For my 4,000th post, I ask the question: gas $ vs driving habits

[fortyfeetunder]

Since the price of gasoline and diesel fuel has nearly doubled across the nation, I'd like to know if your driving habits have changed much.

It's sure changed mine, I make several trips on one outing so I don't have to return home and back out again...

[MuseRider]

1. I am trying to be very

aware of how and where I drive and have adjusted as much as possible. It costs me between $60 and $80 dollars a week to fill up so I had to start watching even more closely than I did before. I am thinking about buying something used that is more fuel efficient but I hate the idea of the two of us needing 3 vehicles.

Edit to say Congratulations!

[fortyfeetunder]

6. Thanks Muse!

I take it you are filling up 3 cars a week. We see the same thing where we are. I am consolidating errands, though it drives my kid nuts when I have to stop somewhere on our way home. Figure he'll learn.

Next challenge: finding carpools to any music rehearsals...

[MuseRider]

8. Actually no.

That is the bill for my truck only. We are moving to my farm "someday". The plans are done and we are about 2 months from the dig so I drive back and forth 2x a day, about 40 miles total. I think after we move there will be much less driving even though we will have to go further for our goods but I am building with that in mind. Still, to drive that truck anywhere is stupid but I do need it at the farm. My kids are grown and gone but those days would be killers at this point.

[xmas74]

12. How is the farm move going?

I am at home w/ my parents right now trying to save some money so that I can buy some land in the country. Eventually, I want to build my own straw bale home there.
I wondered how yours was going. I would like to hear from others who want to live in the country.

[MuseRider]

14. We are hoping to

dig in 2 months, possibly sooner if the bid comes out OK. We are not doing straw bale, thought about but are not, but we are doing a bunch of solar panels and looking into geothermal, there is a pretty good sized pond right in front of where the house goes. We are also looking into a Tulikivi fireplace but they are very pricey but if we can't afford that we are going to put in some kind of wood burning system. It would all be much easier if my husband did not have to live in such a freak show big house but he is moving to my farm so it is a compromise. When the time comes if you need any information on some of this let me know and I will send it to you. Good luck finding a nice piece of land.

[xmas74]

16. There are still some decent ones around here

but prices are starting to go up. There is a gorgeous piece around the riverbottoms. Incredible crop producer but is flood prone (only drawback-very hard to insure).
I don't want anything huge-I would like just 10-15 acres. That is more than enough to support myself and my daughter w/ produce plus sell a little off at the farmers market. I know that I am not ready for large scale farming-I just don't have the experience. But many of the pieces for sale around here are very large-200+. And they won't break them up.

[MuseRider]

17. Be very glad

they won't break them up or you will end up like me with a nice piece of property in the country with little developments, 20 acres or so with little houses all over the place, so that it is no longer really country. They come in, find out what the country is really like (even though what they live in is hardly country) then move out and it all gets nasty really fast.

I bought 52-53 acres and learned on it all by myself. Neighbors were leary at first but helped me learn. My husband comes out to play with the dogs but I do all the work, planning, planting etc. It is very rewarding and can be done, especially if you have a grass/hay crop that requires much less than a crop you have to plant every year.

Watch the river bottom, FEMA will cause you endless problems. The land is excellent but you will be forever paying for it. I am just mere feet above the river flood plain. My land is not as rich but FEMA has left me alone.

Good luck. It was the best decision I ever made in my life.

[xmas74]

19. I used to live on 15 acres

in the country. Right now I am afraid that anything higher than 20 would be too much. At a later time, I might be interested in more.
I live only one county away from KC. We are getting the yuppies over here on the NW side of the county. They are buying land left and right, building luxury homes and jacking up the property rates sky-high for the rest of the county. If I don't buy soon I won't be able to at all.
If I bought anything w/ a higher acrage, I might consider selling it off in smaller groups to people who are interested in alternate housing (like cob or straw bale). That might not be too bad. I just don't want the 2 million plus houses next door to me. I would prefer to have people living near by w/ similar values about alternate energy and housing-that might be a better option.

[MuseRider]

20. Good luck.

It is tough when all of that happens, we are losing so much land to it. I guess it might not be a repellant as it once was to think about this but consider Kansas, I think it may be a bit cheaper since there are not so many communities so close. Just a thought since both states seem to be following a similar path these days.

