Not sure if this should be on the debate board or not, but here's a place to tell how the high prices of gasoline have impacted your life, and maybe vent a bit.

I don't do a lot of driving in general. I got my little Hyundai Accent Thanksgiving weekend of 2004 (almost exactly 18 months ago), and have a bit less than 8,000 miles on it, though my driving has gone up with biweekly round trips of about 80 miles to see my granddaughter. My work commute is 75 miles a week. So far it costs me between $20-25 to fill my tank, and I don't get great mileage because most of my commute is stop and go driving. So it doesn't impact me as badly as a lot of other people. Still, each time I have seen a rise in prices, I groan. Yesterday the price at the station I use went down 2 cents, to $2.979, but that doesn't make much difference, to me or anyone else.

By Pamt on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 11:27 am:

Well, we were going to TN or NC for vacation and now we are just going to Georgia because of gas prices. On a daily basis it hasn't effected us too much. I just go back and forth from work, my college, the kids' school, and church. They are all pretty close except for the college and I finish up next week so that will cut down on a several miles. Shopping is located very near me, so that's no problem.

The biggest thing that has caused me to cut down on non-necessary driving is our post-Katrina traffic. Baton Rouge has absorbed the bulk of white collar New Orleans, plus 2-3 colleges, plus relatives, so our infrastructure can't support the amount of people we have living here now. Traffic is still a nightmare and it takes double or triple the amount of time to get anywhere than it took before the hurricane, plus there are more wrecks now which create additional problems. It's a huge mess and I can't wait to leave here next year.

Oh! and I filled up my 4 door midsized sedan (Mazda 626) yesterday and it cost $39. I used to be able to fill it up for about $25.

By Boxzgrl on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 11:31 am:

I have a 2005 Toyota Corolla and when I bought it last June it took $27 to fill it up. Right now it takes $43. DH's truck takes about $80 to fill up where it used to take $55. I don't drive much so the only impact gas prices have here are DH and I working out our schedules so he can drive my car more often. Right now our unleaded gas is $3.37 on base. Off base i've seen it up to $3.65

By Colette on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 12:16 pm:

I am paying about 2.80, I don't drive a lot anyways so it's not that big of a deal. Dh is taking his motorcycle to work (40 mile each way commute) because it's really good on gas.

By Mommmie on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 12:19 pm:

So far it has not impacted me too terribly bad. I have wiggle room in my budget. My job is 9 miles away, the school 1 mile away. Stores all near by. I even have mass transit available to me if it ever gets real bad. The nearby bus stop goes directly to the train station 4 miles away and then a train stop is at the foot of my office building. A monthly train pass is $45/month. My monthly gasoline bill right now is about $150. It used to be about $100.

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 12:19 pm:

Takes at least $32 to fill up my Honda Accord. We are going to CA in June, and I am dreading the gas prices for the rental car.

I don't drive any more or less since prices have gone up, just notice the bigger tab at the pump. It has greatly affected Jen though, since it takes sometimes 2 hours in gridlock for her to get to school in the morning. THAT sucks up her gas and she is spending a fortune just to go to and from school.

When DH has to travel for work, it hurts us. He gets paid mileage, but as gas prices increase, his mileage reimbursement has not, so that hurts too.

By Kate on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 12:58 pm:

Pam--where are you going next year?? You guys are moving?

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 01:30 pm:

$2.92 here, and has been for a while. Price of gas doesn't affect our vacation to South Dakota, because we are taking the diesel car, which gets about 42 mpg, on the highway and most of our distance will be on an interstate.

My car, a Ford Taurus, doesn't get all that great city mileage and that's most of the driving that I do, taking kids to school and back. The last time I filled up, I found a gas station that was 2.90, and it cost me 34.35 for 11.8 gallons.

So, on weekends, we try not to drive my car.

By Marcia on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 01:46 pm:

The gas in Southern Ontario is around the $1/litre mark. (around a quart) My van takes about $90 to fill, but that lasts me for weeks. Other than running around town, I don't do a lot of driving. I can normally wait until the price drops before having to get gas.
Hubby drives a Ford Escort, and he drives about 250km/week. His car gets good mileage, thank God!!
Our driving habits really haven't changed, because he has to drive to work, and I still just do the little stuff I need to do. It didn't stop me from going to Florida.

By Tink on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 03:00 pm:

Luckily, I don't drive much, just to the dks' schools and errand running (which I try to do all in one trip) but gas prices are up to $3.09 here and it costs about $40 to fill the tank. That's high enough that I'm not driving around to get the best deal when I shop. I'm a lot more likely to go to the closest grocery store or ask my mom to pick something up at the stores near her. She does the same with me and, since we see each other once a week or so, we just swap items then. I have to admit that I'm rethinking some of the weekend trips I had planned for this summer, just because the gas prices are so prohibitive.

By Missbookworm on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 05:32 pm:

Here gas is about $1.17 a litre. A gallon I understand is 4 litres that's 4.68 a gallon if I remember right. I don't know how much my bf is now paying for gas for his vehicle. He drives a Rodeo. I use public transit and I only pay $69 a month for a pass and they've just introduced a new tax rebate here for people who purchase a pass every month. That starts in July. I imagine it probably costs my bf a lot for his vehicle and he drives it a lot. To work and home to pick up his son for soccer games and baseball games etc. grocery shopping. The only time he doesn't is when he's in my neighbourhood and we walk to everything because things are all so conveniently located where I live.

