Changes you've made, due to the economic situation....

[Scott7m]

First off, I'm not trying to blame anyone or any party for the way things are today. With rising energy costs I've been taking steps to be more conservative, or as some would say, "reduce my carbon footprint"..

Anyone else made any changes?

At the home....... no more lighs left on, decorative lighting is rarely used now, "my wife hates that"... thermostat has been turned down a bit, i've been trying to make shower time a bit shorter, i like to stand around in there a bit to much, when i leave the house, i turn the heat way down... I also have the whole house filled with the lil twisted flourescent bulbs

In the shop.......... the lights in the paint booth used to be on pretty much all the time, been making sure that there not on unless there is someone in there. other than that, in the shop there isn't much else i can do.. the tools, compressors, and lights all require electic......

I feel there is somethings we can all do to ease our demand for energy in general, if everyone took steps to reduce their consumption it could make a real difference! I'm trying to do my part.

[AteUp]

I've quit using the lawnmower and weed eater.:eek:

[Scott7m]

lol, I've mowed my lawn twice, and it's looking shaggy now.

My driving has changed too, I don't drive as hard as I used to.. just more relaxed I guess, and I've started to combine more trips to town.

[AteUp]

Funny you brought this up, I made a simple spreadsheet last night to show how much it cost me to drive to certain places. Just cause I was curious and wanted to have an excuse not to have to drive to my mother in laws.:eek: In my truck, it costs me (roughly) $4.72 for a round trip to work and about $13.00 to drive to our friends in Mount Washington. Anybody know how to upload and host a spreadsheet to the internet so you guys can use it?

[AteUp]

OK, I found one to host it.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zlcdtgw9ujj

[killinmammals]

Actually if you turn your heat way down or air way down, and are gone a long time, when you get home and want it at that temp again, it takes more power to get it back up to that temp, than if you just leave it alone on a set temp. We have had that proven at my moms house, my apartment and another friends house. Somebody we know at a electric company told us that, and to try it and see...he was right. Although it may not be true 100% of the time.
I stopped driving so much, less trips from Bowling Green to Owensboro...saves quite a bit of $. Other than that, nothing really. We are saving for a wedding, so thats the reason we have cut out alot of useless spending, like eating out, cutting off those extra movie channels on cable and so on.

[Buford]

Ive been doing some of the stuff you mentioned for a while.
Thermostat down when I leave in the morning. No lights on Im not using.
Fewer trips in my 10mpg truck.
I work .6 from my house and rarely drive more than 5-10 miles at a time. I ride my bike occasionally just for fun. I wish someone could make a good electric car for basic transportation...I would buy it.

[Hoosier5]

Cut back on some of my driving, turned off all unnecessary lights, set heat temp @ 58 degrees, started burning wood in my Squire fire place stove. Also cut back on purchases of items that I can get along without; and since I don't smoke or drink, (not even soda) I save money here as well.

[12 pointer]

Cut back on some of my driving, turned off all unnecessary lights, set heat temp @ 58 degrees, started burning wood in my Squire fire place stove. Also cut back on purchases of items that I can get along without; and since I don't smoke or drink, (not even soda) I save money here as well.
58 degrees, you got to be single! And if you aren't, you will be. lol

[12 pointer]

about all I have done is started driving the wifes new car to work. Ishe gets home now at 3 and I leave at 3:15. big 15 minutes together. My powerstroke costs me 17 dollars a day to commute to and from work. can do it in her car for about 7. it gets app. 34 MPG.

[barney]

Cut back on some of my driving, turned off all unnecessary lights, set heat temp @ 58 degrees, started burning wood in my Squire fire place stove. Also cut back on purchases of items that I can get along without; and since I don't smoke or drink, (not even soda) I save money here as well.
Thats about the temp. I age my sides of beef @.:)

[Bray]

I actually got a new job with more pay. I have more money now than I ever had. The best thing I have ever done was break down my spending so I can see where my money is going.

[drakeshooter]

I actually got a new job with more pay. I have more money now than I ever had. The best thing I have ever done was break down my spending so I can see where my money is going.

