Conserving gasoline

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

So, DH and I drive separate vehicles to work M-F. Our hours are about the same and I actually travel about 4 miles farther than he. He asked today if it would save $$ and gas, as we are now at $3.49/gallon for regular unleaded, if one of us was to drop the other off, using just one automobile.

I used google maps to calculate each route as we currently travel, then drew up the directions on a combine route, and found that we could save 13 miles per day by using just one car and not both. That's savings of over $2 per day, or more than $11 a week with current gasoline prices.

 

[MrsPete]

So, DH and I drive separate vehicles to work M-F. Our hours are about the same and I actually travel about 4 miles farther than he. He asked today if it would save $$ and gas, as we are now at $3.49/gallon for regular unleaded, if one of us was to drop the other off, using just one automobile.

I used google maps to calculate each route as we currently travel, then drew up the directions on a combine route, and found that we could save 13 miles per day by using just one car and not both. That's savings of over $2 per day, or more than $11 a week with current gasoline prices.

DH and I did this for the first three years of our marriage. Owning and maintaining only one car, paying insurance and gas for only one car made a HUGE DIFFERENCE in our budget, and it's one of the things that let us start saving from a young age. An added benefit was that we spent an hour each way talking every day.

We added a second car to our family when I started teaching. He works "regular" business hours in the big city, while I teach in the town where we live -- we are no longer vehicularly compatible. However, when we retire, one car is going to disappear! That's one thing that'll help us live frugally during retirement.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

We had only one vehicle until about 3 years ago, so this will not be a new concept for us. His truck is cheap on insurance, but is not as good with fuel economy. My car is just 5 years old, while his truck it 20 years old.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Wow, that is great. I wish DH and I could do that but it would never work, good for you for saving some money and getting to spend a little more time together

 

[GinCar]

My DH is using his motorcylce for work and running my small errands, too.

I am just now starting to calculate how much we will save by trying not to use his truck this summer unless we have to.

 

[TexasTodds]

I know what you mean...We have 3 kids, and both ended up with SUV's. My DH drives 35 miles each way to work (all freeway, but not too bad), and I just drive around town with the kids. He is switching this week to a 4 day week, and I am know that once school is out I will have lots of days with no driving.

Our gas estimate is about $750/month, which is larger than our mortgage and real estate taxes. I would love for him to downsize, but because of the high mileage on his truck, we wouldn't get anything for it. We will just drive it into the ground, then get something smaller.

 

[Cindy B]

We had one car for over 7 years! It was insane== when the kids were born and we had different work schedules it got very hard to manage with one car, but we did it for so long!

We carpooled, drove each other places and all that. It helped that I was a stay at home mom at the time.

 

[sylvenmaid]

I'm a SAHM but dh insists we keep the 2nd car since both are paid. He's probably right but I have the nicer car since I rarely use it and put less than 50 miles a week on it. Some weeks I don't even put 5 miles on it for the whole week. Just depends on my schedule. I told him once he retires then we are going down to one car.

 

[bdcp]

We spent one year with one car when I first became a SAHM, but my DH was riding with someone else most days and the rest of the time he was gone (US Navy) and it was a royal pain when he was home since we couldn't just up and go somewhere without asking first. We have worked across the street from each other and in the same building for the last 10 years but we only ride together if one car has to go into the shop. Originally my work schedule was part time every day plus he would go to the gym in the building first thing in the am so we couldn't ride together. Now our schedules are still off, he goes in either earlier or later than me depending on whether he works out at home or in the gym and he comes home 1/2-1 hour after me. I like my freedom of driving alone so even though it would save on gas money, we're not carpooling. We also couldn't do it with just one car anymore.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I have an older small car that we kept just for insurance purposes when my DD started driving.......now that older small car has become my mode of transportation for all trips when I am alone. Saves me lots of $$ by not having to drive my SUV.

 

[labdogs42]

We actually bought a third car to save on gas! Yes, we bought a CHEAP used 4-cylinder car for DH to drive to work. Our two cars are paid off, so we want to keep them, but we also want to save on gas! So, that's why we bought our new little car. We just bought the car yesterday, so we'll see how it goes. The car only cast $300, it needs brakes and a couple other things, so I figure we can do all that for less than $200, it will actually save us $100 per year on insurance, and then in a few months it will be officially saving us money on gas!

 

[cepmom]

great budget idea! I wish DH and I could do that. DH's gas bill is killing us....he drives a lot for work and has a F150. Not so good on gas He filled it up the other day and the total was $93 He does get paid mileage, but with today's gas prices it doesn't even come close to covering the gas never mind the wear and tear on the truck

I am toying with the idea of getting rid of my 2005 Sienna if I can get my hands on my grandmother's 1999 Camry. The Sienna's not too bad on gas but the Camry would be better plus the insurance would be cheaper too. We don't really need the minivan anymore since DD is heading off to college in the fall. My grandmother is getting older and really doesn't drive anymore but she won't give the car up...I can't convince her to sell it to us

 

[Belle1962]

Search for your local clean air campaign or commute alternative websites.

VPSI runs several vanpool programs throughout the country---check here http://vpsiinc.com/Home/index.asp?OID=261 I vanpool to work and my employer reimburses me up to $115 per month. The cost of my van (round trip about 73 miles per day) is around $80.00 per month. So with my reimbursement the cost is free to me. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! I have actually been vanpooling for around 4 years and will admit that I use it more frequently now with the higher cost of gas.

You can also find carpool partners at clean air/commuter type websites. carpoolworld, erideshare and others can help.

 

[Belle1962]

Oh yeah--to OP forgot to mention--if you go to using one car for carpooling with your husband be sure to let your insurance company know the new mileage figure for the other vehicle. Your rate could drop. One guy on our vanpool dropped over $300 per year because he now vanpools to work and saves all that mileage on his car.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Oh yeah--to OP forgot to mention--if you go to using one car for carpooling with your husband be sure to let your insurance company know the new mileage figure for the other vehicle. Your rate could drop. One guy on our vanpool dropped over $300 per year because he now vanpools to work and saves all that mileage on his car.

As the other vehicle is a 1988 S-10 truck and costs very little now to insure, I don't know that lower miles would reduce the rate any lower. I will keep it in mind if we begin carpooling regularly.

 

[KristinU]

DH and I carpool too. Be sure to check out www.nuride.com to see if its in your area. They let you track trips and earn miles to redeem for restaurant certificates, etc. It also tracks your fuel savings and environmental impact. And yes, spouses that carpool qualify as carpoolers

 

[daisy1234]

Someone on another board I am on is trying to figure out if this is worth it???? Any opinions????? I don't know the condition of the van or the year...not sure if that really matters???? I know I can get some expert advice on this board!!!