From guzzler to miser: Confessions of a reformed gas junkie

Had pump prices not begun skyrocketing, I'm convinced that I would still be living my life in third gear - guzzling gas and buying into the belief that an automotive deity would fly down and solve the nation's gas problems so I could continue living in the fast lane.

I confess to being very spoiled about my lavish use of gas. Moving my car from one section of a shopping center to another to patronize stores at either end (when walking would have kept me fit) is but one of the unleaded admissions I'm willing to make - albeit with some embarrassment - now that I'm thinking like a responsible adult.

But it was actually my training as a cultural anthropologist that made me wake up and smell the gas fumes. As a keen observer of group behavior in social situations, I came to the realization that if I was going to impact our gas-hungry world in a meaningful way, I needed to fess up, shape up and then spread the word to others.

Consider this my petrol mea culpa.

Allow me to add that I'm not completely irresponsible. I'm environmentally aware, have always bought gas-efficient cars and I don't slam on the gas pedal like an Indy driver when the light turns green at intersections. I keep my tire pressure checked for an efficient ride. I even turn the ignition off when freight trains chug across my path, but if truth be known, such energy-saving efforts didn't diminish my gas guzzling habit one bit.

My wake-up call came when gas passed the $4 mark. Granted, prices have dropped in recent weeks - in some spots to less than $3 a gallon. But my resolve hasn't fallen away. We're all a little strapped these days, prices will likely go up again and, then, there's always the "it's good for the planet" argument.

A few months back, I decided to cut my consumption. And so, the experiment began.

In January, I spent $151 on gas for my car. My September 2008 bill averaged $95. October - thanks to continued discipline and dropping prices - will likely be less.

Like what you read? Then, try my tips - and while us anthropologist-writer-consumer types don't give guarantees, I promise you'll see those gas tabs drop, too.

• Group errands by using the Internet to create specific routes for daily travels. My list of stops averages around six and, in the past, I never thought twice about driving north to accomplish a couple of tasks, then heading south (past my Wood Dale home) for a few more and, finally, going home to clean up - only to head back out. More often than not, I passed the exact areas I'd driven by earlier in the day. No more. Now, every stop on my schedule is in one direction.

• Organize your errands around social engagements or work. Let's say you have lunch plans with a friend and you've already selected a meeting time. Figure out the best route to your meeting destination, estimate the time you'll need to accomplish stops along the route and then have lunch on the way back. Alternately, have lunch first and figure out ways to run your errands on the backside of the drive. It helps to learn where your favorite stores are located within your intended driving routes so you can patronize them on the way to or from destinations. Ascertain where branches are situated for non-direct deposit banking. Keep a list of their addresses in the glove compartment, just in case you forget.

• Make Mapquest or another routing site your new best friend. I never leave home without routing directions because - I'm not ashamed to admit this - my instinct for turning in the correct direction is about 90 percent wrong at all times. While I point out flaws in my character, I admit also to being a woman who hates to ask for directions. There. I said it. Using an Internet site to plot directions before I snap my seat belt shut is a habit that saves me big bucks. Also, when I ask for directions on my site, I request the "shortest route," not the fastest. Giving myself a bit of extra time allows me to save miles using a route that doesn't include highways, so slower speed limits help keep my gas tank on slow burn.

• Fess up: Do you dislike arriving too early for appointments? I do. In the past, if I got to a meeting, interview or appointment too early, I'd "drive around" so I didn't look overly eager. For me, early arrivals to appointments were perfect excuses for shopping. I'd check my watch, utter a sigh and then find a strip mall housing one of my favorite shops. Because I knew that I needed to make my stops quick, I used that fact as another excuse to move the car multiple times, justifying more wasted gas. Alternately, if the day was beautiful, I had no compunction about driving aimlessly around with my radio or a CD blaring away. Nowadays, I've changed my ways radically. I keep books and magazines in my car. If I arrive on site early, I find a nearby park or coffee shop to read. If I'm only a bit early, I show up, announce myself to the receptionist and take a seat. I got over feeling weird about being early.

• Ready for my next confession? You likely already suspected that I use shopping therapy to deal with my ups and downs. When I'm happy, I shop. When I'm sad, I shop. When I have money issues, I go against all reason and treat myself to mall time to "make myself feel better." Happily, I'm now on the wagon. If I feel the urge to shop, I cruise sites like homedecoratorsoutlet.com, amazon.com, overstock.com and other cyberspace boutiques to get my browsing fix. I'm safer behind the mouse than I am behind the wheel as I get a better handle on my impulse shopping in the deal.

• Perhaps my biggest gas saver is a tip that's not for all: I declare no-gas days. Like most pouty children, I get an attitude whenever NGD appears on my calendar because I'm used to getting my way and I've been known to sulk. I've grown accustomed to living in a world of instant gratification and credit cards. But taking control of my gas consumption has done some amazing things for my confidence, so I'm sulking less and feeling powerful, responsible and - well, adult - on more occasions these days. I've become disciplined enough to stop myself from grabbing the car keys and setting out for a drive on a whim, so my NGDs have made me more creative with my time. Like most behavior alterations, the longer I abstain, the easier it gets.

• The final frontier: I've become adventurous and started doing things cheap gas would never have prompted. Numerous trips to pharmacies have you driving more than you'd like? Fill your prescriptions by mail. Browse the local video store for something light and fun? Not while Netflix and the Internet version of Blockbuster are in business, thank you very much. Checking out online banking and stock trades are on my to-do list, as is walking to accomplish errands (now that's an innovative thought). Though it has yet to make it to the top of my list, adding a bike to my life is in the thinking stages.

Will my resolve change if gas prices continue to plummet? I doubt it. I've gone too far to look back at my time and money savings. Look for me to continue trolling the universe for ways to conduct my life that don't require using more gas than necessary.

The payoffs at the pump? Big, big, big. While I must fight the urge to cheat on occasion, one glance at my credit card statement motivates me to keep it up.