tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post8150765326399121566..comments2024-03-28T09:27:28.962-07:00Comments on creative savv: Are rising gas prices causing your blood pressure to rise?Lilihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-55692373668527087602013-05-16T15:15:00.712-07:002013-05-16T15:15:00.712-07:00Thanks for the feedback, Cat. I guess most of my b...Thanks for the feedback, Cat. I guess most of my biking for errands would be walkable, if I had a problem. Actually I know they're walkable, because that's another thing we do more in summer, walk up to the bank or store. It's a fairly long walk, but makes for a good Saturday morning excursion.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-74365157020486121452013-05-16T00:06:35.138-07:002013-05-16T00:06:35.138-07:00Ha! I forgot about the rain... I guess that could ...Ha! I forgot about the rain... I guess that could put a "damper" on biking fun (yuk, yuk).<br /><br />Anyhow, sorry for pummeling you with what was obviously WAY more information than was helpful. I just get so excited about bike riding and want everybody to enjoy it as much as I do!<br /><br />I've never used fix-a-flat, but CatMan has some back and neck problems that make it hard for him to change a flat on the road, so he's tried it with mixed results. His first complaint is that it apparently makes a real mess, and you end up with goo all over your bike, and your hands and anything else in the vicinity.<br /><br />He's had about a 50% success rate with it depending on the type of flat. Apparently it works like a charm with small punctures like a thorn or something similar, but doesn't do so well with bigger stuff like nails or a pinch flat (which is a flat caused by getting the inner tube caught between the tire and the rim - usually happens if you hit a curb too hard or something like that.) I once ran over a piece of glass and sheared the stem clear off the inner tube, and fix-a-flat wouldn't have been much help in that situation either!<br /><br />Anyhow, it's probably not a bad first line of defense, but you might want to learn to change a tube too... which really isn't that hard. Or you could simply limit your bike trips to a distance where you could push the bike home if you really needed to. :-) EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-7336319903858551002013-05-14T17:46:38.610-07:002013-05-14T17:46:38.610-07:00Hi frugal spinster,
That was what I was figuring, ...Hi frugal spinster,<br />That was what I was figuring, in addition to higher and lower property values. Your gas is cheaper than ours up at this end. My son buys his gas in Kirkland, near his office. So you can also console yourself in that regard.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-48097403091808418562013-05-14T16:42:51.417-07:002013-05-14T16:42:51.417-07:00Hi anexacting,
I know what you mean. I think it...Hi anexacting,<br />I know what you mean. I think it's going to take extremely high gas prices to move many Americans to scale back on the size of their cars. On the highway today it was SUVs everywhere I looked. And most of the time there was just one person in each car. I can understand having an SUV if you haul around a lot of stuff, or you camp a lot. They could have a purpose. But not all of those people on the highway today were camping or hauling large loads! Just one of my gripes.<br /><br />I am so eager to replace our oldest car, and hoping to buy something so much more fuel efficient, as you have. In time!Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-36824119919100333282013-05-14T16:35:55.915-07:002013-05-14T16:35:55.915-07:00Hi Gillian,
I think you're right about British...Hi Gillian,<br />I think you're right about British cars getting better fuel economy than American one. I think that's true of most of Europe as well. Americans love their big SUVs. But even with our smaller cars (such as our family car, it;s a small-ish sedan), the MPG isn't all that great. My son just bought a hybrid, and he's getting about 55 MPG, and that is considered excellent for MPG.<br /><br />You're right about style of driving really adding up. I try to leave the lead foot at home, and that does help!<br /><br />Thanks for visiting!Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-57717743418638656652013-05-14T16:31:39.361-07:002013-05-14T16:31:39.361-07:00Hi Cat,
We only have a small window of weeks that ...Hi Cat,<br />We only have a small window of weeks that biking will be feasible (all the rain we're so famous for puts a damper on biking). So I intend to use this brief time the best I can.<br /><br />What do you think of fix-a-flat for bike tires? For carrying stuff I was planning on my backpack for the time being. <br /><br />Thanks for all your tips!Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-8207719532268688862013-05-14T16:28:42.926-07:002013-05-14T16:28:42.926-07:00Hi Lesley,
