10 Ways to Cope with High Gas Prices

By the author of What to Eat When You’re Broke

Events in the Middle East are taking their toll at the gas pumps here in the United States, and I think we can expect that trend to continue. Not only is the price of absolutely everything going up, but so is the price of going to get those things, as well as the price of going to work.

Below, find some suggestions that may help you to reduce your fuel expenses. Every suggestion won’t work for every person, but hopefully, you can piece a few of them together to save some money.

Walk more.

Do you live in a place where you can do some of your errands on foot? While a corner store is more expensive, if you have to drive half an hour to the grocery store, is it actually more expensive right now if all you need is a dozen eggs?

Explore your neighborhood on foot. Are there local shops or farms that you weren’t aware of? Is there a mailbox on the street you can use instead of going to the post office? If you live in a rural area, walking to do errands may not be possible, but in suburbia or urban areas, you may have better luck.

Get a bicycle.

This is another option for suburban or urban dwellers. You can cover a lot more mileage on a bicycle than you can on foot. When I checked out prices, I could get a brand new bicycle for the same price as two tanks of gas. This gives me a 5-10 mile radius instead of a 2-3 mile radius for errands.

Keep safety in mind if you’re bicycling. My city is set up for cyclists with bicycle lanes and bicycle paths. If yours is not, create routes that are designed for maximum safety. Don’t forget a helmet and a bike lock when choosing this option.

A backpack is the perfect choice for getting your goods back and forth. (One with a waist strap will really save your back if you pack heavy things regularly.)

Bundle your errands.

If walking and biking aren’t a possibility, then try bundling your errands. When you take the kids to swimming lessons, know which stores or destinations are nearby and go there while the children are in the water. Is there a grocery store near your workplace or the school? Shop on your way there or back.

Never run just a single errand if at all possible. I keep a running list on my refrigerator of things I need to do and group them accordingly.

Use public transportation.

Here’s another option for folks in more urban areas. Where I live, city buses have been free since the advent of Covid. Even if you have to pay bus fare, it’s going to be less expensive than driving in most cases.

Of course, taking public transit usually takes more time than driving yourself, but at this point, you’re either going to be spending time or money.

Work from home.

If you can work from home, you can save a lot of money on your commute. Not only do you save all that gas money, but you also save on a professional wardrobe, wear and tear on your vehicle, meals out, and many more expenses.

Add to this the extra time you’ll have by not spending hours in your vehicle.

Keep your vehicle maintained.

Keeping your vehicle well-maintained can help make it more efficient. Use fuel injector cleaner, make sure the tires are aired up to the proper inflation, and keep your oil changes current. Make sure to take care of evaporative leaks and replace your spark plugs as necessary.

Spend some money on making home a more desirable place to be.

While you don’t want to go overboard, spending a little bit of money to keep your family entertained and satisfied can go a long way toward keeping your car in the driveway instead of on the road.

One of the best purchases I ever made when my girls were younger was a trampoline. They spent hours on it every day for years. Other things might be a streaming service subscription, a wading pool, or outdoor games. Even something as small as sidewalk chalk can keep your kids busy.

To keep adults occupied, stock up on supplies for a favorite hobby or pastime.

Grow some food.

Any food you can produce yourself means you don’t have to drive to the store to get it. I live in an apartment building, but I have all the veggies I need for salad throughout summer growing on my patio. If you have a house with a yard, you can probably grow even more of your family’s produce.

Use what you have.

Start thinking about what you can use instead of what you “need” to get. Are you out of eggs? Maybe you have some common egg replacements on hand for baking, such as apple sauce, yogurt, or flaxseed meal. Out of noodles? Use rice instead or make homemade pasta.

Go further, though – it’s not just about food. Can you make your own body care products with pantry items? Can you re-read books that you haven’t read for a long time? Can you use the various yarns you have shoved in the back of your closet to make an afghan? Can you upcycle old clothes with your kids for a new fashion statement?

Out of plastic containers? Use jars from store-bought salsa or spaghetti sauce. Make use of the things you have before buying anything new – it keeps you off the road.

Adhere to a schedule.

One thing I’ve found really helpful is setting up a schedule. This helps me to bundle my errands, and it also helps me to know what day I’ll be going to certain parts of the city. Then I know that I can go to the pharmacy when I go to the post office on Thursdays, for example.

I shop on the same day each week, and I also do household chores on specific days. This keeps me organized and lets me know when I need certain supplies.

How do you cope with high gas prices?

Do you have any strategies for dealing with the skyrocketing prices of gasoline? Share them in the comments, and maybe you can help someone else save money.

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