by Kim Everett

Created on: May 24, 2008   Last Updated: May 28, 2008

The rising cost of gasoline, along with all of its residual effects, has motivated my husband and me to take a close look at not only the family budget, but also at how we conduct our day-to-day lives. We see now that we took for granted the fact that we have always enjoyed access to affordable fuel, and we are trying to correct that mistake.

The increase in the price of gasoline affects not only our automobile and air travel. It has also caused a significant rise in the cost of groceries, clothing, miscellaneous goods, and services. The increase in shipping costs is being passed on to the consumer, and service providers must charge more to cover their transportation and equipment costs. It is causing a hardship for everyone, and unfortunately, there is no end in sight. There are news reports every day predicting that the cost of fuel is not likely to drop, or even level off, any time soon.

Fortunately, there are a few things we can do to offset the increase in our cost of living. As a full-time homemaker, I have begun scheduling my errands more efficiently. There was a time in the not-too-distant past that I didn't hesitate to run errands every day with no thought to location or distance. Instead of being wise about the environment or the financial aspect, I took it for granted that I could afford to go where I wanted, when I wanted. What I do now is group my trips by location, and I have designated two days per week as "errand days." This not only saves money; hopefully, it helps make at least a small impact toward improving our environment.

Another change I have made is that I am now using the closest bank branch, post office, dry cleaner, hardware store, and pharmacy. When I need to go to the mall, or a store that is farther away, I try to wait until there are three or four things I need to do in that specific area. Even though I drive a car that gets good gas mileage, it is true that every little bit helps. Thankfully, public transportation is available in my area, and I use it whenever possible.

Since the price of groceries has also been affected, I am forced to be more discriminating with the food budget. Consequently, my husband and I are eating out less often, which saves money and gas, and an added bonus is that it is healthier. When we do eat out, we usually go to restaurants that are close to our home. In addition, I am more careful about what I buy at the grocery store by paying closer attention to the price of each item and by thinking about whether

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