Life is expensive and now even more so. I am a creature of habit. Changing my habits isn’t what I think of as fun, but with $4 a gallon for gas looming in the near future, change is what I have to do. No whining or complaining will change the price of gas or other consumables. I have to change.

A frugal lifestyle, like bargain hunting doesn’t mean you have to be cheap. It can be full and rich. However, it does mean making smart choices and putting more thought, planning and work into what you do everyday.

I’ve implemented most of my own frugal gasoline consumption suggestions I made in a previous article over a year ago, but now I had to get even more serious. If I keep at it and think through each road trip, every purchase, every errand and research trek I make before I do it, I can be more cost effective, frugal and efficient.

I had to change the way I drive …

This last week I put my focus in gear and made sure every trip had more than one purpose and was planned out for efficiency. Gasoline use was the first priority. An errand out to the Westside to visit mom had to encompass other necessities. Hubby also had to go to Westside to pick up some gear, so instead of traveling separately we went together. That was simple enough to do.

I had to change how I did things….

I also had to sign some legal papers that same day and needed a notary. A web search the night before had me locate both a notary and a copy place on my driving route and I used them instead of my usual haunts.

Hmmm…Lancome was in gift at Macy’s. But instead of driving to Macy’s last week to pick some needed foundation, I bought it over the internet with several other items I needed …at a discounted price of course. No driving necessary.

I had to change my schedule….

My daughter takes voice and piano from the same teacher every week. Now instead of two trips, I have now changed the schedule to do both lessons the same day. Better use of both time and gas.

I had to change my thinking….

Girls Scout Cookie Sales started this last weekend. Instead of dropping my little darling and ducking outta there, I helped out for awhile and then 45 minutes before our booth sale was done, I popped into the store and did some grocery shopping.

Figuring in how far I would have normally driven, implementing those few changes last week saved me at least $15 in gas. What if I could do that every week all year long? That’s $780 a year!

But what if I could do even more? What if I cut back on café lattes and eating out? What if I bought food in bulk? What if I hemmed my own pants or hand washed my cashmere sweaters instead of dry cleaning them? How much more money could I save? What if I walked to church or rode a bike instead of driving? What if I took the bus occasionally?
Just think of all the little ways you can be more frugal.

Changing the way you think and normally do things, will save you money.

Suzanne O'Connor