What are you doing to help save on gasoline?????

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banslug

Cathlete
As my to-do errand list gets longer and longer, it got me wondering what everybody else is doing to try to save on gasoline consumption?

I walk to and from work/school each day, which is 3/4 mile. If one of my DS have a baseball game in town, when I drop them off early for practice/warm up, I stay parked there and I walk around town to browse the shops, pick up a sports drink for DS, etc. My mom and I drive together to the games and take turns driving. Also, I'm trying to combine my out-of-house errands. For instance, when I head out next time, I'll do the grocery shopping and the odds n ends shopping (hair spray, deodorant, batteries, etc) not only in the same trip but at the same store.

I figure while my SO works on converting his car to run on veggie oil (he's got it working, now just needs to fix the transmission on the thing! LOL), I need to save as much gas as possible.

How about you??? Any other ideas???

Gayle
 
Not much, unfortunately.

I live too far away from work to walk or take public transportation (PT is actually more expensive given my options).

On the other hand, I already do most of my shopping, groceries and other stuff online, so I rely on someone else's gas to get me the stuff I need. It's cheaper for me to pay shipping and delivery costs than waste gas running around at $4.60/gallon.
 
I haven't had to make too many changes. I usually have to fill-up my Saturn only once a month. I live about four miles from work; DH is about three miles from his. Most of our socializing, grocery shopping, etc. is either within walking distance or less than five miles away; we don't venture to the 'burbs very often.

DH & I are going to DC this weekend and instead of driving, we're taking the train, which isn't that unusual for us anyway. I'd like to say we do it to be green, but mostly, we just hate I-95 to DC!!
 
I've combined my errands and stuff for years, simply because I live so far out that it doesn't make sense not to. My biggest problem is my work commute. I drive 100 miles round-trip every day. I've slowed down and managed to improve my gas mileage a little... I drive about 62 mph on the interstate right now.

I stay home on weekends so I won't have to drive anywhere. I live out in the country, and it's really nice - I rarely feel the urge to "get away," you know?

Other than that, I can't come up with anything. I'm saving up for a new car. My pickup has 209,000 miles on it, so pretty soon I'll need a new one. I'll probably buy a hybrid when the time comes.
 
I've cut my speed and use the cruise control where I can safely.

We menu plan now, less grocery store trips. When the kids have their activities we do errands so that were not just making double round trips.

During the better weather I'll be riding my bike to work, combining my cardio with my commute, I work in maintenance at a mail processing plant, its a dirty job anyway so if I have some "pre-work" sweat no one's gonna notice.

I'm a "serial volunteer" but I've learned to say no to anything thats gonna burn gas.

I read a great tip about combining errands. Go to the furthest stop first, it lets the engine get to optimum operating temperature, better gas mileage. It makes all of the engine restarts easier.

Also never use the drive through... you're paying enough for the oil in your food!
 
I can't do anything about my work commute as I drive 65 miles round trip but when I get to work I stay there. I bring my lunch so I stay in for lunch and run errands on the way home (if any).

When I do run errands, I combine them. I don't drive much during the weekend so that helps.

I'm also trying to cut my speed.
 
Combining errands to minimize trips, driving slower on the highway and up hills, not letting the car idle while waiting to pick up kids from activities, and waking up the kids a little earlier to make sure they don't miss the bus.

Jonahnah
Chocolate IS the answer, regardless of the question.
 
I have been taking the bus to work and running home.

We use a food menu too and I don't know what the heck we did without it.

I rage when I see the McDonalds drive through line up all the way out to the street!

I also agree with slowing down saves lots.

The gas companies really have us by the drawers. I often wonder what will become of all the SUV's and large trucks. We leased a dogde ram with some kind of technology that drops it to 4 cylinders when it is cruising and in fact gets the same gas milage as our GMC Jimmy did, it was shocking. We are actually glad we decided to lease because who will buy it in three years when gas goes even higher! Hopefully when our lease is up they will have hybrids that are more afordable.
 
