How have higher gas prices affected your behavior?

[CoffeeCat]

Gas is around $3 here in Iowa.

I never realized how much I *didn't* think about how much I drive.

I'm always taking our kids (and their friends) to gymnastics, play dates, school, etc. During the day, I run errands--some of them requiring me to travel to smaller towns or into Des Moines.

I have seriously altered my behavior. I've lessened trips to the grocery store--and I'm planning activities with my children that involve staying home, playing in the yard or taking walks. We used to hop in the car and drive around a huge, scenic lake in the area. We're not doing that any more. We're now carpooling more.

I know that we should have been more cognizant of our behaviors prior to the skyrocketing gas prices. Driving was taken for granted. No more.

I noticed that our budget for gas--for two cars--has more than doubled since a few years ago.

How have you been affected by higher gas prices?

Have you altered your behavior, in any way, because of higher gas prices?

[Atman]

1. I cuss a lot more when filling the tank.

But we gave up the second car about seven months ago. Any savings just goes into filling up the one car now.

[leftyladyfrommo]

2. Last time I filled cost me over $45.00

I am definitely paying attention to how much I drive.

[The Blue Flower]

3. Walk or take the bus more

n/t

[serryjw]

40. Me too!

Don't have a car,work out of the house, walk to grocery store!

[shenmue]

4. I don't go anywhere except work

:(

[mduffy31]

5. When I fill my tank

I actually count how many hours of work this is costing me. It makes me feel better that way, it doesn't seem as much.

[MsTryska]

6. I'm currently trying to find Hybrid Rental car for my trip to

Florida this weekend.

it's been unsuccesful so far.

[mduffy31]

9. If you are travelling on a freeway

A Hybrid doesn't help. My brother did that and the real savings is when you drive in city traffic not highway traffic. You would be better off with a small car that gets better MPG.

[MsTryska]

18. The problem is that I need a car big enough

to fit my 4 adults and a child seat once I get to florida.

We'll be driving around a bunch while i'm there, and Central Florida traffic is pretty congested too.


So hopefully in the longrun with the added mileage of a larger hybrid vehicle, I'll save a little on gas. At 3-ish per gallon, every gallon counts.

[MsTryska]

16. Correction....it turns out

my local Toyota ealership has Hybrids available. I will be swinging by to see them before I leave.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

7. It's made me VERY angry. Next question.

[wakeme2008]

8. I love them and am voting only Repug from now on

:crazy:

[lse7581011]

10. Working From Home

3 days a week!

[rkc3]

11. Aside from swearing quite a bit more, I've been trying to drive the speed

limit and consolidate trips.

I have a 65 mile round trip each day, so I'm spending about as much on gas a month as my car payment. The car has about 77,000 miles on it and high gas prices will force me to keep it for a few more years - I will most likely get a smaller, more fuel efficient car as well.

But the best thing I've been doing is saying "Thanks W!" at the gas pump. Usually, I'm holding the receipt in my hand and shaking my head. Heads turn but no one has said anything. Yet.

[wildhorses]

12. I mumble and mutter under my breath while filling the tank!!!

My road trips have been reduced. I am interviewing for better paying jobs. I think a lot about how the future might be and how I should be prepared for it. I cuss more and then I pray more.

[jedicord]

13. It's sure not helping small businesses.

My husband is a plumber, and he has to drive his van, loaded with equipment, all over town (Houston) every day. The high prices are killing him. Not driving is not an option.

[etherealtruth]

14. Ooooh, for sure ... this is hitting him hard

How long before he raises his rates (understandably)?

[jedicord]

19. He was considering different rates for distances.

But, in the long run, that would bite him in the butt because he would be losing customers that are farther away.

And the bigger plumbing businesses (Roto Rooter et al) can take the gas price hit easier so they won't have to raise rates.

Wait a minute, what was I saying about Roto Rooter? The majority of their plumbers are independent, using their own vans, paying for their own gas, working on a commission basis. No reason for that company to raise rates over gas prices!

OK, now I'm just getting even more pissed off.

[MemphisTiger]

15. I try to make one trip when I go out and plan my route better to

avoid wasting gas. I tend to take fewer trips and I eat out less.

[endarkenment]

17. More pissed off than a few weeks ago

although how that is possible is beyond me.

[Turbineguy]

20. My friend

who has friends in the oil industry, tells me that a 3 percent reduction in demand would drop the prices significantly. Some cannot reduce by that much.

[The2ndWheel]

22. Well if there's one thing we've learned

since oil was discovered, it's that demand doesn't drop. That's the case with any energy source though. Slaves, coal, oil, whatever.

We better hope we have enough oil to go around, or something else that can satisfy the energy demands of a growing number of people on this planet.

Should be fun to find out.

[RebelOne]

21. Actually, nothing has changed for me.

I have to drive to work, which is a round trip of about 30 miles. And I am fortunate that I have grocery stores and malls all within a 5-mile radius of my house. So I really don't use that much gas.

[kestrel91316]

23. I drive a lot less, but this has been a gradual change over the

last 10 years, rather than a response to high gas prices in the last year or so. I have had a growing environmental conscience for a long time.

I combine trips, don't just take off and drive around to see the sights on weekends, and I often ride the bus to work and walk home (3 miles of NEEDED exercise).

[RedStateShame]

24. A few changes

I am in less of a hurry to get my car fixed, I am a public transit regular, I try to pick up friends when I drive my girlfriend's car, and at gas stations, I find myself saying really loudly to people, "Man, it's worth it so gay people can't get married, isn't it?!"

