When you get to a new town or city, try spending some time orienting yourself to the city before heading out. I've driven around a bit after arriving by car, and it helped me use my time well and to feel rooted and secure in a new place. I'm a single female on a budget and love to camp. In ten years, I've met some wonderful people and have never had a bad experience, however I still split up my cash and stash it in various places in the car and only take my daily ration and one credit card with me when I'm being a 'tourist'. Another cost-saver is to stay off the major highways.
Most interstates parallel the older, secondary route they replaced.
You'll see a lot more sights, meet a lot of nice people, and not pay the highway prices for food and fuel. Take time each day to help one person that seems to be in need after all you have no real schedule. In Maui i picked up a cross country biker from Germany that had a flat and took him to get it fixed, one hour of my time. Not only does it make the whole day feel good but you never know when it is you who might need the help. Remember the smells, sounds, sights, and everything around you when you're traveling.