Are You Doing It?

Are You Doing It?

Topic Author: John Stofflet

Posted: 7:52 PM Jun 17, 2008

Replies Posted: 5 comments

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Are You Doing It?

I have to admit...I'm pretty frugal. So, these absurdly high gas prices have forced me to really look at how I can save more fuel and money driving my 4-cylinder mini-s.u.v. I drive each day from DeForest (northeastern Dane County) to WMTV on Madison's west side and back. It's anywhere from 20 to 27 miles each way, depending on the route...and "route analysis" is what I've really been doing a lot of lately.

Matter of fact I've stopped driving the Interstate 39/Beltline route because it's about 14 extra miles round trip every day.   That's roughly 70 miles a week, or 3,640 a year. At $4.00/gallon, that's about $540 a year extra to drive those additional miles on the Interstate and Beltline.    (On the highway, my car gets about 27 miles per gallon).

Due to more starts and stops on my new route through the back roads of Waunakee and Middleton, my mileage drops to about 23 or 24 m.p.g., but again, because I'm driving fewer total miles I still come out ahead on the amount I spend at the pump. (Maybe a mechanic can tell me if I'm just going to end up paying more replacing brake pads and shoes because of the extra stops and starts?).

One of my favorite back road routes didn't pass the "frugal guy gas test". I eliminated my Cuba Valley and Meffert Roads route because the steep hills just burned too much gas...and the routes were 6 miles longer round trip than my other back road routes on County M or Q.

The other obvious fuel saver is backing off the gas pedal, which I've done.   I've also gotten rid of unnecessary cargo in the car.   The more weight you haul, the more fuel you burn. (Hey, it's another reason to diet, I guess).   I also don't buy heavy items like 80 pound water softener salt bags on the west side, just to turn around and haul them half way across the county.    I told you I was frugal!

So, have you been adjusting or, at least, analyzing your routes? Are you carpooling? Using mass transit? Slowing down? Working one day a week at home?   What steps are you taking to burn less gas, and keep more money in your pocket?

Posted by: Sara Location: Madison
I now think twice before using my husband's car for a trip that I could easily ride my bike for. Sure, it's kind of a pain riding my bike some of the places, but it pays off in two ways: first, I'm not using gas needlessly, and second, I'm a lot less likely to impulse buy because I have to be able to fit whatever I buy in my bike basket or in my backpack. I've only had my bike a year, but I've already ridden it about a hundred times more than I did last year. Luckily the weather hasn't been too bad either; we'll see if I'm so happy to hop on my bike in 90 degree weather with 90% humidity :)!

Posted by: Nancy Location: Madison
I never let my tank drop below half full. I know it is just an illusion, but that way I only have to pay $35 to "fill-er up" instead of $65. I also stopped hauling around my golf clubs all summer long. Now I just take them when I need them.

Posted by: zeffan Location: western Dane County
Because of my job and where I live mass transit (and biking) are not options available to me. I need to go where my customers are, whenever they call. I've removed some of the weight from the back of my truck (small suv) and I no longer drive 72 on 18-151 as I did. I now drive about 67-68. My mileage has gone up about 5mpg. I take a close look at my routes as well, opting for shorter instead of faster, even if it means taking a few minutes longer.

Posted by: Carol Location: Baraboo
What's that about "golden years"? With gas and medical prices out of sight, we can't afford to do what we want to do, much less even leave home very often. As Ronnie Dunn sings in a Brooks & Dunn hit Country song, "old folks can't afford the drugs they can't live without"; not only do we have to worry about where the money for the drugs are coming from, we worry about having enough gas to do our necessary trips for the month. This is definately not the way I thought these years of my life would be!

Posted by: Rick Location: NW Wisconsin
My wife and I just completed a round trip of 885 miles visiting Madison for a graduation party, Sheboygan to see our new granddaughter, and then back home. I kept the car on cruise just below the posted speed limit and I got 34 miles per gallon in a 2006 Impala. There were two of us in the car and we were fully loaded. This week my wife is making the exact same trip, without me and with a much lighter payload. I'll be interested to see what her gas mileage is. I'm sure she won't set the cruise at or below the speed limit. I'll keep you posted. Also, great job of live reporting over the phone from "ground zero" during your son's graduation party.