I guess in a lot of ways it doesn't really affect my life much. We probably won't reschedule any of our trips away driving or anything, either. I don't know. For us to go camping and the like it's only 5 hours driving and we're at the lake we go to and that's usually less than one tank of gas. Prices went up a fair amount last year to just over a dollar and that didn't alter our plans one bit.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 06:53 pm:

I saw a gas station with 2.89/gallon! Maybe I'll fill up there tomorrow!

By Shann on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 08:01 pm:

ours is about 2.60 ish. depends on what station what took 40 for fill up it takes almost 70.00 now. We are currently looking for another vehical. I take dh back and forth to the doctors which is about a 2 hour drive and it hits the pocket book plus I make 3 trips a day out to the kids school. it all adds up. our problem is we need a bigger vehical because there are 6 of us. So we are thinking another Mini Van.

By Cocoabutter on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 09:39 pm:

It affects our lives some. We are spending about $100-$150 a month more on gas than we did this time last year. Since I am a SAHM, it is hard because I don't bring in any income. But at the same time, it's a blessing because I don't have to drive to work every day and we live close to stores.

The worst part is when we go visit relatives. It seems we make at least one trip to see them every month, depending on the month. We have 2 b-days in December and 2 in March in addition to the Holidays. They live 45-60 miles away. It is hard not to go see them. The in-laws are getting older and in need of some help. My parents don't like to drive in the big city. The burden falls on us if we are to get together.

Gas here got up to $3.39 a gal after Katrina. Recently it has only been up to $2.95. The Grand Rapids area has the highest prices in the state.

By Kaye on Sunday, May 7, 2006 - 12:19 pm:

Hmmm we defintely noticed the price increase. In texas you drive, and you drive a lot. The average driver here puts about 20k a year on their cars. We mostly just have rearranged our budget a little. I do think, ya know we only live 1/4 mile from the school, we walk about half the time, but I do drive the other half. I try to cut that down, but it is darn hot here, so I don't always. When I started fly lady years ago she talked a lot about having an errand day, I do find that I stick with that, there are days that I just don't drive based on my schedule. With my tennis group we already carpooled a lot so not much to change there.

For me the bigger impact is our earth. I know it cost more and that can be a huge strain on people, but each time you drive you just put so much more crap into the air. With all our major disasters I try to be more conscious about my impact on the earth.

By Conni on Sunday, May 7, 2006 - 10:34 pm:

Let's just say, my kids ride the bus now!!!!!!!!

By Eve on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 09:44 am:

I'm concerned what gas prices will be this Summer--they are estimated that our gas prices will be more like other countries, so $5-7 per gallon. I'll definately be driving less. Thankfully, DD will be taking the bus to school next year.

Also, I was thinking about getting a new car. Now, I'm thinking of keeping mine and avoiding a car payment. We'll see. I does make me stop and think though.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 10:25 am:

At two of our gas stations, the price recently dropped from $2.92 to $2.89. It's not that much, but down is still better.

If the gas prices go up to 5-7 dollars per gallon, won't that just about bring the country to a standstill?

When you guys refer to your kids taking the bus, is this a school bus, or a city bus? We don't live far enough away from the high school, or the middle school to get school bus service. My kids would have to $1.80/day to ride the city bus, so that adds up, too! I just take my kids.

.90/ride

1.80/day X 2 kids = 3.60

3.60/day X 180 school days = $648 over the course of a school year

By Breann on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 10:29 am:

Unfortunately my DH has to commute about 70 miles round trip for work.

Also, we are leaving on vacation to CA this week. I'm sure the gas prices there will kill us.

By Breann on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 10:31 am:

I heard on the news that Tuesday is the best day to fill up your car. That's usually the cheapest day. It starts to go up as the weekend gets closer, and they hold over the high prices through Monday for those taking long weekends. So, they said that Tuesday and early Wednesday is the best

By Mommmie on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 11:00 am:

To ride the school bus in our area you have to live at least 2 miles away and no one does, so hence no school bus service. The city bus doesn't have an appropriate route. Walking or biking is the only other option besides car travel.

By Conni on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 12:17 pm:

Dawn, my older boys ride the bus to the middle school and jr high. They are several miles away so we do have bus services for them. My youngest on the other hand is in a private school across town right now and I still am making that drive 2x a day. It's better to go to one school instead of 3 schools in diff areas of town! And now baseball is starting for the little guy! So that adds more running around.

My jr high guy may have to ride the moped to football everyday this summer too. lol That will save on gas for sure.

If prices do continue to go up I may have to sell our old Landcruiser and get a used little car (old Toyota corolla or something similar that I can pay cash for) and use that for running around town... I also will consider just enrolling Blake in the school across the street next yr and not keep him in the school he is in like I am planning to do at this point. ugh

By Tonya on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 01:17 pm:

I paid $2.68 yesterday. When I bought my van it took less than $28 to fill it up now it is closer to $50 and that only last a week.

It has caused us to cancel some plans and do allot more duel travels with my sister. We take turns driving when we are going as a family somewhere that we are both going to.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 08:05 pm:

I put 10 gallons in my Taurus today and it cost me 29.15. Ugh. Bad enough.

We were up to 2.92 and 2.95 even, at a couple of gas stations. The last time I filled up, DH told about a place that was only 2.90 and today, I filled up at 2.89, so I never had to pay the slightly higher prices! My fill-up lasts a week to a week-and-a-half, probably because it isn't driven much on the weekends.