How are you adjusting your budget?

[rcyannacci]

Just wondering how other people are adjusting to the high gas prices.

My DH and I took a realistic look at our finances this weekend, and had to make some cuts. The first to go was the WDW trip we had planned on taking in May.

We thought about joining Costco, but with 2 people it's just not that much of a savings. So, we are going to be a lot more strategic about groceries.

We're also going to be looking into some carpooling options.

 

[katerkat]

Not too much - just trying to avoid driving anywhere. I used to drive into town all the time. Now I try to run all my errands on Wednesdays, since that's when I have to go into town for Russ's therapy. We walk to the commissary/BX on base.

Of course, it helps that I'm a SAHM and my husband is deployed!

 

[snoopy]

DH rides his motorcyle into work everyday (unless its raining) and I drive our old Toyota Camry or take the Metro into work. The SUVs have been parked for weeks now and won't be used again until gas prices go down.

 

[Crankyshank]

It's been a struggle for sure.
I order more things online now when I can get free shipping. We no longer take leisurely drives to go check out yard sales. We're probably not going to Cape Ann this weekend to save on gas. I've been trying to find alternate routes to work to avoid traffic because that's a huge gas eater right there. I don't visit my family as much because of the gas involved. We're going to keep our thermostat set a few degrees cooler this winter to save on heating bills.
To be honest we can't afford to go out to eat or to the movies because our gas budget has doubled each week. Thank goodness DH's work pays for his gas or we'd be in trouble.

 

[WeirdEyes]

DH rides his motorcyle into work everyday (unless its raining) and I drive our old Toyota Camry or take the Metro into work. The SUVs have been parked for weeks now and won't be used again until gas prices go down.

You might as well sell those SUVs because I doubt that gas prices will go down all that much anytime soon! Of course, I could be wrong.

DH and I haven't started cutting back on other things yet, but it looks like we might need to in the near future. Our DS17 did get a part-time job to pay for his gas. That's the only thing he has to pay for though.

 

[kilee]

DH & I switched vehicles for starters. He goes 25 miles to work- but only travels back and forth 2-4 times a week (he drives truck out of town). I work 3 times a week plus do a bunch of errands. Driving to work for me is about 36 miles each way. I was driving the newer SUV. Now, I'm driving the 5 yr old car (for 5yrs old it's alittle beat up-- I've hit 2 things w/ it). However, we get almost 10-12 miles more to the gallon on the car.

Thankfully, we live only 4 miles from an Indian Reservation. In NYS they have the cheapest gas since they don't charge state tax on it. Anyhow, we are typically still $.025-.40 cheaper a gallon. So, we still save a real little bit.

We too had an annual camping trip planned for Labor Day. We go every year w/ family. However, of the 6 families that usually go only 2 are going now. It's because the gas to get there and back was going to be too much. At last weeks rates it was going to cost me about $225-250. Just couldn't afford that much for gas right off the top before anything else to go camping.

 

[BillSears]

I haven't and don't plan on it. But I've got a 2 year old car with less then 15,000 miles on it and I live less then 2 miles away from work.

It does make me feel alot better about not buying a house out in the middle of nowhere. I considered it but decided I didn't want the long commute so I looked for something close to work.

 

[chrissyk]

I just don't drive very much. Once a week I drive to the Wild Oats, the Target, etc. (on the same road), and that's about it. We moved to another state this past year, and my biggest requirement was that my DH have a very short commute wherever we moved. His old commute was 35 miles one way! Now he commutes less than 9 miles one way. That change alone saves us a bundle in gas.

Also, I'm starting to realize just how walkable/bikeable our area really is. I see OTHER people walking and biking all over the place here, so maybe this is going to be something that we look into instead of taking the truck when we want to go somewhere local.

As for affecting our budget otherwise, we haven't really made other adjustments. I'm quite sure that my DH would contend that I was cheap before and I'm still cheap now We lived on a tight budget for many years, so this is no biggie.

 

[pw2pp]

We are very fortunate that my husband drives a Company car and they pay for the gas..... (thank God for that, cuz he drives an hour and fifteen minutes each way to work plus is on the road a large part of the day for his job).
I drive a fairly small car that gets pretty good Gas mileage. Our daughter drives a car that is big and is a bit of a gas guzzler, but she hardly drives at all.
So, so far, it hasn't really affected us too much.

 

[lil mermaid]

Luckily it doesn't really affect us so much that we have to adjust our budget. I am a SAHM and most days don't drive very far, and DH has a very short commute.

We did just buy a new Hybrid vehicle, and traded in DH's big old V8. That sure will help!

 

[N.Bailey]

I know you're all going to hate me. 1st off, we moved and hubby can walk to work if he has to. He's been driving, but so far, it's not too bad to go a few blocks. 2ndly, when we moved, we not only moved into a much nicer home, it also includes heat and our rent is ummmmm, should I say this? $550 a month and includes, heat, water, sewer, recycling, and trash for a 3 bedroom single family home with 2 baths, built in dishwasher, finished basement etc....

