Skip to main content

Don't Fuel the Fire

The other day while driving, I messaged my sister (I have Bluetooth in my car and used the voice feature so I was legal) and said that I was “stopping for gas in 5 minutes although I might have to refinance my car in order to fill up my tank.”

I don’t know about you, but I am just disgusted with gas prices. I could go down the blame road, but because this is not a political blog, I will refrain from doing so. It is what it is, we just have to make the best of it, and I’m just here trying to help.

Summertime can allow us to do some things that we aren’t able to do when it’s too cold outside, like walk or bike to the store. But because the price of fuel isn’t the only thing that’s at a record high this year (there were 7 days over 100 degrees in Northern Utah IN JUNE–that’s just NOT normal) we need to be smart about it. If you are going to walk or bike to the store, choose a time of day where it’s cool enough that you can do that. And make sure you hydrate well before and after. Wear sunscreen and a hat. Keep little kids out of the heat as much as possible. And if you can’t do any of those things and MUST drive to the store, just be smart about it.

How?

Make fewer trips. Plan your meals for two weeks instead of one. If that hits your grocery budget too hard at first, see what you have on hand (in the freezer or even in food storage) to use to start a meal. And here’s a little trick I learned recently–if you need to fill up your car, do it in the morning. You get more bang for your buck when filling up in the cooler morning hours.

These little ideas might not make a ton of difference, but they do add up. And hang in there–September (which is usually slightly cooler and officially ends the summer travel season that typically sends gas prices skyrocketing) is right around the corner. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m ready for fall. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Know Your Limits

When I was 17, I drove a 73 Nova. It used to be really easy to do things like changing taillights myself. That is no longer the case. If I tried that on my later-model vehicle (which is more like a computer than a car), I’d do more damage than good, because there are some thing you should just not do yourself. It will cost you more in the long run. That being said, there are probably some things that you usually pay someone else to do that are not getting done right now. My advice is to just be patient; depending on what it is and your skill level, it might end up costing you more to fix your mistakes. Let’s discuss some of those… Obviously, most if not all car repairs are just better done by a licensed, trained professional, including oil changes. They can also correctly dispose of used petroleum products. Depending on your tax filing status, a professional can help you avoid overpaying the IRS. I remember cutting my daughter’s hair when she was little, and I made a me...
Post a Comment
Read more

Gifts that Matter

When I think about my childhood, there are a few events (some good, some not so good) that really stand out. These specific incidents made big impacts on me, so they really stuck. I bet you can say the same thing. These encounters, good and bad, help shape who we are. As parents, it is our job to teach our children to be honest, upstanding, contributing members of society. This does not happen by accident. Part of this process involves the experiences we give our children–we can orchestrate PEAK moments for our families that will leave lasting impressions on young, impressionable minds. What is a PEAK moment? According to de Jager Meezenbroek, Garssen, van den Berg, van Dierendonck, Visser, and Schaufeli in the Journal of Religion and Health , “Peak experiences are often described as transcendent moments of pure joy and elation. These are moments that stand out from everyday events.” Christmas offers an EXCELLENT opportunity to offer experiences that can become “PEAK moments” in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Greener Pastures

Those of you who have been following me for some time now know I am a warm-weather person. Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. I COME ALIVE when Daylight Saving Time starts. As far as I’m concerned, LIGHT IS LIFE. And that proclamation is a perfect segue into today’s topic. As the days get longer and warmer, most venture outside a little more and hibernate less. So it’s the perfect time to adjust our schedules and homes that can help save the planet and some of our hard-earned money. How? Well, there are lots of little things you can do that, added up, can make a huge difference. Switch out your regular light bulbs for LEDs. If you plan to buy a new appliance, purchase one with the ENERGY STAR seal and recycle your old one. Insulate your doors and windows. Save rainwater to water your landscape in the drier days ahead. Use the sun to dry your laundry by hanging it on a clothesline. Want more ideas? Google is LOADED with suggestions! Get the whole family involved and m...
Post a Comment
Read more