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Friday, August 1, 2008

Get's me Thinking

This week was an exciting one for me. I got out of the house almost everyday...but it was not without a cost. GAS....everyday that I drove away from my house the price of gas would come to mind and how much $$ this trip was going to cost us. Don't get me wrong I love to go...go...go. But today the price of gas is outrageous. We live closer to family now than we ever have the entire time we have had children. But sadly we don't get to see them as much as we would like. The reason: it cost us $18.02 to drive there and back everytime. That means that we have to work an extra $20.00 into our budget everytime we want to visit them. We are doing Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University envelope system, which is based on cash. When the cash is gone there is no more spending. So we have a very tight budget to make sure we don't live paycheck to paycheck and to make sure that all our bills are paid on time and also that we are putting back money into saving's, our "emergency fund." So not only do we have to budget our spending money but we have to budget our gas, because when the money to fill up is gone...it is gone. We will figure out a way to save money on gas eventually. How can we that stay at home find ways in the summer to get out of the house without spending money (gas)and keeping ourselves and our children from going stir crazy also without burning up in the heat? Any ideas?

Michael

1 comment:

Jenn said...

I feel you, girl...gas is too high. My in-laws live in Arkansas and I would love to visit them more but driving there takes a whole tank of gas. I have a Honda and my car gets really good gas mileage so it's not as hard on me to pay for gas, but it's still sickening to think about how expensive it is to fill up when I need to. I feel guilty for not visiting them as much, but we have had the conversation with them and they understand. Don't get too worried about it. I don't think there IS anything we can do to be more cost effective. I feel that staying at home all the time drives me crazy and going all the time wastes money...so...lol...where is the line? Where do I draw it and when do I cross it? LOL...hmmm...God calls us to be good stewards with the resources He has given and it's really important to make sure and spend wisely, but I also believe He wants us to have fun and enjoy the time we have here and sometimes if it costs a little extra, maybe that would be ok as long as it's not too extravagant. I know something we have done to start saving a little here and there is that Ryan carpools with a lady he works with. They take turns driving every other day. It works out so he drives three times and the next week he only drives two times. It has saved us about $100 in gas per month. I know that's not an option for EVERYBODY but it has worked for us. Anyway, this is a pretty long comment..lol...but maybe I have left you some sort of little nugget..lol...love you girl...don't give up!!