Rising Gas Prices Effect Daily Life

The effect of rising gas prices is starting to be felt once again. A drive though town happened to show me that two gas stations within two blocks of each other had almost a ten cent difference in the price of gas. This means that only someone that was running out of gas would stop at the higher priced station. The rise in cost caused me to think of how it would effect people who like me are struggling with a low income at the moment due to circumstances.

My household has two vehicles out of necessity. My other half has to hold a job and even though I work from home I have obligations that require I have transportation. A quick Internet search of local gas prices for Dothan, Alabama had them ranging from $2.99 to $3.35 per gallon. Then I did a search to figure out the cost of going to therapy each day. Using my other half's car the trip costs $2.87 per day. Driving my Rodeo the cost of the trip is $3.32 each day. Keep in mind those figures are for automobiles that there is nothing wrong with and our both need minor tune ups and repairs.

The amount of money spent on gas only figures in therapy at one facility and not the second. The cost of taking my child to therapy at the school during the summer is not figured in, neither is the cost of getting my other half to work. He drives approximately ten miles round trip twice a day. Then there are trips to the grocery store, doctor's appointments and finding a safe place during the storms in the event of tornado. Yes, I leave during tornado warning; there is not a room in my home without a window in it or near enough to break and fly into it.

What about errands? I know that with the price of gasoline that if I'm not on my way into town already we will be doing without anything that we may have ran out of. There is a gas station close by with prices that are somewhere in between the lowest and highest prices. This is where we will be forced to buy gas for the lawnmower because I'm not fond of driving around with full gas cans. I'll also be ordering more items online to prevent having to go out. I mean the mail runs six days a week anyway and isn't planning on cutting down to five days for a few more months.

A few months ago I started using Swagbucks to do searches and things. Now when I have enough of them I cash them in for $5 Amazon gift cards. I was hoping to use them to get a few things that I want but instead I'll be saving them to purchase items that I need. The biggest obstacle with this is finding the strength to let them build up so that I can make an order that qualifies for free shipping. I have already found the hand held egg beater that doubles as a hand mixer for other things now to figure out what else I need to order.

Rising gas prices mean that more things have to be cut from my budget. I'm in the process of using up the few chemical cleaners I have around the house. The window cleaner is taking a while since I forget I have it in favor of vinegar and water or my cleaning clothes that can be used with or without plain water. I make my own dish liquid, liquid hand soap and laundry soap. There is only one ingredient that I have to go across town and purchase. That single box of washing soda is approximately $4 with tax so I'm going to try and purchase at least two boxes when I go. That'll mean I can make the trip only once every two months.

Well, that's the plan for now. I'll be writing another article in about a month after the rising gas prices have taken their full effect on my household.