Geez.
That's all I can think of when I was watching several people having to sell some of their possessions at the pawn shop on the news. Apparently to pay for the gas in their vehicles. So this is what it has come down to? Deciding if we should sell that jewelry, television, or camera so that we can put a few measely gallons of gas in our cars..only to need more gas within a couple of days again? I'm not saying their wrong for doing it...you gotta do what you gotta do....but it still sucks.
I haven't been driving my mini van as often as I used to. I can remember trips to Victoria at least twice a week, now its more like twice a month(on a good month). I can remember driving my girls to school everyday(we only live about 4 blocks away)...now I only drive them about twice a week and we walk the other three depending on weather. It's not like Ganado is this huge metropolis about 30 miles wide...we are a one red light town. Population of about 2,000..and I'm probably being generous here. I live about one mile from my mother and my mother in law on either side of me. Takes me about 10-15 to bike to either of them toting my son on the back.
This summer, I was going to plan a few road trips with my kids to northeast Texas to visit family and various other places in Texas..but that probably won't happen now. John spends about 65.00 a week in gas working 6 days a week in our little Tracer, my van takes about 46.00(at 2.50/gallon..so more now) to fill up. Since we are a one income family..we can't afford over a 100.00 a week to toss away on gas unless its specifically for John to get to work. No one lives near us for him to commute with..so thats a bummer too. We have cut down on mowing our lawn to once every two weeks. I say let it die at this point..one less thing to burn gas on.
I've thought about buying a used moped/scooter to use about town. But is there any way to hook up one of those bike trailers(for kids) so I can pull my two girls behind me? I'm sure I could rig up Joshua's bike seat on it somehow too. If my 6yr. old would just take an interest and learn to ride her bike with no training wheels..we would be okay. But she doesn't want to. And I have NO interest in letting her ride with her training wheels only to have to stop every 3 feet to push her out of a pothole. Any suggestions?
So, what are any of you doing differently in terms of cutting down on gas use? Anything you'll be doing differently this summer?
