Gas Price Is Almost $4.00 a Gallon

In one-week, gas prices went from $3.49 to $3.75 in Factoryville.  What is the price where you get gas?  Has the price changed where you live?

 When I see the increase in gas price, I immediately stop spending money on non-essentials.  I want a plum colored duvet cover for my bed; I will not be buying one.  I want to go out to dinner at least once during the weekend, which is not going to happen.  I have a spending freeze due to increase in gas prices. 

 

 I look at areas where I can save money.  While I have tried generic products from the grocery store, I cannot buy some items.  I like Uncle Ben’s brown rice; I tried generic just last week and it is still a gummy blob.  I buy organic canned kidney beans I do not like generic or any other kind.  I do like Weiss ketchup and their French salad dressing.  It takes some experimenting.  To save money on groceries I buy from the perimeter.  The inside of the store carries higher price convenient foods, which tend to be calorie high and nutritionally low. 

 

This is the time of year that you can find deals on clothes.  Winter items are on clearance.  I can also find clothes I squirreled away in my closet, which saves even more money.  I clean my closet addressing a New Year resolution and a trip to Interfaith to donate what I know I will never wear.  If I do need to replace any clothing, there is no impulse buying.

 After I look at consumables, I follow the money trail.  I spend money on utilities.  I already changed my electrical service.  I still am not convinced there is a savings with the change.  I shop around for the lower price for heating oil and then ask my provider, Newell, to match it and they do.  Some expenses I shopped previously like the mortgage or my car loan so I already have a good rate.  I carry only the first 13 cable channels of tv; I have the internet which can be used for entertainment and I use the library for other entertainment which I give a tax deductible donation.

 Lastly, I look at insurance.  I have an umbrella since I am on a few non-profit boards.  I carry higher liability limits to meet my umbrella criteria.  Where can I save money?  I have a higher deductible than a standard deductible on my home and automobile insurance.  Higher deductibles result in a slightly lower premium.  I had to weigh the savings vs. paying a higher deductible should I have a claim.  In addition, I am paying for smaller damages instead of turning the claim to my insurance since those are under my deductible.  The other items involved researching my car before I bought it.  A symbol on a car determines the historical or estimated cost of repair: the higher the symbol, the higher the cost to repair and to insure.  I looked for a lower symbol car. I try to drive defensively and not to speed; a good driving record saves money.  I insure my home and auto with the same insurance carrier so I can get a discount.  I also inspect my car and home doing repairs as needed to keep both in tiptop shape like updating the plumbing in my bathroom to avoid claims.  I added safety features to both my automobile and my home like fire, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, an auto alarm, and dead-bolt locks.  When I am 55 I can take the 55-Alive course to get a discount on my automobile insurance.   I can 100% guarantee that I will take the course as soon as I turn 55.

 I know my spending freeze does not help our economy.  I would like to put money back into circulation.  I would love to go shopping and out to dinner.  I live on a budget.  If a cost goes up in one area, I look for ways to save money in another.  Let me know how you are budgeting the increase in gas price.