Getting Fit: Families

Gas prices have already hit record highs, and analysts predict they will go even higher in the coming weeks and months.

Have you already given up things to compensate? Have you started taking public transportation or riding a bike?

What happens if gas gets up to $10 a gallon? How will you cope?

We have already been forced to cut out our family Pizza restaurant night and other fast food trips (which is probably a GOOD thing in retrospect).

I try to combine trips to places so I am not constantly running here and there.

One of the biggest things we did was to retire my girls from gymnastics because of the travel expenses. The girls were getting burned out anyway; however, it was the thought of 12 travel trips across the country that helped us make the final decision.

If prices continue to soar, competitive cheerleading is the next cut in our budget and we will walk to Karate. We are looking at buying some better bikes to do more biking (and you KNOW that is a sacrifice for me!)

I no longer do as many remote interviews as I used to (my editor completely understands), and I try to get as much work done while I am at the office so I do not have to make as many trips.

My children are walking almost everywhere they go.

AND, I planted a garden and we are investing in a deep freezer because we are going to buy bulk meat.

Right now I am more concerned about the price of groceries than gas, we are planning on canning this summer for the winter, and I told DH to look into having a 1/2 cow and a pig slaughtered, plus jokingly told him he has to take up hunting!

Garden is in, we haven't really given up too much, but I have already told DH when they do come out with a hybrid work vehicle, he has to consider it even if it's not a roomy van like he likes. Job travel is our major gas expense and that is where we need to economize if gas prices continue. Not gloating on the misfortune of others, but the housing crises has been a blessing to us, people are doing more major remodeling instead of moving, so this has helped us grow our business rapidly. We just have to be careful how far we bid jobs, otherwise the gas and travel expense burns a hole in the profit margin.

Anne

My husband and I already live with the bare essentials.  We live in a rural town, so he has no chioce but to take the car to work.  We are down to one car.  I stay home with the kids because we can't afford daycare.  My husband is a truck driver, so his hours can be really crazy.  i can't make a work schedule for myself. 

The only things we have right now that are not necessities are cable and internet.  The biggest thing that I gave up was the credit card.  It just gets you in trouble.  If I need a credit card # I just use the debit card.  That way I have a limit to what I can spend, plus I can keep better track of my money that way.

So i guess we have already given just about everything up.  I really don't know what we'll do if it goes up to $10.  I guess we'll just take it as it comes.