I resigned a position I enjoyed 16 mos. ago when the gas prices here were wildly fluctuating twixt about $2.75-$3.xx. Even though I was getting mileage, with the cost of vehicle depreciation, it just wasn't worth it to work outside the home with that job when gas prices were so nuts, especially since I spent a lot of time on the road. It was a dream job - I made my own hours, could work outta home whenever possible, the work was very gratifying (children's mental health for the county), but the great pay wasn't so great after gas prices started to go whacko.
We have definitely changed our driving habits in the last 18 mos. Errands are done more often than not by dh on his way back from work .... on the days when he isn't able to telecommute. He has also been working outta home for at least 2-3 days a week, it's been a major blessing for us. Another big change in driving habits for us.
We used to have a conversion van that would fit all our kids, and at times, some extras for carpooling. No more. Now we drive a small Hyundai and a Ford Taurus mil gave us before she died. We can't carpool anymore, but we have no car payments and it costs much less to fill the gas tanks.
We are fortunate in that we live in a burb with everything we *need* withing one mile in either direction of home.
I do much less shopping period, and especially much less shopping for bargains I find on the LWIF B&M boards.
If it's not a neccessity, and even often times when it is, I do online shopping.
I hs my kids still at home, and all their extracurricular activities have to be planned in such a way so as to combine them with errands.
We bundle up here at home, wool and fleece are our best fabric friends;-)
The cost of everything, especially groceries, has gone up, so I am grateful that we have an upright freezer we can fill with bargains and we now buy our beef from a farmer and costs much lower than most grocery store sales.
Now I need to find a farm source for poultry and pork and dairy.
We also are fortunate in that there are several fabulous thrift shops close by, and that is where most of our clothing/accessories, even furniture, etc. have come from in the last 18 mos. My kids have never been dressed so trendily (if that's a word ;-) since we discovered these thrift shops.
Today, in the TC area of MN, gas was twixt $3.05- $3.20/gallon.
I remember in the 70's when everyone was griping about gas prices being in the 70 cents plus range. Ahhhh, for the good ole days, eh? ;-)
MZ