How To Save Cash, Gas And The Environment

Note: While JSB awaits the delivery of car parts from an online store, Mrs. JSB talks about her recent driving – and morning – habits.

I’m not a morning person.

I wake up most days and head straight to the shower. I dig through my closet half a dozen times, throw on some eyeliner and fly through the kitchen making lunch and Chai Lattes.

I drive to work alone with the music blaring. I normally do not sing along. JSB will confirm it – I’m not much of a talker in the early a.m. My morning routine, however, is changing. For the past three months, I’ve carpooled at least once a week to work with some co-workers who live in my neighborhood. We take turns driving, chauffering each other to and from the office. We share driving duties equally. We don’t exchange gas money.

There’s a lot of talking in the car, but that’s OK with me.

When I carpool, I save money—specifically on gas, which becomes more expensive every year. Carpooling just once a week means that $38 of gas in my car lasts about two weeks. That’s better than $38 every week. Sometimes our group carpools three times a week. Depending on schedules, that means one person has to drive his or her own car just two days to and from work that week. That’s a big incentive, and a big savings.

When I carpool, I decrease the “wear and tear” on my car, a 2007 Honda Civic that—I must admit—is obsessively clean and neat. I’m able to keep down the number of miles I drive each week. Both factors will prolong the life – and “newness” – of my car. Beyond the money and neat-freakness issues, however, is the added bonus of less pollution.

When our entire group carpools, we pile four of us in one car, instead of four of us in four separate cars. That means a lot less carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere that day. That’s a plus for everybody.

We’re still working on the kinks in our carpool group. Important things like which radio station we agree on. Not that we’re listening much. We’re too busy talking.

February 21, 2008 | Filed Under Automobile, Saving Money 

Comments

4 Responses to “How To Save Cash, Gas And The Environment”

  1. How To Save Cash, Gas And The Environment | car parts on February 23rd, 2008 1:28 am

    [...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]

  2. Theodor Adams on March 25th, 2008 12:42 pm

    Hello, I found your blog by accident, I’m interested in gas savings and as you’ve said, gas prices are becoming a problem and probably the best solution is to save as much as possible. I started doing this a couple of months ago and it seems to be having some effect. Although the savings aren’t very big, even a couple of $ every week will add up so large sums at the end of a year for example.

  3. JSB on March 25th, 2008 5:08 pm

    Every little bit helps. Carpooling just once per week can save you 20% on fuel. Getting a few people to carpool can net even bigger savings.

  4. Theodor Adams on March 26th, 2008 6:12 pm

    hmm 20% is a lot… and I agree, “every little bit helps” :)
    I found a book in case you might be interested about gas saving tips. Although I started saving a few of months ago, I bought this book for a couple of weeks. I have been able to save 2-3$ each week, but I guess that over time, I’ll get better at this and hopefully, my savings will rise. In case that doesn’t happen :), 3$/week means 150/year, which is not that bad.

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