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With gas prices at a record high, fuel costs are draining the wallets of many. Where do you
pinch pennies to siphon extra cash into your tank? Are you pulling from your savings or your entertainment
budget?
What if you didn't need to spend any more on gas than you did a year ago, even in the face
of these prices?
Through our newsletter, we recently asked Bankrate
readers how they were coping with rising gas prices. In their replies,
many said they shucked their automobiles -- or at least greatly
reduced the amount of time they spend behind the wheel.
Whether biking, walking or riding public transportation, our readers often found multiple perks
from their creative ways around the price spike. Several are exercising more. One spends less time in the office,
and another traded traffic for reading on the train.
Could one of these solutions work for you? Read on and find out.
Tips from readers
We just moved last year to Southern California. Before we left Florida
we sold one of our vehicles. We haven't replaced it yet, and because
of the increase in gas prices, we've decided to see how difficult
life would be if we continue sharing one automobile. We are retired
now and most things are within walking distance for me in our little
village. So far it's worked fairly well. It's always been easy to
just jump in the car to dash about, and now I can appreciate how
many useless trips I used to make. I'm also getting a lot more exercise
because if my spouse takes the car to the golf course, it forces
me to walk up to the market and bank.
-- J.K.N.
With gas prices going through the roof, I've started
telecommuting more. I work from home at least three days a week
now, sometimes the entire week. Not only am I saving on outrageous
gas prices, I'm putting less toxins into the environment and I'm
able to walk to daycare to pick up my son at the end of my workday.
More exercise is good too!
-- Michelle
My commute is 19 miles each way, by interstate. It's 1.5 hours each way by bike-on-the-bus and biking
alone. Since the snow went away I was averaging one day a week by bike/bus. Now I'm trying for four days per week,
and up to two or three so far.
I also work with the local bicycle advocacy nonprofit
group, bikedenver.org, and encouraging everyone to ride their bikes
to work, the store, errands, etc. We're working with the local agencies
as well to make improvements to bicycling facilities such as parking
structures and road-share markings.
-- L.N.
Yes, it's true, I have altered my transportation habits to and from work. Last Monday, I left my car
at work and took BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) home. It's $4 per way, and I live about 30 miles from work. At over
$4.50 per gallon for 91 octane (required in my car), it made economic sense to use BART. Once at my destination, I
took the bus to my home. Now, I ride my bike to the BART station in the morning, leave it there, and ride it home
in the evening. My car is still in the work garage. It takes longer to get to and from work, but now I get exercise
daily, and time to fully read the paper and magazines. And I don't miss filling up the gas tank at all.
-- Randy W.
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