I've cut down to running errands one day a week. I stay home and thankfully DH only works 5 miles from home. While the kids are home this summer, we are buying a cheap blow up pool for them to play with friends since the town pool is quite far. Unfortunately we are fairly new here and we like to explore new areas by going for a drive but at $4.20 a gallon, we'll be exploring our backyard:)
 
I have been driving a hybrid for the last 2 years. Hubby and I are pretty much home bodies. He is retired and once I get home that's where I stay. Don't go to movies or out to eat or take vacations. Got everything I like doing at home or close by, like walking the dogs to the park etc, go to the lake with a kayak or windsurfer a few times in the summer but it is only about 15 miles away.
 
I've been working from home now for the last 2 years since I moved away. Glad I started doing that! Most of my coworkers that doing go in the office have started to work from home a lot more than they use too. We live out in the country, no access to public transportation. We try to combine as many errands as possible when going into town. We're thinking of trading in the vehicles for older diesel ones and run them on used vegetable oil once we get them converted.
 
Pretty much stopped alot of extra running around!!! Needed to do that anyway so this "disciplined" me alot faster ;-)

I work at a automobile dealership and I can tell you the SUV type of vehicles as almost come to a halt. You have your occasional wealthy person that will buy one and not even think about it.
 
Staying home a lot. We shop only when we have to. For entertainment, we watch Netflix, work around and outside our house. Play games on the computer...

Create things by crocheting, sewing, painting a picture...

We exercise with Cathe and other great gurus.

We visit others only when there is a get together where there is a lot of family members in one place.

I'm thinking about getting an air car.

Janie

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The idea is to die young as late as possible.
 
I combine my errands as much as possible and fill up either every day or every other day before the price goes up even more.

Marcy
 
I drive the speed limit, something it appears most people still have difficulty doing....
 
>I drive the speed limit, something it appears most people
>still have difficulty doing....

Ditto and agreed! I can't believe how many people b!tch and moan about gas prices, but then continue to zoom down the street at 15 mph over the limit, ahnd put the pedal to the metal out of every stop light just to slam on their brakes at the next light. Dude. Slow down, and time yourself between lights and you'll save LOADS of money on gas right there! Plus, the roads would be so much friendlier.
 
Thought I'd post a little info about using veggie oil as fuel, since some of you are considering it.

My dad and brother are working on this now. They both drive diesel trucks. They purchased storage tanks and a pump to retrieve oil from the restaurants from an online source. The pump doesn't work - it'll pump water and regular diesel, but can't handle the thicker veggie oil that it says it's for. They're currently working with the supplier, I believe.

Also, it's my understanding that most restaurants have contracts with established companies that pick up the veggie oil. You can't just go up to a restaurant and ask for their oil. You will most likely have to work with the other company. This is a problem my dad and brother have run into. The pick-up company may or may not be willing to work with you... and odds are, you'll end up having to buy the oil from them if they let you have it.

I know some people have hopes that they'll get veggie oil for free, so this is just a heads up!
 
I drive a hybrid (Prius).

I use cruise control (driving 2-3 mph over the speed limit--choosing the 55 mph route over the 65 mph route in most cases).

I combine errands and figure out a circular route in which to do them (rather than a 'back and forth' route).

I let up on the gas pedal a ways before coming to a stop, and coast as much as possible. And I don't try to go 'from 0 to 50 in 5 seconds.'

I try to keep my car free of unnecessary weight (which adds to gas usage), but I need to get better at it and clean it out more often!

I don't drive that much in general(I just filled my tank after more than a month, and the price difference was a bit of a shock: almost $35 vs. the around $23 of my last fill!)

I just bought a GPS (on sale!) so that I'll be able to find destinations in the shortest possible route.

On the non-vehicle side, I garden organically and am starting to buy more organic fabric clothes (many non-organic fertilizers are made from petroleum products!). I also avoid personal care products that contain petroleum.
 
Stopped going home for lunch a long time ago and save that way. Most of my shopping is near work so I do it at lunch or after work so I don't have to drive across town (about 5 miles) to get there from home.

Should start biking to work since it isn't too far, but need to clean the ol bike up a bit. Still not sure about riding with work clothes on and am trying to figure out how to tote my work clothes without wrinkling them. Thought about taking a hand held steamer to work - need to see if we have an electrical outlet in the restroom.

Thanks for the reminders - should work on it a bit harder.
 
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