I've left once from Arkansas to California with only about 50 in my pocket, it's easy to be careful spending, get food if you need it from the dollar menu, from a dollar store, heck even from vending machines. I've had several people in my journeys just walk up to me and hand me a 5-20 without ever talking to me, or me holding a sign they just see the way I'm in at times and help me out if I need it. And before I would ever go spanging I would exhaust all options first check for a plasma bank some don't have out of state restrictions, or go for a day labor place, anything to keep from being harassed by the cops. If you do have to spange, put it in a way that you're asking for donations because with the police there's a legal way around it so you don't get busted for panhandling.