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What are you doing differently with $3.00 a gallon gas?

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DuaneBidoux Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:15 PM
Original message
What are you doing differently with $3.00 a gallon gas?
I've cut back to almost nothing eating out at restaurants and have only seen 1 movie in the last month (and I love movies!).

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Seansky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:19 PM
Response to Original message
1. oh man, i'm just avoiding driving as much as I can and
wish I could give up my car for a hybrid, but they are pricy yet.

I checked all the oil companies that aren't importing oil from Mid East and then checked all the ones that have the cheapest gas and plan to fill up around my trips to close areas...Can you imaging that kind of planning just to get gas?
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Jackpine Radical Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:30 PM
Response to Reply #1
12. I did a search online & found the locations of local CITGO
stations. Now I'm trying to buy my gas at those stations.

Also, we've cut unnecessary travel by a lot. And I have started to carry lunch more often so I don't have to buy restarant meals.
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acmavm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:19 PM
Response to Original message
2. I don't drive. I take the bus if I can't walk or get a ride with someone
going my way.

Otherwise, I just say screw it and stay home. (After a trip to the used book store which is two blocks from where I work.)
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Lexingtonian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:23 PM
Response to Original message
3. cutting down on Molotov cocktails. n/t
:D
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Conservativesux Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:24 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. LOL!!
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maine_raptor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:23 PM
Response to Original message
4. Not mowing the lawn as often
May not sound like much, but it isn't.

I've got a shade under 3 acres to mow. Takes about 10 gallons of gas and 5+ hours of time. I usually do it once a week, now once every 15-16 days.
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Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:55 PM
Response to Reply #4
21. Get a couple sheep or rent a horse:
before




after

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Conservativesux Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:24 PM
Response to Original message
5. Bought a used econobox. I have to drive to work, period.
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blossomstar Donating Member (772 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:25 PM
Response to Original message
7. getting a moped to do my errands with instead of driving my car...
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SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:25 PM
Response to Original message
8. Just paying more for it.. We owe Chevron $385.00 this month
My husband has to get to work, so what else do we do? He cannot carpool, and often has to visit jobsites from his office, so he has to have his vehicle with him..

I don't work, and a tank lasts me about a month..

This is what sucks.. we are not wasteful with gas, but we have to buy what we have to buy.. We just get soaked with more expense..and there's nothing we can do about it.

If he has to drive to Oxnard for a bid opening, he HAS to go..and has to pay whatever the gas costs..

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Gregorian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:27 PM
Response to Original message
9. Nothing. It's always been $3/gal to me.
Edited on Sun Sep-18-05 02:37 PM by Gregorian
I've been living like gas is $10 per gallon for the last twenty years. What do it get for my sacrifices?

Today my optimism is gone. Totally gone. One of my best friends has drifted to the dark side. I now believe that until Americans suffer extreme loss and discomfort, we will continue down our path of denial. We both went to engineering school together, and yet he still doesn't believe what he reads about global warming. It's his father. People listen to their parents. Not the facts. Furthermore, if Conyers WERE president, it would not make any difference. It's the people, not the president, who make the decisions and climate of the country. Evidence- we still have a drug war. I'm here. I'm not going away. Because this is the only sanity. But I don't expect anything. The dumbing down has worked.

Those who destroy the playing field, win the game. Mission bla bla bla.
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HockeyMom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:28 PM
Response to Original message
10. Only drive to work and back
Once a week go grocery shopping about a quarter mile away. Myself and several others at work had to go to a two day training class 15 miles from work (work is 15 miles for me). We carpooled. I also don't let my tank get below half before I fill up. Doesn't cost as much that way.

The "bright" side of things is that gas has been going down from a high of $3.79 at some stations to now a low of $2.95 on the cheap end side.

The transmission on my car (10 years, 75,000 miles) just went and I am getting another car. I still have a FULL TANK of gas in the old car. Any suggestions how I can siphon out that tank of gas??????
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maine_raptor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:31 PM
Response to Reply #10
14. Check owners manual for tank size
Have containers for that amount standing by. When siphoning, be sure to leave some in tank, enough to get you to car dealer when you go to trade it in. And tell dealer that you WILL NOT do deal unless they give you first full tank as part of purchase.

I assume you know how to siphon gas out.
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acmejack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:36 PM
Response to Reply #10
18. Get a transfer pump
Like this they can be found cheaper than this too. You can likely rent one.
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I Have A Dream Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:29 PM
Response to Original message
11. Nothing. I live pretty close to where I work, so it doesn't impact...
me as much as it does many other people.
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Lex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:30 PM
Response to Original message
13. I used very little gas to begin with, so I've changed very little.
My work, grocery, restaurants I frequent and other places I go are all within a mile or so radius from my house.