[meisje]

25. I've had to cut lap dances down from 9 to 6 per week

damn you bush!

[Dora]

26. .

:spank:

[Roaming]

27. Has not really changed much except my budget

I have places to go and I can't get there effectively with public transportation, so I just pay more.

[Little Star]

28. Mother Earth is what gives us our ability to exist

We all need to do everything we possibly can to save her. You will get no argument from me on every single issue for us to be responsible caretakers. Yes we can start now and do as much as possible to take stop our selfishness.
However, until people can afford to start walking/bicycling hours back and forth to work and stop using gas (btw how are we going to carry our groceries home?) We don't all live where there is public transportation and I would like to also see just how much public transportation really saves both in usage and cost.
Until people can afford to purchase these cars that use alternatives to gas. Until these greedy bastards make it possible for all people to afford these much needed green alternatives. The little we can do (those who are lucky enough to have the time and money) are but a drop in the bucket (yes, it needs to start with us and now is the time). We will all be dead (and probably many more generations also will be dead) before it makes any difference IMHO. It all sounds good but I believe it is a pipe dream in reality JMVHO.

I say march, protest and demand just like the Mexicans are doing along with doing all the above mentioned stuff! It may not make much of a difference but they will at least see we have had enough. Maybe if we can get them to bring down the gas prices some families can afford to live and eat. Wouldn't that be a kind thing?????

How about this idea? If you think marching and protesting won't help? How about this?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9071642/

Also:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060125/BUSINESS/601250347/1071

Rant off! Thanks for listening.:smoke:

[CoffeeCat]

30. I wish Honda would bring back their Honda Express moped!

I loved mine, when I was a teenager in the 80's.

I could fill it up for $2.

I wonder why Honda doesn't make these any more. I bet a lot of people would buy them.

[MadHound]

36. You could always get one of these

A Bajaj scooter, it gets 100mpg, it cruises at 55-60mph. I bought one last Sept. when gas was soaring, and have been riding it whenever possible. Right now I've got 3700 miles on it(my round trip commute is fifty two miles). It performs like a champ, nice comfortable, stable ride, and with a four speed manual transmission, you get quick get up and go from stoplight. These bikes run about $2800.

Two caveats however. First, being as that it has a 145cc engine, you will more than likely have to put a license plate on it, and get a motorcycle permit yourself. Secondly, the factory tires that come on it are crap. My back tire was getting seriously bald at 3000 miles. I replaced both tires with Michelin S-83s($35.00 ea) and it makes a noticable difference in the ride and the handling of the bike, for the better.

Other than that, I'm pleased as punch about my little bike. Gets me where I need to go, and I just love passing the SUVs by at the gas station.

More info at <http://www.bajajusa.com>

[CoffeeCat]

41. Thanks for that!

That is adorable!

I bet you save a ton of money driving this to work.

It's very hip. :)

Thanks for all of the info on that. I bet you love passing the SUV's at the gas
station! Beep, beep!

I'd love one of these.

[MadHound]

42. It is the top selling scooter in the world

It's made in India, and they are all over SE Asia. I commute into a college town, and it is really fun to watch the reactions of SE Asian and Indian students when they see the bike. They absolutely love, wave and smile, I feel like I'm bringing them a little piece of home.

I've seen pictures and films of how they use these puppies in India, they just pile stuff on them. Huge bundles, overflowing the bike, of various produce or goods. I saw one picture of a Bajaj being driven by one man, with one child standing on the floorboard in front of him, and two riding behind. Not a safe thing to do, but it shows how much they can haul.

If you can afford one of these, I really do recommend them.

[The2ndWheel]

32. Buy fewer groceries

But we're not going to stop voluntarily. We're either going to have enough energy to continue down this path, or we'll crash. There is no middle road here.

[demnan]

29. I curse more

when I go to the gas station.

What are you going to do? You have to work. And yes, you have to play. As long as I can afford to I will still do stuff on the weekend. Life has to be worth living, somehow.

[Theres-a]

31. I got my hours cut at work

People just aren't eating out as much.Guess I'll need to look over my budget and adjust a thing or two,or three.........

[Little Star]

33. Me Too

Got Gas and electric bills. I'll be eating allot of beans. Good thing they are good for us! :cry:

[Theres-a]

34. Chickpeas

The inexpensive white meat.:7

[AngryAmish]

35. Not at all

Gas is a very small percentage of my expenses.

Now if the price of beer went up 100%...

[Boomer]

37. I eat out less

My biggest expense is commuting. There's not much I can do to cut that gas usage other than driving 55-60mph even when the speed limit is 70mph.

I adjust for the balance of my gas usage by eating out less (saves money AND gas), or walking to local events whenever feasible. I make do with the goods at local stores instead of driving to the next town (with better stores) and I've cut out more impulse shopping of items that I "like" but don't "need."

Which means that the oil companies are doing just great, but other businesses are taking a big hit.

[Lochloosa]

38. I tend to Rub it in the Face of every REPUG I know.

just saying....}(

[mdmc]

39. I have no electricity

goin on a week now. I get online at the library. I eat at the diner. I sit in the dark.

[CoffeeCat]

43. Did you get it temporarily shut off?

Are you going to get it turned back on?

I'm sorry about your not having electricity.

I was late paying my light bill in college, and I was without power for 5 days. It
was really surreal. I lit quite a few candles. It was the most difficult at night.

I hope you get it turned on soon! :)