Pain in the…Gas?!

By now, you’ve probably accepted the fact that gas prices are unbelievably high. I mean, it was unbelievable when last year we paid more than $3 a gallon for the first time in U.S. history. Quite frankly, I’d rather not have another ‘unbelievable’ moment at the pump.

But, unfortunately I did have another moment. It happened when signs at gas stations across the country were suddenly changed to $4, and in some places $5, for one gallon of gas. Sorry guys, I have to say it again…unbelievable!

What’s even more unbelievable is the fact that we seem to have little to no control over the situation…forcing all of us to suck it up just as our wallets are being sucked dry. And now I’m facing what’s commonly referred to as a cash shortage! (I would ask Calgon to take me away, but I can’t afford to buy the Calgon.)

I understand that hurricanes will come and go. I even understand that there will be highs and lows in the oil industry. But, does anyone care about my highs and lows? Probably not! So, you know what I’ve been doing to get through the storm? First, I’ve been cutting back on what I do and how often I do it. Yeah, it’s painful to do, but it has also been working. Need some suggestions? Read on…

· Lay off the gas. Okay, so if you’re anything like me, you constantly drive fast because you’re running late. Well, here’s the problem. The faster you drive, the more fuel you burn. So, leave earlier, drive slower, and save some gas.
· Plan ahead. I’ve saved a ton just by planning my daily trips. If I need something from the store, I stop on the way. At this point, I absolutely refuse to make any special trips anywhere, unless I just have to.
· Car pool. Find friends or co-workers who live near you and get a carpool going. It doesn’t have to be every day, but every little bit helps. If everyone is chipping in, then everyone is saving money…including you.

Now, if all else fails and you’re still having trouble just getting by. There is nothing wrong with getting a little financial help. I’ve gone online several times and applied for personal loans, with great success. I am smart about it, though. As tempting as it may be, I refuse to go beyond my financial means and only deal with online loan companies that I trust. I hope this brief article will help you trust your gut when it comes to dealing with life’s high and lows at the pump and beyond…