I understand your gas is over double wh...Hi Lesley,<br />I understand your gas is over double what we pay here. I'm not sure Americans are ready to rethink how we allocate our money when it comes to gas. Just today, on the highway to get my daughters from school, I was noticing just how many SUVs and trucks are on the road. Over half the vehicles today appeared to be large ones. I know those large cars/trucks can't be doing too well with fuel economy.<br /><br />That is great that you have a new, and economical to operate, car. I am hoping we can be in the position to replace one of our cars this next year. It would make a difference with our budget, I am sure.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-70979048150514860212013-05-14T15:48:11.501-07:002013-05-14T15:48:11.501-07:00My new car is only marginally smaller than my old ...My new car is only marginally smaller than my old one but gets 33% better mileage. I know not everyone can do a trade-in, but if you do some research and buy as small a car as you can, it sure helps! I think lots of people don't try to scale down their gas use. For example, my dad drives an SUV. Ten years ago, his SUV got about 20 mpg. His new one is rated for 30. He thinks he is doing better, but never considered buying a smaller vehicle, although his needs have changed. Also, he didn't check how his new SUV compares to others on the market - he just likes the make and model, so bought the same brand again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-48042769373199152292013-05-14T13:24:49.871-07:002013-05-14T13:24:49.871-07:00This is so interesting - petrol is very expensive ...This is so interesting - petrol is very expensive in the UK right now - around £6 per gallon which is about 9 us dollars. It's a real concern for many families. I think though, on the whole, that British cars get more miles to the gallon - our car does about 40 or 50 mpg on average. 40 mpg if I'm driving around town, accelerating and braking a lot, 50 mpg if i'm doing a steady speed on the motorway.<br /><br />Best tips I heard were don't accelerate/brake too much, and don't carry unnecessary stuff in the boot (trunk) like buggies.<br /><br />Great tips though, thank you. xGillian Roehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05080123177116154219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-14302761859179239632013-05-14T11:33:43.994-07:002013-05-14T11:33:43.994-07:00The differance from city to city has to do with lo...The differance from city to city has to do with local taxes.<br />I console myself when I purchase gas in my home town then see it cheaper as I drive to work that at least my home town benifits from the tax revenue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-43318046908112052822013-05-14T11:11:46.544-07:002013-05-14T11:11:46.544-07:00Gosh... I have to say that I am blissfully unaware...Gosh... I have to say that I am blissfully unaware of gas prices, since I generally only fill up the tank a few times per year. These days I only drive about 1000 miles per year, and the vast majority of that is for the benefit of the cats - trips to the vet & pharmacy, or hauling cat food & litter.<br /><br />Most everything else can easily be accomplished on foot or bike, both of which I VASTLY prefer to getting behind the wheel of a car, especially since the weather has finally warmed up. My challenge this summer will be driving enough to keep the battery charged!<br /><br />I heartily approve of your plan to start running some errands by bike. Not only does it save gas, it also does wonders for my waistline! Your son's commute is probably also accomplishable by bike, though it might take some working up to.<br /><br />As a recent convert to the world of biking, here are my top tips for making your life easier in terms of running errands by bike.<br /><br />1) Invest in puncture resistant tires (mine have a layer of Kevlar in them) and, at least until you're comfortable fixing a flat on the road, you might want to invest in some "slime" inner tubes. These are tubes that have green stuff inside them that will automatically seal most punctures. They make your wheels slightly heavier, so it is a tiny bit harder to pedal, but at slow speeds (under 15 mph) you're unlikely to notice the difference, and the peace of mind is WAY worth it.<br /><br />2) Learn how to fix a flat at home so it's not a disaster if it happens on the road, and always carry the tools with you. I'd also suggest investing in a CO2 cartridge pump. These are basically bicycle pumps that get their air from a small CO2 cartridge, so you don't have to actually pump. They're small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and it makes life SOOOO much easier if you have to fix a flat on the road. I also generally carry a spare tube with me so I don't have to deal with patching a tube on the road.<br /><br />3) Make sure you have an easy way to carry stuff. There are all sorts of bike baskets out there these days, and some really nice bike bags too. I'm currently drooling over some rear bags that detach easily from the bike rack. They're basically like shopping bags, so you can bring them with you into the store and then just pop them on your bike for the trip home. Sorta like these: http://www.ecovelo.info/images/market-pannier-1.jpg They're not cheap though, so at the moment I'm making do with the baskets I got on FreeCycle, and an old backpack. <br /><br />4) Try to plot your route ahead of time. The best roads for biking are often different from the best driving roads, so it can sometimes be a challenge finding a nice route. I'm a huge fan of Google Earth for this purpose. You can zoom down into the neighborhoods, and it really helps you see things like if there's a bike lane or not, and/or how wide the shoulders of a particular street are.