I was looking at my gas budget a couple of nights ago and I noticed I’ve been over-budget for the past two months! Hmm…how could this be? You see, I tend to over estimate my expenses because I hate coming in over budget, and I’d rather sweep unspent money into savings than have a contingency fund or anything like that. So when I originally came up with my budget I over estimated.
Imagine my surprise when I find I’m $50 over my gas and tolls budget from April! I guess its time to face the truth…gas is getting expensive! (It just took me a while to realize it, huh?) In the past an average trip to the gas station meant spending just under $30 (not always a full tank though). Now my 3/4 tank fill-ups are almost $40!!!
This has actually become one of the biggest considerations for me in my upcoming house hunting. I’d had several neighborhoods in consideration, but rising gas prices have pretty much eliminated one neighborhood (unless I can get a HECK of a deal…meaning $130-140k, but I doubt that’ll happen). I’m now leaning towards one particular neighborhood which is located pretty close to our rail system. The other one I’m looking at is just such a pleasant neighborhood that I’m willing to consider it even though the commute won’t be much better than it is right now (and of course I’m checking out things in the part of town I’m living in now. I’d love to live downtown, but I can’t afford that!). Either way, the commute will still be a consideration in the end.
Sadly enough, I’d like to get a bike but I’m scared of riding it in town. The drivers here are crazy (seriously crazy!), and a lot of the roads are 4 lanes each way…call me a sissy, but that’s intimidating to me!! I’ll still keep an eye out for a good bike deal. (Do any of you know what IS a good bike deal?) It’d be good to have one just to get some exercise in every once in a while!
Finally, I’m hoping my trips to the company’s HQ will come to an end soon. I spend almost a 1/2 tank of gas each day I do that trip (that’s almost $22, not including tolls! :-O ) Luckily I only have to do it one day a week, but its seriously eating into my gas budget!
By the way, Well-heeled also posted about gas today. I guess its on everyone’s mind nowadays!
[Update: I was actually $67.65 over budget for April. I had reset my budget to $198, but even with that I would have been over by $30!!! I gotta figure something else out....stay tuned as I figure this out! :-/ ]
