Rev. Erudite Redneck, B.S., B.S., M.A., M.Div.

You're lucky, it's been $4.07 for low grade for a couple months here in Ann Arbor and that's at the super-discount truck stop outside of town.

We carpool.
 

why would you buy premium? i ddn't think you drove a vehicle requiring lite gold. we're holding on to $3.89 reg unleaded, but most stations have gone to just over $3.90... east of Dallas area... mr bbs
 

The new Baby Car seriously prefers premium. I got 27 mpg with it. Only 22 mpg with 87-octane. The owner's manual warned me. I tested it. I'm buying the good stuff.
 

I filled up yesterday at $3.89 -- When I was in OKC May 31 I was able to fill up at $3.69 and thought that was pretty cool.
I've had to limit my out-of-town trips because of fuel costs. And I'm seriously considering walking to work when weather and schedule permit or getting a bicycle.
I'm doing like you -- making the cuts from my food budget, intentionally not shopping or buying anything but necessities (even cutting back on some of those like medications because I just can't afford to refill scripts until payday.) I live 10 blocks from work; it's cheaper for me to go home for lunch than to eat at one of the few choices I have in walking distance. Plus that gives me almost a full hour to relax in my own house in the middle of the day.
I go to the farmers' market on Tuesday afternoon and Saturday morning to make the food dollars go the best place possible and I'm growing my own herbs because it's cheaper than buying them in the store. And I'm making my own bread more often, with flours I've bought from local millers. Small changes, but it adds up.
Oh, and I have not watched TV in a year, so I do not have cable. I go to the library instead of the bookstore and I have decided that there's nothing on video worth renting (because I was collecting late fees.)
I'm working more hours (more than 50 a week) so I don't have time for much in the way of recreation.
When I moved here, I intentionally bought Energy Star appliances, including low-water use front loading washer and dryer. And I have nothing but CFL bulbs through the house.
The biggest thing, though, has been a Mid-Year Resolution not to make any purchases except for essentials for the rest of the year. I'm trying to limit that to groceries, prescriptions and things like toilet paper, shampoo and deodorant. Anything else will have to go on a list which will be evaluated at the end of every month. If it's still something I want/need after a waiting period, I'll consider it more seriously.
 

Trixie! Next time you know yer gonna be in town give me a day or three notice and I'll buy yer lunch!!!

And you humb;e me with yer conservation and money saving efforts!

I've cut back on cigars. A little. Does that count??? ;-)
 

Hey, there's nothing noble about my efforts. The plain honest truth is I would make more money working at Arby's. Sometimes it's so bad I miss my previous checks.
I think the weekend I was down there you were off with your wife, and I was only there a few hours helping friends move. It may be a while before I make it outside of the city limits again.
 

I understand.

If there has been a constant theme of my career in this biz, it's that:

"I would make more money working at (xxx)."
 

Car drivers around here have been paying just over $4 for a few weeks for regular unleaded.

Pedestrians and cyclists still travel for free.

(snarky snark snark...)
 

10 miles from where I live to where I work, dude. I'd actually attempt a couple of miles or three.

Walkable communities and such -- that's where it's at for the future. It sure ain't where it's at for Oklahoma City anytimes.

Biggest dang city in the country, land-area wise.
 

621.2 square miles
 

Yeah, I saw that news story about how OK is especially hard hit because of the gas crunch and thought of you.

Mercy.

Yes, smaller walkable cities and communities are a big part of the answer.
 

It's been floating between $3.99 and $4.09 for almost three weeks now in northern Illinois.
 

Haven't had to do any gas-related cutbacks yet, for two reasons: 1)walk to work and so only drive the car a couple times a week, tops, and 2)already live pretty cheap.

My goal is to be one of those old ladies who leaves millions to her alma mater and/or cat. ;-)
 

Oh, man! I need to get Ice-T and Eames out to circulate more! Maybe some ol' lady will leave one of 'em a fortune!
 

Regular unleaded has been around $3.89 to $4.00 in the Richmond area. Tobacco is still cheap, though!
Glad I switched from the SUV to the Subaru last year. I carpool on Fridays with one co-worker.
Trixie, regarding your prescriptions, a couple of suggestions:
1. Ask your doc for some samples
2. Check to see if your insurance has a mail order, which is often cheaper for prescriptions.
3. You can ask your pharmacist to only refill part of the prescription, which may be cheaper.
4. Shop your prescriptions around. Some places, like Costco, have very low co-pays for generic medications.
The gas crunch has definitely affected the hourly working class here in Richmond, where commutes to work are often quite far, given the number of folks live in outlying rural counties.
 

Poncha Springs Colo. $4.37 for 87 octane (no corn).
2006 Mercury Marquis V8, Denver to Hayes Kansas 27 mpg.
Talked with my Toyota mechanic nephew in Denver. We compared once again the cost of my car to a Toyota Rav 4 which has comperable leg and head room(which I must have), and performance. He said I could expect 20-24MPG city and 30MPG highway for the RAV 4. So we calculated Based on $4 Gas that I could drive my car for 8 to 11 years before the cost benifits of the Rav 4 would exceed the much larger but much cheaper Mercury.

So I'm going to get a Go-Cart with a trailer for town and drive my V-8on trips longer than 5 miles. Or maybe just put wheels under a lawn chair and hook it up to my self propelled lawn mower for city driving.

I-70 about 25% fewer cars today. Also fewer trucks and still at 65MPH. Only a few cars passed me at Speed Limit plus 5MPH. Denver City traffic still frickin coagulated and insane. Diesel $4.90 to $5.10 along I-70 last 400 miles.
 

Here in Maryville, Mo., gas is $3.85.

We have the advantage of short commutes to work. That makes a huge difference. Unless we go out of town, we can go weeks between refueling.

Took a recent vacation. We ventured all the way to Omaha, Neb., which is 112 miles. Even drove around Omaha some. Total trip: 254 miles. Less than a tank of gas.
 

Price check: How much are you paying, and where?

$1.60 (AUS) per litre in Melbourne

I make that around $5.69 US dollars per US gallon.

What are you doing without, to cope?

At the moment I am just ignoring the problem and hoping it goes away… a bigger problem over here for me are the interest rate raises for the home loan.

Result…
Less eating out, and more of last night’s dinner for lunch at work.

Lee
 

For any in the OKC area still reading this thread, gas was $3.69 in Noble on 6.14
 

Man. I am buyingmy gas at the wrong places.
 

Except for down under, I've got ya'll beat. $4.41 for regular unleaded at Sam's. Higher everywhere else except the Arco across the street from Sam's -- they just keep pace with Sam's.

I can't walk much of anywhere given where I live, so I don't run errands until I have several to do at once. I really lucked out and had a driver for my son for most things (one of his best friends), but that friend is going off to college next year. I may have to sell a kidney...
 

Yikes! ... and I plan to drive to Denver in a couple of weeks. At my my new Baby Car sips gas compared to my Poor Ol' Truck. :-)
 

Hey ER

Over here in London we're paying £1.04 per litre which equates to about $7.82 per US Gallon.

As for what we do without, to be honest we do without the car; it's not practical in London. Public transport is faster and cheaper around town and if I'm going further afield, I'd rather spend the hours relaxing on the train than behind the wheel driving myself.
 

Zounds! ... If we had public trans here worth a damn I 'd use it.

Long time no see. Hope yer well, mi amigo.