I too am making more money than ever and also track my spending. I started using the free Money version that came bundled on my computer and now have purchased the upgraded version. I see a pie chart that breaks down my spending, track my investments and balance my accounts. Money is linked to my bank accounts online too. I couldn't believe how much cash I was spending on non-essential items until I started tracking them.

[huntr467]

It will be interesting how many posts this thread gets. It was just a few short months ago that many posters on here would argue to the end of time that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the economy. We all will be making changes some will be voluntary some will not.

[BadDuck]

My wife and I pay for our gas with a debit card so we have a receipt. I keep a running tally of how much we spend on deisel and gas. This past monthly billing cycle we spent $739.00. Of which $520.00 was deisel. Since I have another truck to use, the duramax went bye bye. So now I putt around in a 4 banger getting 30mpg.

[Hoosier5]

58 degrees, you got to be single! And if you aren't, you will be. lol

I am single and only my Brother and I live in our large home. IF we set the temp. up between 65 to 70 degrees, our heating bill would run about $400 per month!:eek: The Squire Stove does an excellent job and our last month's heating bill was $148. :) Before our Mom passed away back in 2006, we kept the heat at 65 degrees, so she would be confortable, and the bills were running $400 per month. There are several very large homes around our area and I've heard that their bills run between $600 to $1,000 per month!!
Frankly, I just don't see how the average family can make it these days.

[Art]

I drive less, and that's really about it. I still spend lots of money on all the non-essential items like I always have but with diesel hitting $4.10 here, it just makes sense to not make any useless trips. I only put fuel in my truck about every 3 weeks, so it's not that bad.

Last week I put some fuel in my truck and bought an 18 pack of Miller Lite and my total was $120.:eek: That's rough on a lower class blue collar like myself, but what can you do?

[Art]

I forgot to mention that I keep my house a tad on the cool side. I sometimes "forget" to turn the heat back on and the old lady hates that, but it's gonna toughen her right up! She'll thank me one day.:D

I turn the heater off during the day but I have yet to see any real difference in my natural gas bill. I'm on the budget and natural gas prices are increasing more than my consumption is decreasing so my bills are still climbing.

[thunderchicken09]

I dont make that much money but i have more than any of my friends. They spend it on stupid stuff they dont need and fast food. I stopped eating fast food unless its under $3 and stopped drinking pop. I try to drive less but with turkey season in thats not much of an option at the moment. I try to spend under $50 a week. This is because im only 16 and livn at home.

[trust me]

I cut out the fast food over a year ago and noticed i had more money and less waistline. A dinner out with the family every now and then is fine, but when you do it several times a week you are just throwing money away. Cooking meals at home is far cheaper and better for you.

[Art]

I dont make that much money but i have more than any of my friends. They spend it on stupid stuff they dont need and fast food. I stopped eating fast food unless its under $3 and stopped drinking pop. I try to drive less but with turkey season in thats not much of an option at the moment. I try to spend under $50 a week. This is because im only 16 and livn at home.


I can't imagine being 16 right now with these gas prices. I used to drive in circles when I was 16 for no reason at all. I was broke and a full tank of gas was a challenge back then, but it's got to suck these days. I feel for all you newer drivers.

[treerat]

we drop most all thebills off when we go to church,,put them in the night drop,,,,,do as many things at the same trip,,,still don't use the dryer any,,,ordered another side of beef,,,,made a huge garden spot tis year,,,eat out less,,,,

[KYHUNTER14]

I have started drinking more liquor. I find I spend a lot less time driving. I also find I don't care as much about our economic state or anything else for that matter.

[turkeytalker]

I have started drinking more liquor. I find I spend a lot less time driving. I also find I don't care as much about our economic state or anything else for that matter.


