Gas prices affecting My Domestic Church

Another blogger asked her readers, “When do you think gas prices will get so high that it will affect your daily activities?”

I would say about three years ago when they first climbed up towards the $3/gallon mark. Until that time I had been driving two or three times a week 36 miles round trip, to pick up and deliver transcription work for an internal medicine physician. I had performed that service for this client for approximately 15 years. But when she unceremoniously decided to quit using my transcription service, I did not set about looking for another client in the area where I would have to pickup and deliver or use a delivery service. Instead I was able to get in with two services where my work comes digitally and I send it back the same way. Ironically I now get jobs from several states away and never leave the house!

Up until three years ago I also use to travel several times a week to a nearby small town for Jazzercise classes. I had a lot of friends there and I loved the class, but when gas got so high and with a new baby to boot, I just couldn’t justify the cost of the class and the cost of gas to get there. I now try to work out in my own basement or by walking local parks.

Of course gas has fluctuated some since then. When it’s down around $2.50 I don’t feel as guilty about driving more for the kids. I may splurge and take them to their practice field, or art class, music class whatever, and then go home or do a little shopping, maybe even go to the library. But when gas gets much higher than that, and certainly when it gets close to $3 I stay there. I do not do any extra driving at all. On Thursday I put 7 gallons in my gas tank and it cost me about $22. I am guarding that gas judiciously. As our piano teacher is going to be gone for an extended trip between now and the end of the year, I won’t have to drive out to her house for a while, so I’m hoping I can make these 7 gallons last a week or longer! But it is definitely something that I think about all of the time and three times last week we did not leave the house at all for that reason.

Our homeschool group covers a wide geographical area and there are many many activities for the kids all over the place, but as most of the homeschoolers live in the suburbs now and I live in the city we just don’t go to a lot of those activities either. Luckily my kids have a lot of friends here in the hood to hang with and they don’t mind.

Last weeks’ trip to the cemetery is going to do it for me for a while as well. We probably won’t get out there until just before Christmas.

The worst expense is Mr. Pete’s business where he has to drive around picking up and delivering musical instruments for repair. So far his business has been able to absorb the cost but if it gets higher I’m sure they will have to make some adjustments.

So I’m sure I can’t be the only one? Are ya’ll feeling the pinch too? And how has it changed your life?