In light of rapidly rising gas prices, I have made several proactive changes in my life:
1. I bought a bike. A much better one than I had before...and yes, it is purple! And yes, I am riding it...when not walking with The Young Prince on his bike...which brings me to #2:
2. I got The Young Prince on a bike. Sure, he's on training wheels. But it makes my walking trips a lot faster without tiring him out half as much.
3. I have encouraged La Princesita to ride more, and will hopefully be weaning her off training wheels this summer.
4. I have been condensing trips much more than ever before (and I was pretty good before), finding more to do close to the home or at home than having to jump in the car and ride somewhere. I create circles of my weekly stops and try to finish a weeks' worth of whatever it is I need to do on that circuit without once having to retrace my path so as to be as efficient as possible.
5. I have instated a "No-Drive Tuesday" into my week. My car does not leave the garage at least one day a week, sometimes Thursdays as well.
My goal was to get down to only filling up my gas tank once a month, unless a big trip was involved (in which case I would factor in the gas in the budget). I was not quite on empty this morning, the light was not yet on, but since I had just spent and arm and a leg on groceries and earned my $.10 off a gallon at the gas station, I went ahead and filled up today.
Checked my receipts. The last time, indeed, that I had filled up was March 31.
I made four weeks! I am proud of myself.
Baby steps...
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I've got to get rid of my Cherokee. The Guilt! The Guilt!
ResponderEliminarWell done indeed. I am proud of you!
ResponderEliminarAh, Brad---I have an Outback. Not the greatest, not the worst. I'd love to downsize if I could afford it right now. But Subaru proved its weight in gold by saving our lives in the accident, so I don't know if I really want to get rid of it. I do get 30 freeway, but only in the low 20s in town.
ResponderEliminarThanks, Chief. It's a matter of mindset, I think...no matter what we choose to drive, we can choose to do less--can that extra run to the store not wait until the list is longer? Sometimes that implies sacrifice, and in this day and age of instant gratification many are not willing to make those kinds of little sacrifices...but they do add up!
Be well.
yes you are an inspiration indeed. :)
ResponderEliminarI was just looking at my mileage this afternoon and wondering how I managed to drive 120 miles in the last week since every where I go is generally 5 miles or less and rarely over 10.
hmm... something to consider.
Wow...I'm proud of you too! I've been doing this same thing for quite a few years now...especially the "errands in a big circle". It works and you're tempted to do so much more in a day..."because you're close to where you need to go anyway". I'm fortunate because my car is in the garage waiting much more than its out running. My work is only 6 miles one way as opposed to some who have to drive 30 miles or more one way. Terrible! My daughter once held a job that was 36 miles one way. It paid well but the time being wasted on the highway was ridiculous....and relocation was not an option at that time.
ResponderEliminarWe, as Americans, must think of something to do that will bring these horrendous gas prices down. There is just no justifiable reason for it to be skyrocketing like this.
p.s....some of these word verifications are RIDICULOUS. I can't even make them out.