In celebration of $4/gallon gas

I'm in no way thrilled about the recent rise of gas prices and have even found myself falling into a panic every now and then about it. However, complaining won't accomplish anything will it?

So, in an effort to keep a grateful spirit, I present to you four reasons I am celebrating $4/gallon gas:

1) High gas prices have encouraged our family to slow down and stay home more. A go-go-go lifestyle isn't healthy for anyone, so I'm thankful for the motivation to reconsider outside activities and commitments and pursue a simpler, more relaxed pace in our life.

2) High gas prices have helped us get in better shape. We have added a lot more exercise into our daily lives as a result of the higher gas prices as we try to walk instead of drive as often as we can.

3) High gas prices have caused us to be more efficient. While we used to think nothing of driving to a destination and driving back, we now try our best to plan ahead and combine trips. We rarely go anywhere without consciously making an effort to work some other errands into the trip. This not only saves on gas money, but it also saves us time and effort as it's much more effective to tackle four errands at once than to make four separate trips.

4) High gas prices have saved us money. I know it might seem like a misnomer that rising gas prices have saved us money, but when you factor in how many errands we've decided not to run, how many times we've opted to walk to the park instead of driving somewhere, or how many times we've just stayed home, in the long run I think it's saved us money.

What about you? I'd love to hear reasons you have found to be thankful for high gas prices.

Comments

[Michelle Z.]

This is probably a terrible reason to be thankful for high gas prices, but in the pursuit of honesty...

These high prices mean that my parents are less likely to come visit me.

I know that is really mean, but I don't get along well with my mom, and I get so stressed out before and during their visits that I'm loving this break from them.

We vacation at the same place every year, and for the past 3 years (since I had my son) my parents have "surprised" us by just showing up for about half of our week there.

This year, I had an entire week of vacation with just my son. It was wonderful. (Well, it would have been perfect if my husband weren't deployed and could have enjoyed it with us.) I almost wept with relief when my sister told me that they couldn't afford the trip down and wouldn't be "surprising" me.

[Heather]

When I started couponing and CVSing 8 months ago, all my friends laughed at me. Now they are cutting back and in the past couple of months have started asking me for advice! People in the checkout line no longer glare at me for pulling out coupons, and cashiers seem a little nicer about it too. Or maybe I have just grown a thicker skin and don't notice anymore. :D

I hope that this makes people everywhere more interested in public transportation. With more demand, we should be able to have more options. I think longingly of the Paris metro every time I get in the car. Our bus system completely skips our section of town, and we are just a teeny bit too far from everything to be able to walk in this heat & humidity. So until the heat breaks in September, we are spending a lot of time at home.

[Becky]

Well, there is something we can and should do about it. Hubby says we all need to be writing our congressman!!

[Monica]

I loved all of your reasons and have seen them come into play in our home as well. I have not felt the pinch of higher gas prices much because we don't go places very much! We can't walk anywhere from where we live - so we must drive if we get out. I agree with Jeannine that thankfulness is good medicine! And, it keeps our focus on being content and giving.

[Patty P.]

The news last night reported that a lot of companies are bringing work back to the USA from China and mexico, because of the cost of transportation.

[Mary]

Well let's see here...I have lost weight because we are walking more and riding bikes to most places nearby now instead of jumping in the car on a whim. Dh's boss is now partially reimbursing him for gas when he sends him to look at new jobs and get supplies (probably would have all along but dh just brought it up to him). When we run errands we combine them all together and go once a week as a family generally. I do most of the other shopping online and use the free shipping options most places have (you generally have to buy a minimum amount but I usually do not have to worry about that (esp for books!)
My kids are finally grasping the concept that money does grow on trees or magically fall from the sky and that the bank only gives you money if you have money in the bank (why is that so hard to figure out for them mine are almost 7 and 4 ).
I get to play the coupon game as dh calls it (what I save in coupons at the store I get to keep! I save it for something fun for us to do...this week we are going to the Thresher's Convention in Wauseon OH the kids get to see the tractors and such and dh and I get to shop the flea market!)
I have noticed that we have more money too because we are not really running around and then eating out (this weekend will be an exception to that but you need to do that sometimes!) all the time. We are talking about taking the kids to Disney World next year so I need to start putting that money away too.
The price of gas and food has also caused dh to expand my garden for me too something I have wanted him to do for the past few years! Now I need to go weed it!

[Ashley Flores]

I never thought about how it could be a good thing! Thanks for shedding that light on it.

[Valerie]

I whole-heartedly agree -- let's look for the bright side! I'm being EXTRA careful about my errands, combining several into one trip or not going at all. My husband still thinks nothing of hopping in the car and driving 3 miles to the closest store for a single forgotten ingredient. (I don't let him cook much...) He's getting better lately, since I've been taking him shopping and showing him how careful I am about EVERY purchase. Me? I told the family they'd have to wait an extra 20 minutes for dinner the other night while I made enchilada sauce (I was out of canned or frozen).

I truly hope America will take this as a wake-up call about developing alternative energy sources; I'm a bit skeptical, since I lived through the last gas crisis and saw what happened when gas prices dropped... everyone bought big gas guzzlers again (and congress, by way of tax perks, ENCOURAGED it).

[Jenni]

I moved back to the States a year ago after being overseas for 2 years. Because I was starting a home business and didn't know what finances were going to be the first year, I decided to forgo buying a car right away. When I came to the point where I could afford something cheap to get me from point A to point B, gas prices started skyrocketing! I re-looked at the total cost of owning a car again. By my calculations, I'd minimally save $4200/year. (AAA says $6,320)

I recently had a Xtracycle hitchless trailer installed for more cargo hauling capacity. (http://www.xtracycle.com) I don't have to worry about how to get my CVS purchases home anymore! :-)

Maybe I should ride my bike to Jack-in-the-Box for free tacos tomorrow! (Friends on vacation loaned me a vehicle for the week, which I used to haul my bike to the shop for a minor repair. I filled up the tank, so I have a gas receipt.)

[Audrey]

A couple years ago my husband and I purchased a Toyota Yaris, one of the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid cars out there. We then got rid of our mini-van last fall. I'm not thankful that gas prices are $4/gallon, but I am thankful that gas prices are not much of an issue for us. It only takes 10 gallons to fill up my tank (about $40), and it lasts me two to three weeks. If prices get up to $5 a gallon, then it only means a difference of $10 a tank! It also has made us look for other ways to be more efficient and ways that we can help the environment. We now carry reusable bags when we shop, and my husband takes public transportation. It feels good to know that we are doing what we can to save this planet for our children.

[Juli]

My son and I are discovering closer places to go in Indiana and we invite others to come along with us. It helps with fuel and hotel or camping costs. It also adds fun to the experience. We have been to Starve Hollow SRA, Indiana Beach and Marengo Cave this summer. Sharing the cost with another mom and her son - helps all of us! There are so many things to see in your home state, just check out the nearest motel and look at all the travel literature and brochures.