gas consumption...
Okay, so I noticed while driving in today that I had at least a quarter tank more gas in the truck than I normally would at this point in the week.
And I hunted down the receipt for my last fill-up to confirm that I hadn't gone to the gas station in my sleep or something, and then I thought about all the different gas-saving measures taken this week and pondered some.
Last fill up was when I got back from visiting my parents the day before they moved much farther from me. Thursday evening, June 19. In a normal week, I'd need to fill up on my drive home tonight. But I have just barely under half a tank left.
Things done differently:
+No visit to parents. 50 miles saved (used to do it weekly, had tapered off to about every other week)
+Took the back roads a couple of days instead of the highway. It takes longer, but it's much lower speed.
+Only one Starbucks run. (I used to go to that Starbucks or the grocery store near it 3 or 4 times a week during lunch break, I told myself it was only a mile out of the way. It's actually a little over 6 miles round trip.)
+Skipped going to Panera on the weekend. 11? miles saved. (Some weeks I go both days of the weekend.)
+Bought all my groceries for the week at one store, did it on way home, instead of making a separate trip. (But I like Trader Joe's better, so I'm not entirely crazy about this.)
+Kept closer to the speed limit. Yes, I still speed on Talcott Mountain Notch. But I made a very conscious effort to slow down everywhere else and keep within 5 mph of the limit.
Was it worth it?
Not all of it. Cutting back on lunchtime runs to wherever was totally worth it. Not making a separate trip for groceries was okay. Not going a little out of my way for a stop at Trader Joe's was not (I'm sure any money saved on gas was lost in grocery cost and in not enjoying the food or the shopping experience as well.
Slowing down was difficult, but probably worth it.
Mostly, I convinced myself that one less work day a week would definitely save me at least one fill up a month. (But long term, if gas goes up to $6 or $7 like the guy on the radio was talking about this morning, I won't be able to afford my job.)
I also felt like I was totally justified in cutting back on trips to my parents.
And I hunted down the receipt for my last fill-up to confirm that I hadn't gone to the gas station in my sleep or something, and then I thought about all the different gas-saving measures taken this week and pondered some.
Last fill up was when I got back from visiting my parents the day before they moved much farther from me. Thursday evening, June 19. In a normal week, I'd need to fill up on my drive home tonight. But I have just barely under half a tank left.
Things done differently:
+No visit to parents. 50 miles saved (used to do it weekly, had tapered off to about every other week)
+Took the back roads a couple of days instead of the highway. It takes longer, but it's much lower speed.
+Only one Starbucks run. (I used to go to that Starbucks or the grocery store near it 3 or 4 times a week during lunch break, I told myself it was only a mile out of the way. It's actually a little over 6 miles round trip.)
+Skipped going to Panera on the weekend. 11? miles saved. (Some weeks I go both days of the weekend.)
+Bought all my groceries for the week at one store, did it on way home, instead of making a separate trip. (But I like Trader Joe's better, so I'm not entirely crazy about this.)
+Kept closer to the speed limit. Yes, I still speed on Talcott Mountain Notch. But I made a very conscious effort to slow down everywhere else and keep within 5 mph of the limit.
Was it worth it?
Not all of it. Cutting back on lunchtime runs to wherever was totally worth it. Not making a separate trip for groceries was okay. Not going a little out of my way for a stop at Trader Joe's was not (I'm sure any money saved on gas was lost in grocery cost and in not enjoying the food or the shopping experience as well.
Slowing down was difficult, but probably worth it.
Mostly, I convinced myself that one less work day a week would definitely save me at least one fill up a month. (But long term, if gas goes up to $6 or $7 like the guy on the radio was talking about this morning, I won't be able to afford my job.)
I also felt like I was totally justified in cutting back on trips to my parents.