[xmas74]

22. I have thought about it before.

Heck, I thought about the Dakotas. I am still trying to get my ex's parental rights revoked. Right now I cannot move out of state because of him. But if I get it straightened out in court then I could.

[mike_c]

2. no change, but I already try to drive as little as possible....

Luckily, I can bike or ride the bus to work, and can usually consolidate most of my driving errands with a little planning.

[Progressive4Life]

3. Proud non-driver here1

Walking and biking are my preferred means of transportation. For the intercity commute, I bum a ride from my boyfirend or ride the bus.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Good for you, Progressive4Life!

And, BTW, WELCOME TO DU!

[fortyfeetunder]

5. Good idea!

What public transportation does your city have, bus, light rail, or other?

and welcome :hi: to DU!

[yewberry]

7. We drive much less.

My husband bikes to work most days. It's about twenty miles round trip, and he feels really good about doing it. We bought a used trailer for the bike and the dog rides along behind...Actually pretty funny when people peek into the trailer looking for a baby and instead find little Moby.

I take the bus pretty frequently--Decent bus service here, and there's a stop about a block from here. It only takes about ten minutes to get downtown and I don't have to pay for parking this way.

When we do take the vehicle, we do combine trips. When it's time to get gas, I check gasbuddy.com for the best local prices.

Congrats on 4000!

[supernova]

9. No change in my conservative driving habits

I've been aware of conserving gas since the 73 gas crisis.

I don't make unnecessary trips. I consolidate errands whenever possible. Living out the country helps with this too. You don't want to waste time, either.

Fill up in the eveing or the early morning, cooler temps mean less vapors in the air.

[fortyfeetunder]

10. Interesting point about 73 gas crisis

You mentioned conserving since being aware of the 73 gas crisis. Were you driving then? I was vastly underage but I was certainly aware of the world politics then. That influenced me to take energy design courses in college, and purchase fuel efficient automobiles.

Wonder if driving habits and/or conservation makes a difference for for those who lived through the gas crisis than for those too young to remember or born after the crisis....

[supernova]

11. I was 11 in 73

but I was precociously aware, even watched the Watergate hearings.

Having said that, my mom was still addicted to buying Buicks. ;-)

[xmas74]

13. I consolidate all of my errands.

I walk to my part-time job (not a good thing since it's late at night and I have to go through some less-than-wonderful areas). I walk my daughter to preschool. I still have to drive to my full-time since it is out of town.
I am thinking about buying a scooter. Some of the newer ones still get good milage and can be ridden on the highway.

[Mrs_Beastman]

15. Saving $60 a week here!

I knew I was getting laid off in July, so I found a job(for more pay, no less) that is 3 miles away. Hallelujah!

Make sure to keep no crap in my trunk to keep the car light. No unnecessary errands and consolidate trips. We do fill up on in the morning. I was 1 during the first gas crisis, but for some reason, I do remember waiting in a very long line for gas(in an olive green VW bus), and them 'cutting off the line' right when we got to it. ( my mom said this was when we were going to my grandma's funeral)

[swag]

18. Bought a Prius, take the bus and light-rail when I can,

walk when there is time.

The weather helps a lot. This week, I may be able to bike to work again.

[LeftyMom]

21. Combining trips when possible

LeftyDad got a job closer to home (slight pay cut, but the shorter commute made it worth it) and I'm looking around for a new bike and tuning up the trailer so we can go get some of the shopping done without the car when the weather cooperates. Unfortunately, the transit system here sucks, so if it's too far to bike (or if the roads aren't safe for biking, a big problem on at least one major road in my neighborhood) we'll be in the car.

When LK isn't in a snit, I'm trying to get the family to come inside stores with me instead of sitting in the parking lot with the AC on.

We're looking into biofuels, but so far we haven't seem many vehicles in our price range that meet our needs (good crash test ratings, three rows of seating, lap/shoulder belts and heardrest in most or all seating positions, AWD would be a plus) availible.

[kick-ass-bob]

23. I've taken the bus to and from work for several years.

So I save at least 100 miles a week and don't even have a 2nd car.