Is Fear of Rising Gas Prices Making You Curb Your Car and Your Spending?
July 7, 2008 by Kristen King
Filed under Business
According to a recent CNNMoney poll, 86% of Americans think gas prices will reach $5/gallon before the end of the year. 66% of those surveyed said they’re already reducing their driving, and 71% are thinking about trading in their gas guzzler for a more efficient car. Interestingly, in April only 71% of Americans thought prices would get so high, and in may of last year that number was even smaller at 28%. Read more about it.
So what I want to know is, are you driving less in response to climbing gas prices? I’m lucky enough to work from home, so my commute consists of walking about 30 feet from my kitchen to my office. But since I live in a rural area, client meetings mean a LOT of driving, and I’ve all but nixed them entirely to reduce costs.
What have you done to save money on gas?
Contents © Copyright 2008 Kristen King
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Tags: womens business blog, women in business, women and business, women, woman, business, gas prices, reduce gas spending, cut gas costs, biz chicks rule, kristen king
I consolidate trips. Used to be I’d drive to the store a few times a week. Stupid, because he drives past the store every day on his way to and from work. Now he stops.
I shop more from home. The post office is already out and about – why not give them a little job security?
I have asked myself “Do I need to get this, and do I need to do it right now?” 19 times out of 20 the answer is no.
I’m getting the bike fixed. Town is a mere two miles away. I’d walk it if the roads were safer, but biking it is possible.
Like Lori, my husband and I are consolidating errands and trips.
For us, there are some upsides to the high gas prices, other than the overall reduction in greenhouse gases: We’re walking more to the store rather than driving. My husband found out that one of his co-workers lives just a couple of blocks away, and they’re considering carpooling when it starts snowing here in October or November.
We’re not as crunched as some people, because my husband drives a fuel-efficient motorcycle in the summer, and I work from home. But this winter, we’ll be fueling up our one car much more frequently, so that he can commute to work and I can get to the gym. I think we’ll get even more creative then!
I want to consolidate trips, but I’m just not that organized. I did unload everything from my trunk, inlcuding, golf clubs, some books and other stuff. I figure a lighter car should get a few extra miles to the gallon.
Consolidating trips and reducing your car’s load are both really smart ideas. Also keeping your car clean is good for better mileage. I read somewhere a few years ago that having a dirty car can increase drag something like 12%!!! It was like a mag in a doctor’s office or something like that, so I have no clue what the source was. But I was so surprised that a little dirt could have such a dramatic effect! I wonder what kind of drag my house has. Heh heh.
kk
Kristen, my house is a TOTAL drag. LOL!