.

Making jewlery, clothes, candles - would be more creative and probably more fun, but it depends how 'on the road' you are. Day labor requires a t-shirt, jeans and a decent pair of shoes, where making stuff requires an up front investment - works if you can plan it, and you have to have some place to vend the goods too. Sometimes it's just too much investment to get that little bit of eatin' cash. Mr. ACamper used to run a silk-screen setup out of the back of a vw van when he was tourin, and he made a KILLING doing it - but he needed a home base to ship him shirts & supplies - so it's not quite totally as independant.

Someone falsely used my ss# one time to do day labor.......... (i found out later on)...so if you're a good con man ya can probably get in there with just ID.

candles would prolbably sell really well in places like venice beach, or anywhere where there are alot of tourists, lots might be good too, I haven't been on enough lots to say though. You need a home base for that though I'd think, hemp jewelry and clothes (as long as you're willing to hand stitch) are definatly your best bet for more independant stuff. Good luck brother

Hemp jewelry worked very well for me for a long time. In New Orleans I averaged 60-100 dollars a day, which beats day labour. And even small towns bought the stuff up. I didn't like the big cities as much for street vending, because people didnt stop to talk to me as often. In smaller towns the hippie on the corner making jewelry was a spectacle.

Originally Posted by raven23

Hemp jewelry worked very well for me for a long time. In New Orleans I averaged 60-100 dollars a day, which beats day labour. And even small towns bought the stuff up. I didn't like the big cities as much for street vending, because people didnt stop to talk to me as often. In smaller towns the hippie on the corner making jewelry was a spectacle.

nice man!!!

and what abot music and other kind of street art? does any of you practice them?