Do you cling to your guns and Bible while you drink?:)

[Lil Gsp]

Im 18 with my own car and im one of the few with a car. I tell friends to give me gas money if they want a ride. With my involvement in JROTC I have to run around town when it comes time for our Military Ball. So I usually plan where to go and look for the cheapest gas stations and put about $10 in my tank (the benefits of a car). I dont go out with my friends everyday like I use to and I have a job interview at Sportsmens Warehouse today. The pain and enjoyment of growing up :rolleyes:

[aceoky]

Do you cling to your guns and Bible while you drink?:)

Doesn't everyone????????????????????????????

[Xi Bowhunter]

I've quit using the lawnmower and weed eater.:eek:

lol, I've mowed my lawn twice, and it's looking shaggy now.

My driving has changed too, I don't drive as hard as I used to.. just more relaxed I guess, and I've started to combine more trips to town.


How in the world are you guys even mowing the grass? Even my push mower would sink in the mud if I tried to mow. It has been too soggy to mow here for two weeks.

[Xi Bowhunter]

I can't imagine being 16 right now with these gas prices. I used to drive in circles when I was 16 for no reason at all. I was broke and a full tank of gas was a challenge back then, but it's got to suck these days. I feel for all you newer drivers.


The days of "country crusin'" are over.:( We used to drive for hours when i was sixteen and think nothing about it. Not going to happen anymore.

[Art]

The days of "country crusin'" are over.:( We used to drive for hours when i was sixteen and think nothing about it. Not going to happen anymore.

A buddy of mine said he was talking to a old man from some small town around here and he said the old man was telling him how all the kids used to scream up and down main st. there, blowing black smoke and revving their engines. He said now all the kids are off the streets and sitting by their trucks in the Wal-Mart parking lot.:D

[killinmammals]

The days of "country crusin'" are over.:( We used to drive for hours when i was sixteen and think nothing about it. Not going to happen anymore.
Man, we used to get bored and go coutry cruisin all the time, we would usually find a deserted strip or road and see who could do the longest burnout too...which didn't help conserve gas, or tires...or transmissions for that matter!:D

[MsgMills]

We used to make laps around town and check out everything that was going on for hours when I was a teen. A tank of gas would last me the whole week and come Friday after I got my check cashed. I'd fill up the old beast for $ 10.00 and still have $ 20 to 40 left over to blow for the week. Now $ 10.00 wont even get you a 1/4 tank of fuel.......

[WildmanWilson]

I sure do b!tch and moan a lot more now....cant really say it's helped but it can't hurt either.

[bowhunter08]

We use flourecent lights in the house, and have been for a while. Keep the heat on about 60 or mabe a touch higher. No reason ya can't wear socks and a t-shirt:D Don't drive nearly as much now either, try to combine as many trips into one as possible.

[Auk1124]

I switched from Twinkies to Zingers.

[yote hunter]

I switched from Twinkies to Zingers.
are you crazy ??? dont you know what zingers are doing to the ozone layer:mad: not to mention the rain forrest:mad:

[AteUp]

Only rasberry zingers harm the ozone. I swear I think they're created in laboratories.

http://www.yachigusaryu.com/blog/pics/twinkies/image008.jpg

[turkeytalker]

are you crazy ??? dont you know what zingers are doing to the ozone layer:mad: not to mention the rain forrest:mad:

Only rasberry zingers harm the ozone. I swear I think they're created in laboratories.

http://www.yachigusaryu.com/blog/pics/twinkies/image008.jpg


You two will be sorry when twinkies destroy our planet!:mad:

[Auk1124]

The raspberry Zingers are the best. Chock full of wholesome chemical goodness.

I think it's that scary-red color that makes em so tasty. There is no shade of red like that in the natural world.

[Art]

The raspberry Zingers are the best. Chock full of wholesome chemical goodness.

I think it's that scary-red color that makes em so tasty. There is no shade of red like that in the natural world.

Agreed! I love how for hours after eating that little devil, little pieces of coconut dislodge themselves from the far corners of the mouth to give you another unexpected treat.

[barney]

Agreed! I love how for hours after eating that little devil, little pieces of coconut dislodge themselves from the far corners of the mouth to give you another unexpected treat.
LOL.......:D