 

[Charade]

Just wondering how other people are adjusting to the high gas prices.

My DH and I took a realistic look at our finances this weekend, and had to make some cuts. The first to go was the WDW trip we had planned on taking in May.

We thought about joining Costco, but with 2 people it's just not that much of a savings. So, we are going to be a lot more strategic about groceries.

We're also going to be looking into some carpooling options.

That seems pretty drastic. Do you spend a lot on gas? AAA said (last week or so) that a 500 mile driving trip in a car that gets 20 mpgs would cost 16 dollars more than it did last year.

 

[SeeDisney]

Just cutting out the leisurely outings and when I do go out I make sure I do two or three things. I live in an area where nothing's convenient ......either 6 to 12 miles for the nearest store, etc.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

After my contract is up I will leave the school I love and try to find a school closer to home. Moving closer to the school is not an option. I don't want to live in an inner city area like that. For now, no relief.

 

[Charade]

Fortunately, I'm reimbursed for my business use of my personal car which more than offsets any (or most) gas costs for my personal use unless I took a really long trip.

But I'm really at odds with some of the reactions people have to the increased gas costs. One person a while back on another thread stated they cut out going to the mall that was 20-25 miles away. I really think that some people don't realize how much the increased gas costs really affects them. For example, if the mall is 20 miles away and your car gets 20 miles to the gallon, you'd use about 2 gallons of gas to get there and back. When gas was about $2 per gallon, that trip would cost about $4. Now that gas is approaching $3, that trip would now cost $6. Is a $2 increase really going to break the bank? So if you go the mall to get something on sale and would have saved $20, now you're only saving $18.

AAA stated about a week ago that a 500 mile driving (in a 20mpg car) vacation would cost about $18 more than it did the same time last year. Is that really a show stopper for some?

 

[Crankyshank]

Every little bit helps. While cutting out the $6 trip to the mall doesn't sound like much it does add up. Especially this time of year where a lot of people are school shopping and again towards the holiday season where you're stuck in traffic and also driving around looking for parking spots.

I have an 05 Ford Taurus that during the week gets 12.5 mpg thanks to idling in traffic. I'm all ready spending close to $40 a tank for gas. Am I going to try and eliminate any unnecessary trips in order to help make that tank stretch? You bet! Especially to places where I am going to be idling for several traffic lights and because of traffic.

 

[swilphil]

If the gas prices continue to go up (and all indications are that they will), prices for EVERYTHING will also go up. I know my biggest monthly expense is the grocery bill. I've noticed in the last couple of days the cost of groceries is already going up. They wanted $4 for a box of cereal!

I wasn't planning to return to teaching until next fall, but I will probably need to take a part-time job to avoid getting too far into credit card debt. I also will most likely return to work full time instead of part time. It breaks my heart that my youngest son, who will only have just turned 4 when I return to work, will have to spend 40 hours a week in preschool/extended care. To make matters worse, I'm considering not sending him to part-time preschool this year partly because of the expense. It was supposed to start next week, but I may wait until January to find somewhere to take him once or twice a week.

 

[N.Bailey]

Every little bit helps. While cutting out the $6 trip to the mall doesn't sound like much it does add up. Especially this time of year where a lot of people are school shopping and again towards the holiday season where you're stuck in traffic and also driving around looking for parking spots.

I have an 05 Ford Taurus that during the week gets 12.5 mpg thanks to idling in traffic. I'm all ready spending close to $40 a tank for gas. Am I going to try and eliminate any unnecessary trips in order to help make that tank stretch? You bet! Especially to places where I am going to be idling for several traffic lights and because of traffic.

I agree. Our nearest mall is 35-40 miles one way. Instead of running up there all the time, I consolidate those trips now. It's not as leisurely a trip as we're used to, but we do save.

 

[Charade]

Every little bit helps. While cutting out the $6 trip to the mall doesn't sound like much it does add up. Especially this time of year where a lot of people are school shopping and again towards the holiday season where you're stuck in traffic and also driving around looking for parking spots.

That trip would still have cost you $4 last year. It's $2 more now (at $3 per gallon). Skip the fries!!! Get water instead of an iced tea or soda.

I have an 05 Ford Taurus that during the week gets 12.5 mpg thanks to idling in traffic. I'm all ready spending close to $40 a tank for gas. Am I going to try and eliminate any unnecessary trips in order to help make that tank stretch? You bet! Especially to places where I am going to be idling for several traffic lights and because of traffic.

Eliminating unnecessary trips is always a good idea but I really think that if people looked closely at the overall impact, it wouldn't look as bad as it seems. Especially for people who don't drive a lot.

 

[lulugirl]

We have not had to adjust our budget. Dh gets a travel allowance from work, I'm a SAHM, I don't travel too far.