<p>$600 a month in gas! I can’t imagine it, MomOF3Stars. Is a hybrid in your future?</p>
<p>I have cut back my driving, carefully planning my errand routes. With no kids at home I find it a lot easier to cut back on just about everything. Fewer showers, less laundry, fewer lights left on or computers plugged in, etc. We aren’t spending less overall, however, as we are making seveal home improvements that we put off while the kids were here.</p>
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<p>Well, at least I’ve stopped dry cleaning my sheets and towels. And I don’t shop at Tiffany’s for bat mitzvah presents, and i don’t eat at Le Cirque more than twice a week. ;)</p>
<p>I don’t have much to cut back on. I don’t have a car. I live in a high rise and my energy costs are minimal. I’m trying to get back in the habit of cooking big batches at home and freezing portions for later.</p>
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Keep in mind that most hybrids have a cost premium over regular fuel efficient gasoline engines. The gas savings in a lot of cases takes years to break even on the premium. If gas prices go down, it will take even longer to pay the premium for a hybrid vehicle. People are very quick to react and change to address a short term problem without thinking through the total cost for their situation.</p>
<p>Most Americans don’t have their car paid off and are likely “upside down” on it anyway…trading it in for a fuel efficient model and rolling over negative equity will just compound their problem.</p>
<p>Very Happy…very funny…I knew I’d get flamed for that. ;)</p>
<p>We’re never upside down on cars (hold onto them till they’re falling apart.) We got a hybrid last year; it did cost more, but 2000 of it was credited back by the gov’t. The price was pretty good, actually, and getting 45-50 mpg really makes a difference in how often we need to fill up on 3.30+ gas.</p>
<p>but walking to work, and most everywhere else, is even better.</p>
<p>It seems to me that someone pay $600 a month for gas would be able to make up the difference in intial cost for a hybrid much more quickly than the average driver. That’s a lot of driving!!</p>
<p>At a little over 20K, it’s not a bad deal.</p>
<p>[2008</a> Toyota Prius Standard 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) Coupe/Hatchback reviews - CNET Reviews](<a href=“CNET: Product reviews, advice, how-tos and the latest news”>CNET: Product reviews, advice, how-tos and the latest news)</p>
<p>go to Gym for entertainment.</p>
<p>“I now view oil as a curse. Money spent on gasoline/oil goes to support horrible middle eastern countries intent on destroying freedom and democracy.”</p>
<p>You said it well.</p>
<p>^^simba, what a fascinating idea! I should cancel our cable subscription, sign H for a memebership at our local gym, and if he wants to watch his stupid CNN, he can drag his arse to the gym! Net savings moneywise - $0, but health benefits could be priceless!!!</p>
<p>“I now view oil as a curse. Money spent on gasoline/oil goes to support horrible middle eastern countries intent on destroying freedom and democracy.”</p>
<p>Ditto for disposable plastic plates, forks and cups. The polymers they are made of are oil-derived.</p>
<p>^ It is not only that. I have seen many people take shower there too - saves money and time cleaning showers at home.</p>
<p>You are right it won’t save money, but the hope is for a better health and less future medical costs.</p>
<p>"It seems to me that someone pay $600 a month for gas would be able to make up the difference in intial cost for a hybrid much more quickly than the average driver. That’s a lot of driving!!</p>
<p>At a little over 20K, it’s not a bad deal."</p>
<p>Not that I have not considered it!! But I am highly allergic to car payments, right now we are looking at a 1992 Geo Metro as a summer car for me, I have also considered a SmartCar as they are quite cheap, have a high crash rating and are very fuel efficient. From what I understand the maintenance costs of a Hybrid can be a lot and my DH does all of my car repairs and a hybrid would definitely be out of his scope of knowledge to fix. I have never owned a brand new car, don’t likely intend to as I put so many miles the warranty would be out quite quickly and the car would be worth next to nothing within a couple of years. Thanks for the suggestion though.</p>
<p>The problem with the Toyota Prius is that it’s butt ugly.</p>
<p>In light of Earth Day, let’s trade in oil consuming products for products with lead-acid batteries and mercury-containing compact fluorescent lightbulbs…Yeaahh we’re really helping the environment…<em>rolleyes</em></p>
<p>I read the morning paper and was suddened by one of the front-page articles. World food prices are through the roof, hunger and rationing are on the rise, and stupid biofuels are in part to be blamed. Now some British organizations are appealing to their government to re-consider their policy to have 5% of all energy to come from biofuels by some target day.</p>
<p>Ohh, do not get me started on those made in China CF lightbulbs!</p>
<p>^ Fundamental economics…we’re deep in the land of “there is no free lunch”, tradeoffs, and unintended consequences.</p>
<p>:: Do not burn your food for fuel ::</p>
<p>^^better compost your compostable table scraps and put the compost back into the garden beds to grow veggies. That’s what I’m doing. I hope the summer will be warm enough for my garden to produce well, and the @%&* rabbit gets eaten by some predator!</p>
<p>I also stopped serving Fiji water to my Jack Russell terrier…I switched to more pedestrian Evian…:D</p>
<p>haha, my oldest D does have a Moped I could drive!!! My gas costs are mainly so high bc of the distance to my job but also bc 3-5 days a week I drive just as far to take my youngest D to her ballet classes which started out as a luxury but now she says she wants it as a career! Oy vay…four more years, less if I can convince her to graduate early. She does get a nice scholarship there and the teacher tries to put as many classes on one night as possible for her. The extra rehearsals add 2 extra days a week though but it is a professional company so it adds to her resume.</p>