Skip to main content

Three Top Gas Saving Tips

 Rebecca on her three-wheel bike

How the Price of Gas Doesn't Affect my Family Budget

Ouch!  The price of gas can be painful for those who must drive for business and/or family functions.  As a workshop-presenting etiquette professional, I travel for business quite often and have felt the sting in the past.  Still, I cut my gas bill by two-thirds with a few simple changes.  Follow along as I share my favorite gas-saving tips.

Save on gas and get the wind in your hair by biking.

Other than my business trips out of town, my other “car” is my three-wheel cycle.  Fortunately, I live in a bicycle-friendly environment filled with bike paths and lanes.  

The three wheels offer more than just stability—it is a heavy cycle.  Always considering safety, I sit tall allowing those in vehicles to see me.  Moreover, the width between the back two wheels allows for a large basket, which is perfect for my shopping trips.  There's now no need to jump into the car for weekly grocery shopping anymore.   

In total, I travel to socialize, shop, and for medical appointments.  When I have jobs here in town, I pack my computer in my basket, hop on my cycle and I'm there in no time.  I'm not only saving money on gas but helping the environment and adding to my exercise routine. 

Why ride when you can walk?

I'm fortunate to live in a small city with no hills and a central downtown center.  Most everything is conveniently within walking distance.  When not on my cycle, I can walk almost everywhere in 30 minutes and across town in less than an hour.  Therefore, when I must go to the post office or attend a city event, I put on my walking shoes. 

Use someone else's gas by riding public transportation.

As an avid fan of public transportation, most of the bus drivers around town know me well.  Lucky for me, we have two bus systems in town.  One is a city bus system – better known as Unitrans – and one is county-run. 

Unitrans has stops all over town to and from our university, which is just steps from downtown.  This makes for an extremely convenient mode of transportation.  Better yet, there's no fee when returning home from the university and for seniors.  So, for a few quarters, I can meet a client for coffee or attend a lecture at the university in town.  For only one dollar, I often jump on the county bus to the airport—no need to pay for parking or the gas to get there. 

When the need arises to travel out of town at a slower pace, I jump on the train.  Luckily, our Amtrak depot is located serendipitously downtown.  Taking the bus to the depot, I'm on the train within an hour.  Traveling from my hometown of Davis, CA to Los Angeles is less than $90.  

More by Rebecca

5 Tips to Consider Before Beginning that Home-Based Business  

How I Cut My Food Bill in Half

How I Get My Budget Under Control


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Job Searching Tools

You lost your job?  Unfortunately, you are in good company.  To help you on your reemployment journey, check out a few free resources to help you prepare for the job search and connect with employers like:  monster.com ,  careerbuilder.com , and   usa.gov/job-search . In mining the Internet, you can find even more than just print advice.  Many sites include videos detailing advice for preparing for the interview.  All of this is free advice and available to all who have the time to search.   However, don’t just lock yourself up in your home office. Get out and meet others in our business/career of interest.  Call companies of interest to request a meeting. Visit career centers, especially from your alma mater. And don’t forget your friends and family.  Let them know about your job search and ask for job leads.   When laid off try to view it as an opportunity to reach for the job you might not have consid...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tips to Get Free Advertising for a Small Business

  Network & Become THE Expert Running a small business can be a challenge in any kind of market.  This is especially true today with so many potential customers looking for the next big thing: the newest flavor of the month.  Consequently, it is particularly important to stand out above competitors. With my 20+ years as a small business owner, I've learned how to do this on an extremely small advertising budget.   Follow along for my favorite tips.     Establish Yourself as the Expert and Interview Frequently. My face is on your television, in print media, and on podcasts.  My voice is on your radio.  Why?  It's because the need for content is great. Quite often local networks require an expert in my field, so they typically call me for interviews .  The same is true for all other content-driven media outlets, like newspapers and magazines.  As an etiquette expert, I...
Post a Comment
Read more

When is it Appropriate to Give Gifts to Supervisors

  Dear Rebecca, I've read your comments regarding office gift -giving online.    What guidelines apply when gifts are to a departing supervisor?    When the departure also causes the termination of others on the supervisor's team, should they also receive gifts? Thanks, Michael Dear Michael , Good question.   It is always optional to give gifts , especially in the workplace.   So, there is no firm 'guidelines' about giving to departing supervisors.   However, if it’s customary to give gifts to those who depart in your workplace, then everyone who is leaving should receive one.   It would be expected.   The gifts shouldn't be expensive and could be a farewell lunch or office party with a cake and beverages. Sincerely, Rebecca More by Rebecca How Our Actions Can Affect Our Professional Image       How to Eat Difficult Foods at a Business or Social Function Interview: business meals & ...
Post a Comment
Read more