Lower Gas Prices - Today!

I just read a couple of articles on CNN.com about the high price of gas, and what, if anything, we can do about it. You won't learn anything there that's going to save you money at the pump. There's only one way to lower gas prices. And there's only one person that you can anything about it. It's you.

You have to stop using it. That's all there is to it. The government can't do anything about gas prices - and they're proving it. The only way to reduce gas prices is to reduce demand. And when you stop using it, the reward to your wallet is immediate. And when we all stop using it, the prices drop down to where we want them to be.

Giving up gasoline won't be easy. We're all addicted to it. And if you don't break the habit soon, the habit will break you. You can make smart choices that will significantly reduce your consumption without drastically changing your lifestyle. But you will have to make some sacrifices, and I don’t just mean buying less of other things so you can buy more gas!

Park the boat this summer. Then park the SUV. Buy a scooter - they get incredible gas mileage! Carpool. Ride the bus. Best bet - RIDE A BICYCLE! Using no gas is the best of all choices.

If you seriously can't make any of these choices work because of real life limitations, not self-imposed lifestyle choices - buy a Hybrid! But reduce your consumption, and do it today. When we all reduce our consumption, we all win. And we all see lower prices at the pump.

Here's how I've reduced my fuel bill:

I have to own a truck that will pull my RV. But I don't have to drive it. And I don't have to pull the RV when fuel prices are unreasonable. So I don't. I'm only making one trip with the RV this year, and it will be a short one. And only then because it's necessary. I'd cancel if it were strictly a pleasure trip.

For my daily transportation needs, I rely on a motorcycle that gets 44mpg. And I ride it primarily for work (I'm a Motor Officer). I'll buy a smaller, lighter motorcycle next year that gets about 65mpg for my off-duty riding, and maybe even some of my work riding since it too will be a police bike. Right now I'm only riding about 2-3 days a week for work and staying home the rest of the time.

My wife drives a Ford Escape Hybrid that gets an average of 36mpg for delivering my daughter to school, shopping, etc. When the family goes out, we go in the Hybrid. When we have errands to run they get incorporated into other required trips like picking up/dropping off at school, etc.

I've reduced my fuel consumption by more than 50%. That gives me instant rewards with respect to my personal fuel bill, and it helps in the larger equation of how to solve the insanity at the pump. If we all made the modest efforts that I have, prices would go down. I guarantee it!

Think you can't? You're wrong! My modest changes haven't really inconvenienced me or otherwise changed my life at all. And I've still managed to cut my fuel bill in half!

You can do these things too. And you really can't afford not to.