Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

I read an article a few days ago about how Americans are consuming more gas now than ever. I am sure that is partially because we have no choice. it is one of life's necessities.

The article did mention however that people they interviewed have given up some other things in life. like not eating out as much, brown bagging lunch, not going to the movies, not shopping for items unless they need them, etc.

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

I do not do any random shopping. Also, we only use the truck now in bad weather or if we need the bed of the truck or the 4WD.

ETA: DH bought a scooter that gets 89 MPG, and I am looking at motorcycles as well for the *nice* days.

Message edited 8/9/2006 12:02:40 PM.

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

we haven't had to- we only have one car w/ excellent fuel economy- we only need to fill up about 1 time a week- maybe 2 (at $30 a pop).

I take public transportation to work and DH only works 12 miles from the house.

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

I try to consolidate all of my errands. But since I work from home, I don't use too much gas. I go to and from the park almost every day, and do errands on the way there and/or back. Also DH now takes the Jeep, since it uses more gas, and I use the Passat since I drive more than he does on a daily basis.

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

We NEED cars down here. They're a necessity, not a luxury since there is NO public transportation from my town to ATL.

But we do use my car on the weekends (and leave the SUV home) and we check the tire pressure on the cars ALL the time...along with getting regular oil/filter changes (you rack up 3K miles in about 2 months ).

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

...just money...

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

We only have one car, and both of us take the subway to work. We almost never use the car during the week.

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

nope- not yet-

but I do try to find the cheapest gas- when I used to just go the full serve in Point Look out

so even with my SUV- I think I am saving money- b/c my car needs the middle one- instead of premium- and I have been paying about $3.35- $3.30 a gallon compared to closer to $4.00 before

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

Posted by Shorty

...just money...

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

Rich spends about $75-80 a week in gas just for himself. (Kings Park to Whitestone)

I fill once every 2 weeks. Not bad. I only work 2.4 miles from home.

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

Posted by SweetestOfPeas

Posted by Shorty

...just money...

same here!! thankfully we're in a situation right now that we don't "have" to sacrifice anything (because we rent!), but we went from $50 a week for gas - 2 cars to $85 a WEEK!

that's $340 a month JUST for freakin gas

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

I do all my shopping on my way home from work, so I don't have to go back out.....

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

Posted by sasha

Posted by SweetestOfPeas

Posted by Shorty

...just money...

same here!! thankfully we're in a situation right now that we don't "have" to sacrifice anything (because we rent!), but we went from $50 a week for gas - 2 cars to $85 a WEEK!

that's $340 a month JUST for freakin gas

We spend $140 a week (DH's SUV is $50 a pop x2). So that's $560 a month *if* we only use the cars for work and errands around the house on the w/e!

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

I used to use my lunch hour to run errands and just to "go somewhere" to get away from my desk. It was adding up so now I only go out during lunch if I absolutely have to, otherwise I save my errands for on my way home from work.

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

So, my Dh just met me for lunch (we have lunch 2gether every day ) and I told him about this thread...and he wants to start carpooling! So we'll save about $400 a month but he'll have to wake up early since I come in at 8am (and he starts at 9:40am) and I have to wait for him until 6:30pm (I get out at 5pm). There *has* to be a better way!

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

We fill the cars about every 2 weeks. We use the Honda more than the SUV but try to consolidate the errands into one trip..we haven't had to give up anything but we think about driving differently and how many trips we make. We actually think twice about just taking a ride.

DH works 3 miles from the house and I drive to the train station and take the railroad. Either way you pay for commutation whether you drive or take public transportation. So what we don't spend on gas, we spend on a rail ticket. I think the grand total is about $350-$400 p/m.

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

Not really, but I was already consolidating my errands on weekends or on my way home from work to be kinder to the environment. I don't work that far from home, so I usually use more gas on the weekends.

Re: Have you given anything up due to high gas prices?

Luckily, neither of us use our car for work. There's an occasional weeknight errand but they are rare. On the weekends we usually stay local one day and maybe head out east on the other. We take the train when we can (if we are going to Western Queens or the city).