Save Gas Money-- Help the Environment
by Ann Safford

Have you driven by a gas station lately and gone into sticker shock over the gas prices? They are no longer jumping up pennies at a time; they are making leaps and bounds sometimes by as much as 10 cents or more per gallon!

Who hasn't felt the price crunch when we commute to work? Even the grocery store prices are skyrocketing, as suppliers have to charge more for their product so they can make ends meet as well.

It's time to start planning smarter trips. Gone are the days when you could hop in the car and go out for a Sunday drive, or make a quick trip to the corner market for that forgotten gallon of milk.

Also, making the news is the comeback of grocery shopping lists. Combine the two and ease your driving miles. Using a smart shopping list can also help you save money at the store by curbing your impulse to buy unneeded items. You do need a bit of self control though for that!

It makes sense to plan your shopping around payday and your bank run before you head home. Start with a simple list of things you might be getting low on, and add to it as the week progresses. Come payday, grab your shopping money and head to the store and try to stock up on your necessities to last the week. Even milk is usually dated far enough out to last you until your next paycheck.

Stock up on shampoos, soaps, dog and cat food and anything else you use on a regular basis.

Other ways you can consider to save gas mileage can include carpooling or public transportation.

Carpooling has been talked about for years. Consider that now might be time to jump on the carpool bandwagon. It'll conserve gas, and give you some (hopefully) friendly company on the way into work in the morning.

If you're near public transportation, consider using that as much as possible. It might cost you a dollar or two per trip, but consider the savings in the long run.

Not only does this save you money, but it also saves wear and tear on your car and exhaust that's polluting the earth. It only makes sense, but it can be difficult to get into the habit. I, for one, have been guilty of too many trips to the market as well.

Until car manufacturers can make an affordable, earth-conscious car that gets better gas mileage than the current vehicles, we're all going to have to use smarter choices when making our trips.

Good luck and happy, smart traveling!

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