About the only thing we can do about high gas prices is to combine trips out the wazoo. I did that tonight - dropped my daughter off at swim practice, bought dog food, got gassed, went to get my hair cut but it closed early tonight, had a $1.27 (with tax) salad at Wendy's, got the car inspected, bought some motor oil and windshield fluid cheap at the grand opening of a new conveniently located auto parts store, then went back to swimming and walked until my daughter was done. The only downside is I bought a new brand of dog food that was cheaper and highly recommended by the store, but the dog won't eat it! And of course it's a 40 pound bag. I've been putting treats in it, but so far she has been eating around the food!
Back to topic, I have also been driving like an old man. I call it the "poor man's hybrid". The key is to use the brakes as little as possible and to plan ahead as far as possible. For instance, as soon as I see a light turn red, I lift off the gas and coast up to the light, unless there is someone right behind me. It is actually sort of a fun game, seeing just how much I can optimize. And as a benefit, I give myself plenty of room in front to avoid hard braking at all costs. Of course this style of driving is much easier and more effective with a manual transmission car where you get engine braking. When I drive an automatic transmission car, I can just feel the gas and brake pads being wasted.
Frugal motoring
January 17th, 2008 at 01:10 am
January 17th, 2008 at 01:15 am 1200532545
Maybe when you get a second bag of the dog's normal food you could mix it in a 3-1 ratio?
January 17th, 2008 at 01:47 am 1200534470
I tell people all the time that I think hybrids are a waste - just buy a Corolla or equivalent and drive it frugally and forego all the possible high maintenance costs.
January 17th, 2008 at 01:47 am 1200534473
January 17th, 2008 at 01:53 am 1200534780
January 17th, 2008 at 03:31 am 1200540686
I know how you feel about the driving. I ran my saved-up errands yesterday and made 6 stops. Also, DH & I have figured out which roads are less likely to be travelled by pickup-truck driving gunners, so we can drive at our gas-saving pace without risking our lives. We notice lots of grey hair on the routes we take!
January 17th, 2008 at 03:40 am 1200541223
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