Skip to main content

Energy Efficient

Mama's Got Gas!


Sure, after a fill up to the tune of $66.

It's trendy to be "green" and frugal, yet for me, I feel like I've been forced.  Not kicking and screaming, though, because of the increasing costs of daily consumable items (fuel, food, etc), change in household income, I've had to make major lifestyle changes. I never used to be that aware of what gas station had the cheapest price of gas, but these days, I challenge myself to find the lowest per gallon price.

It's reported that right now in our area, gas prices range from $3.70 to $3.95, up $1 from last year at this time.  (Here's a random, yet related question: What's the deal with the 9/10ths of a cent?)  Read more...

For the past couple of months, I've been frequenting and filling up at a newer station called Solo.  I've seen only one other one in town.  Interestingly, they typically charge between 10 & 15 cents less than the gas station kiddie corner from it.  Well, it doesn't take long to figure out, in part, why...Half the time, a receipt doesn't crank out after you finish your transaction, so you've got to run in and have the clerk print one up.  Inconvenient.  You get what you pay for, and I went for cheap gas, not for the convenience of the receipt spitting out like it should.

Oddly enough, this past week, their price is identical to their diagonal competitor and the next closest gas station is trending about 10 cents less than the Solo corner.  That's where I got the fill up at $3.73 (9/10), which was comparatively a great price.  Of course, now that's changed.  Which leads me to my next question...What other industry could get away with changing (usually increasing) their product prices daily?  And of course, there always seems to be some bogus reason as to why.

On top of comparison shopping for my gas, I've turned into the "one trip wonder", strategically planning my outings so that I can knock off as many errands and stops as I can fit into each car trip.  I truly get a sense of accomplishment when I get a lot done in one outing.  I guess I can compare it with couponers, who become euphoric when they add up (or subtract) their savings.

Speaking of couponing, I am slowly but surely, looking through the Smart Source inserts (along with other fliers) when we receive them, cutting relevant items out,  filing them, then using them.  It makes me feel good when I save a chunk of money.  And the fact of the matter is, I need to save money.  Gotta fill up the tank after all!

Saving is contagious and it's all the rage!
Have you got gas?  Share your cheap fill up here in comments, or with other mamas (and papas) on Just Add Kids Facebook.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

AWESOME Dad

Well, most are! I know your kid's daddy might not be tops in your book, yet, in the eyes of your child, he probably is. I am so grateful that when my husband and I mutually took the risk to vow to spend our lives together, then had/have children, (while not always perfect) he ended up being quite the awesome dad. Assist your child in sharing his/her celebration of dad. (Um, I am sure you know, Father's Day is next Sunday, June 17th).  Here's a great way to do that, pocket $100 gift card for your kiddo, and knock out that Father's Day gift!  Here's how... Read More... For the third year in a row, Just Add Kids has partnered with Educators Credit Union  to bring you, your kids and their daddy a fun contest in celebration of Father’s Day.  This year, RelyLocal Racine is also partnering with JAK and providing a plethora of gift cards perfect for dad. So, how to participate? Kids color a portrait of their dad, grandaddy, or other fatherly figure (portrait frame and e

June is the New Spring

April Wrap Up: Wrapped in Love                           In recognition of April being Autism Awareness month, Just Add Kids welcomes Colleen Nagle, a Burlington mom, as JAK's guest blogger. Autism is easy to misunderstand, misinterpret and mislead.  My son is the master of disguise and the best way to understand our kids is to assume nothing.  That is, assume only that they are kids, children, teens, silly, loving, intelligent and, well, simply put, no different than any other kid. Everything I have been told about Autism is wrong. Everything I know about Autism I have learned from my son.  My son with Autism.  He loves me just like his typical siblings love me, he cries when he misses me and he smiles when we are together again. Read more... He cannot speak.  He has never been able to express his favorite color or cartoon or game.  My heart longs to know him, to know the little everyday things: to know that he has favorites; to know that he likes the food I serve him; to know if

Return Policy?

Take Your "SexyBack" I am admittedly square. In one of my past commentaries, " Let's Kick Some...Buttocks " I discussed the word a** and it's nonchalant usage by the masses. Well, not me, of course.  I don't carelessly drop the "a" bomb, and according to the poll we took on Just Add Kids back then, most of the participants, 84%, considered it cursing. So I guess, at least at the time I was in the majority, and laid out the rule in my home, that we don't use the word a**, or sh%#, or f@?%.  I think you get the picture. So where does the word "sexy" fall?  Great question. Read More... "Mom, Max is calling me sexy!" rats my 9 year old daughter, on her 8 year old brother. "Hello? Come again?" That's right, my son is casually describing his sister as "sexy".  Yup, that does sound a bit weird, disgusting, whatever.  I really don't think he knows exactly what he's saying, or what it means, thou