<br /><br />5) Make sure you have a good helmet and bike lock and don't forget to use them! I also have a lightweight neon yellow visibility vest that I use when I'm going somewhere that I'm likely to encounter any meaningful traffic. I look like a total dork, but I really notice a difference in how drivers around me behave when I'm wearing it. You can't be too visible when you're on a bike!<br /><br />OK, sorry to blather so long, but those are the things I wish I'd done when I started out. Good luck with it, and I hope you find it as rewarding as I do!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-61257576274466395282013-05-14T09:56:17.749-07:002013-05-14T09:56:17.749-07:00Gas/petrol prices are very high in the UK too. Our...Gas/petrol prices are very high in the UK too. Our new small car is not a gas guzzler and is cheap to tax and insure. But we consider our journeys carefully nowadays.<br /><br />It is so true that making small changes DOES make a big difference! We have certainly found this with our monthly grocery shopping bill recently. Keep the wise tips and reminders coming. They are appreciated<br /><br />Lesley xHousewife59https://www.blogger.com/profile/12485051347795187632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-33888785556862173372013-05-14T07:06:35.870-07:002013-05-14T07:06:35.870-07:00Hi Economies,
it really does all add up. I figured...Hi Economies,<br />it really does all add up. I figured that we could save over $100 per year just by making a few simple changes. And since buying gas has no "fun value" to me, I'd much rather spend that $100 or so on something I'd enjoy more!Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-46289285892206810612013-05-14T07:03:19.572-07:002013-05-14T07:03:19.572-07:00Thanks for all the tips Lili. I've been meanin...Thanks for all the tips Lili. I've been meaning to work out my car's Km per L, but never got around to it. Petrol (gas) is around $1.30-$1.45 a litre here (roughly $5.20-$5.80 a gallon), but luckily I don't drive much :) <br /><br />I can walk to and from uni and only use the car to get to the supermarket and to band rehearsal every week. So I can get by putting $40 of petrol in the car every 4-6 weeks. Even so, if I can get a few more kilometres by inflating the tyres and buying petrol on a certain day of the week, it all adds up :)Economies of Kalehttp://www.economiesofkale.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-27886216457722133922013-05-14T06:43:34.366-07:002013-05-14T06:43:34.366-07:00Hi Jemma,
I know, when I'm out far from our ho...Hi Jemma,<br />I know, when I'm out far from our house, running errands, I can't believe the differences in pricing. <br /><br />And even locally, I live where 3 towns converge, if I buy gas in one town, it's much more than the other two. But like I said in my post, I've found it to not be advantageous to drive out of my way more than a mile or so, just to save a few pennies per gallon. And instead I'm doing other things to save on our gas costs.<br /><br />Unfortunately, increases in gas prices will affect prices in the rest of our goods, once again. <br /><br />Hope you're having a good week!Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-38292389883198916242013-05-14T06:34:00.556-07:002013-05-14T06:34:00.556-07:00Hi live and learn,
The variability in pricing is w...Hi live and learn,<br />The variability in pricing is why websites like gasbuddy.com have become so popular. In the situation where prices are going up, everyone wants to find that one station that has not raised it's prices yet. <br /><br />I drive along the highway everyday, and I watch a few station's prices. I can accurately guess when one station is going to raise their prices by day's end, based on what another has done.<br /><br />I'm really glad for you that you haven't had the huge price hikes we have this past week and a half. One station I pass is already over the $4 mark again. <br /><br />The thing about Wednesday mornings was a shocker to me, but I have found it to be true, over the course of a month. Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-13708635560158321852013-05-14T06:04:42.388-07:002013-05-14T06:04:42.388-07:00Lili,
What great tips on how to save money at the ...Lili,<br />What great tips on how to save money at the gas tank-all of us are in a pickle where this is concerned. Live and Learn is correct too-from neighborhood to neighborhood or town to town the prices are all over the place. I just want it to go back to 25 cents a gallon!!<br />Happy Tuesday-<br />jemmaJemma@athomewithjemmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01137225389791605398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-73883328155475801982013-05-14T05:43:25.910-07:002013-05-14T05:43:25.910-07:00There is so much variability of prices from neighb...There is so much variability of prices from neighborhood to neighborhood, that it's hard to track prices. However, we have not seen the huge jump you have seen. Also, I didn't realize that Wed. morning was a good time to buy gas. I'm going to have to remember that.Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.com