[...] effort such as adding some panniers to my bike, and finding some better road tires. Still, with the rising cost of gas I’m saving nearly $60 a month by not driving our second vehicle four or five days out of the [...]

You hit the nail on the head. We have an oil based economy.

When the price of oil goes up, so does everything else. Food is planted, grown, harvested, processed and shipped using fuel, so it isn’t any mystery why we are seeing much higher costs for groceries.

The only practical thing to do is duck out of activities and purchases that are directly connected to fuel. Here in Cheyenne, we are buying our products used, outside the normal retail market, and growing our own food. That allows us to side-step the fuel-related costs of some items.

Also, we buy our fuel in bulk to save on the cost during the part of the year where it normally goes up in price. My fuel this year cost me $2.91 a gallon.

If you are interested in some fuel saving ideas, see my site http//www.frugal-living-freedom.com It is a non-commercial site dedicated to saving money and those that strive to live debt free.

I have 38 ideas for saving gas, that everyone can use, even those with a “screw the lower class attitude”. Also, there is lots of advice about saving money in many other areas.

It seems to me that if your cost of living goes up in one area, you might be able to balance that out in other areas. Our focus here at Best of Both Worlds is to save more money on gas and groceries, that’s why we are raising chickens and turkeys, building greenhouses to provide us fresh food year round, buying gas in bulk, and working from home.

Good fortune to all, regardless of your class,

Clair

[...] the kids?  Gas prices are officially averaging over $4.00 per gallon and it seems that the cost of everything has gone up.  As a result, you may be looking for less expensive forms of entertainment.  A few weeks [...]

Many years ago I remember seeing a national news broadcast about how the recession had affected various people. They interviewed a 30ish guy who was “hit hard” by the recession. The guy was playing pool in the finished basement of his new, beautiful, large and well appointed home on 5 acres. Poor guy.

The man sipped his bottle of beer as the camera captured his leisurely pursuit of pool. He turned to the camera, raised his beer and remarked that he had to drink beer because it was a poor man’s champagne. Poor guy.

I guess the media couldn’t stomach a real recession story. Reporting the truth can be very difficult. It’s hard work.

Anyway, yes we get wrapped up in the rising price of gas, and we scream at the oil companies, but few of us understand some of the key reasons behind the higher prices. Our lack of understanding is mainly because the TV likes to report on symptoms rather than causes.

Again, real reporting can be difficult. Your initial idea still looks good – unplug the TV.

Clair

shove it rick in yulee

[...] lot of news circulating today about the upcoming election, high gas prices, the economy, and of course, National Doughnut Day.  Many of us are so wrapped up in our busy [...]

Yeah all you Socialist pigs — What is wrong with the oil companies making money?! Do we STILL live in a fantastic Capitalist country? I can not stand when people always make business the BAD guy. They are supplying you lazy slobs jobs…they are making smart people who invest money in the stock market and 401K’s. And you do not have to be rich to have a financial plan. You just need to do the keyword — PLAN! Open your own oil company…while you still can before the Democrats make us a Nanny State where you won’t have the option…because THEY know what’s best for you, your family and your money! Why in heaven’s name should we overtax ANY business. I believe that is what started the move of companies out of the USA….fault of the DEMOCRATS — who now complain that companies that go overseas should be TAXED MORE? Put BIG BUSINESS out of BUSINESS – that’s great — that will sure help the economy!

[...] them. The cost of gas these days is a much bigger issue. But as Frugal Dad pointed out awhile back, gas prices are still (relatively) cheap. Since my three kids are getting to be a good age to start doing some camping, I had a conversation [...]