STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

BargainQueen · Marc Jacobs

What are y'all doing to save on gas?

Hermione · Kate Spade

I try to condense any errands/ shopping I need to do into one trip - so if I know like that I'll need to go to the post office later, but I want to go to the grocery store now - I take the time to wrap up that package and do whatever I need so I can get it all at the same time.
I try to walk as much as I can, but Texas weather and the spread really prevents it - if I was in a more urban area I'd definitely just get rid of my car.
I have started taking public transportation when I can, which is a huge gas saver (and is also good for the environment!)
It's also nice sometimes to be able to read or whatever and not pay attention to driving.

In the depression when there was gas rationing, I recently read that the American population as a whole was much healthier and weighed less! From all the walking I guess! I think maybe we all could cut down some on our driving to the benefit of ourselves, our wallets, and the environment!

Hermione · Kate Spade

Oh yes - my brother told me that the speed limits on the highway were also set during gas rationing times, and for maximum mileage out of each gallon. Every car differs, but for the most part, driving faster than 60-65 mph actually burns more gas, he says. Hm, who knew?

luckyclover · Dooney & Bourke

I've been bringing lunch to work too. We're pretty spread out here and not much of a public transportation system but my car gets good mileage. Also at walmart I know you used to get a lower price by using their gift cards to purchase gas. I had a friend who would buy a gift card just for gas to get the lower price...like 3cents less a gallon or something.

-- Edited by luckyclover at 00:49, 2008-06-22

Suasoria · Chanel

I'm not sure if it's the heat or the gas prices, but lately I don't feel like going anywhere if I don't have to. It was $4.59 a gallon on Saturday when I got gas - and about 111 degrees.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

I don't think there is anything else I can do that I don't normally do. Walking or biking is not an option since it takes me 10 minutes on the highway to get to the grocery store, 15 to work. I only drive to work, and maybe one or two other times a week to the grocery store or Target. I don't speed but still go 70mph since I believe slow drivers cause accidents with crazy people trying to weave in and out of traffic getting around them, etc.

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

Nothing. We just suck it up and pay it, but it is also just the two of us and Vinny. We also live in the city so we don't really need to drive everywhere/ Who knows how it would work if we had kids and lived in the burbs though...

Kelly · Hermes

There isn't really much more I can do that I haven't been doing all the time. By now I've kind of given up on caring. I mean, it sucks, but I can't do a whole lot more about it so it's not worth my time to get all worked up about it.

The only thing I've really done differently now is that if I have to go to the grocery store or something else that's open at night, I try to wait until later to do my errands so I can open the windows and not have the air conditioning on.

Hermione · Kate Spade

Ok - I just read that making sure your air filter is clean/ oil changed make a difference and the biggest thing you can do is make sure your tires are properly inflated.
Yikes, I don't know how to do that!

cahabo · Kate Spade

I recall reading from a few different sources that there is no difference in gas usage if you roll your windows down instead of using air conditioning.

Anyhow, I have severely cut down my trips to the grocery store. I try to shop for a week instead of going every other day or so. Also I try to combine errands.

relrel · Marc Jacobs

I don't know if it would help any of you'll, but most larger grocery chains have online ordering. Depending on the store and when you get it delivered, there's not a delivery charge or a minimal one. Some stores are better and have more well designed websites, but I've had good luck with Genuardi's.

Course, I haven't ordered groceries online for a couple of months since I have four stores within walking distance of about five minutes (including TJ's and Whole Foods...City living rocks!) so the delivery charges might have increased because of their fuel costs.

I'm not a driver at all, no license whatsoever, but I do know that keeping your car properly serviced helps with gas mileage. Cleaning all those tricky filters, getting the oil changed, and making sure your tires are all inflated to the proper psi and rotated when they should be all helps a car run more efficiently.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

cahabo wrote:

I recall reading from a few different sources that there is no difference in gas usage if you roll your windows down instead of using air conditioning.

Have the windows down create air drag, your better off using the air conditioner and be comfortable and quiet!

Kelly · Hermes

I haven't really researched this in any capacity (well I tried once, got nowhere and gave up), but I've heard that it's cheaper to drive with the windows down up to a certain point (when I heard it it was 60mph, but I'm sure it's much higher now because that was a couple years ago), and then when you got up to 60mph or whatever it was cheaper to switch to air conditioning because of the air resistance.

luckyclover · Dooney & Bourke

DH knows a lot about cars and supposedly the A/C does affect gas mileage however, if you use the recirculation button instead of the A/C it is the same as having the windows down. I'm not sure if this changes at higher speeds or not though...I've never heard that nor thought to ask.

Hermione...making sure your tires are inflated properly is pretty easy. You just need a tire pressure gauge...your tire should say on it what the pressure level should be at.

avalon21 · BCBG

I started taking public transportation to work and am only using my car when I have to! Unfortunately I have a lot of weekend trips where I have to drive because there is no bus or train transportation to where I am going :( Filling up my car is ridiculously expensive, I really can't justify paying $80 for a full tank of gas.

Elle · Hermes

My husband just bought a bike to ride to work. It saves us nearly $150 in gas a month, so it will have paid for itself in less than 3 months!

I can use the same tank of gas for an entire month if I only go to school, the grocery store, and on a few errands so I don't have any plans to reduce my driving further

. We've always condensed errands and walked to closeby places, so we'll continued to do that too.

jrhampt · Kenneth Cole

Well, thank goodness that I telecommute. Unfortunately, I'll have to drive to work two days a week in the fall, but at least I don't have to do it on a regular basis. Also, we don't go out to eat nearly as much as we used to; I cook at home probably 6 nights a week at least. I grocery shop locally and try not to go anywhere farther than 5 miles away if possible. Basically, I've become a hermit.

boobaby · Kate Spade

I got rid of my car in 2002. I thought gas prices were high then. I'm lucky to live in an urban area with public transportation. Don't get me wrong, I miss having a car (I miss you, mall!), but I think I'm going to sign up for I-GO car sharing (we get free sign up for personal accounts at work).