Fuel Prices and Being Frugal
May 25th 2008 16:38
Worldwide we are all hearing the same thing. Expect to pay more for fuel because of the rising cost of oil. This in turn has a dominoes affect to everything else(food, clothing, commodities, etc.) meaning the costs can be overwhelming. Today in the US is the Memorial Day Holiday weekend which also marks the start of summer activities. In response to this, fuel prices seem to be going into overdrive and there seems to be no end in sight.
Some people are fighting back the high rising fuel prices.Maybe there are ways to ease the burden of rising prices. Some involve little sacrifices while others may be extreme. Either way, a happy medium should be reached.
Carpooling to work can help ease the burden of high rising costs. Those who don't drive should give a few bucks to the vehicle driver. To work the people need to work at the same place, same hours, and need to be prepared if the original driver isn't going to work on a particular day. The downside is that you are at the mercy of the driver and you may not be able to make stops if you need to. I've found that I spend less overall with carpooling and the driver makes a few bucks for fuel. The meeting place is at the driver's location because having him run around to pick you up destroys the purpose of it all. In my carpool there are 4 workers who each give the driver $10-15 a week. Driving my own vehicle would cost over $30 a week.
Vacationing at, or around, your home instead of going miles away will save plenty on your wallet. Retailers are starting to promote a stay at home summer.
Learn more about your area. Surely there are places nearby that you can engage in summer activities. Some may even be within walking distance or a short drive maybe by bus. Parks, museums, malls, etc., are in almost every small town and city. Some offer activities specifically for youth and kids.
If you want to go a step further you need to ask if vacations are really as relaxing as they seem overall. Putting up with crowds, driving in heavy traffic, being stressed out at airports, etc., makes one wonder if a vacation is really relaxing.
In the US our prices may seem tame or laughable to the rest of the world, but we must ponder a 'What If?' scenario if gas were to reach $10 a gallon. Well we would have to do with a lot less than what we do now. This reality is not far-fetched by any means, as overall prices begin to rise.
Then keep in mind that this is construction season and stopping with an idling vehicle can't be good on gas. Map your routes carefully, because detours aren't always the best way to get back on a highway or your route. Sometimes detours serve as 'tourist traps' that locals tend to avoid. When mapping a route on a map, instead of looking for roads that are quick moving and seem to be a quick way to get there, mark a dot on your departure location and your destination. With a ruler draw a straight line from point A to point B. Even though there might not be any roads there(example:there is a mountain range or forest or NO roads), the roads that run closest(backroads or interstates or highways) are a shorter route mileage wise. Here's some more advice on planning a roadtrip.
Like the Holidays, summer is usually a time when people splurge on junk and let themselves go. With the rising food prices, maybe picnics and barbeques should be an every other weekend or more event. If you think about it, you can have a picnic with just a regular lunch or dinner if it is done outdoors. This energy crisis may also force us to eat healthier foods or,on the other spectrum, junk foods.
Some people are fighting back the high rising fuel prices.Maybe there are ways to ease the burden of rising prices. Some involve little sacrifices while others may be extreme. Either way, a happy medium should be reached.
Carpooling to work can help ease the burden of high rising costs. Those who don't drive should give a few bucks to the vehicle driver. To work the people need to work at the same place, same hours, and need to be prepared if the original driver isn't going to work on a particular day. The downside is that you are at the mercy of the driver and you may not be able to make stops if you need to. I've found that I spend less overall with carpooling and the driver makes a few bucks for fuel. The meeting place is at the driver's location because having him run around to pick you up destroys the purpose of it all. In my carpool there are 4 workers who each give the driver $10-15 a week. Driving my own vehicle would cost over $30 a week.
Vacationing at, or around, your home instead of going miles away will save plenty on your wallet. Retailers are starting to promote a stay at home summer.
Learn more about your area. Surely there are places nearby that you can engage in summer activities. Some may even be within walking distance or a short drive maybe by bus. Parks, museums, malls, etc., are in almost every small town and city. Some offer activities specifically for youth and kids.
If you want to go a step further you need to ask if vacations are really as relaxing as they seem overall. Putting up with crowds, driving in heavy traffic, being stressed out at airports, etc., makes one wonder if a vacation is really relaxing.
In the US our prices may seem tame or laughable to the rest of the world, but we must ponder a 'What If?' scenario if gas were to reach $10 a gallon. Well we would have to do with a lot less than what we do now. This reality is not far-fetched by any means, as overall prices begin to rise.
Then keep in mind that this is construction season and stopping with an idling vehicle can't be good on gas. Map your routes carefully, because detours aren't always the best way to get back on a highway or your route. Sometimes detours serve as 'tourist traps' that locals tend to avoid. When mapping a route on a map, instead of looking for roads that are quick moving and seem to be a quick way to get there, mark a dot on your departure location and your destination. With a ruler draw a straight line from point A to point B. Even though there might not be any roads there(example:there is a mountain range or forest or NO roads), the roads that run closest(backroads or interstates or highways) are a shorter route mileage wise. Here's some more advice on planning a roadtrip.
Like the Holidays, summer is usually a time when people splurge on junk and let themselves go. With the rising food prices, maybe picnics and barbeques should be an every other weekend or more event. If you think about it, you can have a picnic with just a regular lunch or dinner if it is done outdoors. This energy crisis may also force us to eat healthier foods or,on the other spectrum, junk foods.
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