My car is fairly fuel efficient. A tank will last me for weeks.

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RebelOne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:32 PM
Response to Original message
15. No change in driving. I only drive to and from work, which
is a round trip of 26 miles and on weekends to Target for groceries. Target is about a mile from my house. So I am not using that much gas. The price right now in North Georgia is an average of $2.59 for regular.
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astonamous Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:32 PM
Response to Original message
16. becoming more patient and making lists
I don't just jump in the car to get something. I wait until I a list of things. Not going out as much. I have my old schwinn in the shop to tune it up. I will be using it more. When it gets really cold, I will try to take the bus to work more often.
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elehhhhna Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:36 PM
Response to Original message
17. pointing out thata gallons costs the same as milk to every reep
I see in the dairy aisle, for one.
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Gregorian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:39 PM
Response to Reply #17
19. Yep. Same here.
They really are "special", aren't they.

Facts just go right over their heads. Even the educated ones. It's beyong me.

By the way- good for you. It brings me a bit of optimism to hear about you. I need all I can get. I'm falling again.
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elehhhhna Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 06:30 PM
Response to Reply #19
31. I swear. I say it like it's amusing & I KNOW when they're reeps becasue
Reeps go "Huh?" like morons.
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Nicholas D Wolfwood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 02:40 PM
Response to Original message
20. Sold my car and am using public transportation.
It kinda sucks, but I couldn't see paying insurance for something I'd use a couple of times a month. Maybe I'll get a beat up used car in a little while, but i'm in no hurry.
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Syncronaut Seven Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 03:27 PM
Response to Original message
22. I'm driving less and driving like the van is running on d-cells
Seriously. I learned to drive on a car with a vacuum gauge, now I remember these lessons, and conservation momentum like a religion
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tammywammy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 03:32 PM
Response to Original message
23. Waiting more anxiously for my Beetle TDI
Edited on Sun Sep-18-05 03:33 PM by tammywammy
that's current being made, and should be arriving at the dealership the week of Oct 31 (and maybe a little earlier too)

Cheaper than gas, and better mpg. :)
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Skink Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 04:09 PM
Response to Reply #23
25. Thinking about a used Smart vehicle
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tammywammy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 05:44 PM
Response to Reply #25
27. That would be good
Edited on Sun Sep-18-05 05:44 PM by tammywammy
But they're not available in the US. I think they got approval (it finally passed US crash tests), but there's not any plans to release them here.
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Skink Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 07:29 PM
Response to Reply #27
33. There are some in San Antonio..
Probably driven up from Mexico.
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illflem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 04:07 PM
Response to Original message
24. When you finish filling up
replace the fill nozzle or just push the button the nozzle hits to end the sale. Put the nozzle back in your tank, and pull the handle.
This will drain about half a gallon out of the hose without tuning the meter. Only saves you a buck and a half and it's not conservation but does help a little.
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Blue_In_AK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 04:12 PM
Response to Original message
26. Ours is $2.64, but we're definitely not going out much...
...and when we do we try to consolidate all our errands at once. Luckily my husband's retired and I work from home so we don't have any job commutes.
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leftofthedial Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 05:47 PM
Response to Original message
28. I'm moving to a new, smaller house, with very small payments
it is walking distance to everywhere I need to go routinely

(except to drive my kids to school a few days a month and for me to drive to work-related activities a few days a week)

It connects about a quarter-block away to a regional network of bike paths.

I don't plan to do too much driving and with luck, I can pay the place off entirely in a few years.
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deadparrot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 05:48 PM
Response to Original message
29. Walking.
Granted, I'm on a college campus in a small town, so it's much easier, but it seems to have worked well. I've been up here for almost a month, and I've only had to fill up once (which was only because I was low after a four-hour drive from home).

Also, seeing as I'm in college, a lot of entertainment is provided for free. Movies, concerts, plays, lectures, etc...all free. So that's good.
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mwb970 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 05:49 PM
Response to Original message
30. I combine errands when possible.
Not much else, really. I don't do a whole lot of driving to begin with, and I do get >25 mpg.
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Mabel Dodge Donating Member (180 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 06:56 PM
Response to Original message
32. I use to drive like a speed devil
now it's 50 - 55 mph. I get nasty looks but my gas milage is better.
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fed-up Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-18-05 08:55 PM
Response to Original message
34. Resorting to phone sex w/BF and having son hitchhike to school 2 days/wk
Dear boyfriend lives 16 miles away and that makes each visit $3 in gas, so we are trying to get creative as to how to make do with available resources...At least my phone bill is a flat rate...

:)

I already combine all other trips to town so that multiple errands are done during the same trip..

School bus cost $300 for the year so that is out of the question right now. We do know most of our neighbors so he usually gets a ride with someone we know.
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