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-One woman does her morning walk in the parking lot at nearby Elementary School instead of driving six miles to walk at the
Mall.
-Plumbing & Heating company now charging $20 to come out and give an estimate, something that used to be done free.
When gas prices started jacking up, we stopped. A lot of customers don't want to pay a surcharge. But if you spend $15
or $20 on gas and don't even get the job
-Another man skipped his annual vacations
-This gambler gave up trips to the casinos in Charles Town, W.Va. He used to budget $20 for the trip; when he lost that,
he came home. Now it would cost more than $20 to get there.
-This senior citizen had stopped at the Virginia Welcome Center on Interstate 95, nearly halfway through his 1,500-mile
trip back home to Florida from a summer spent in New Hampshire. Gasoline was selling for $2.20 a gallon when he went north
at the beginning of the summer. Then, he's finding it around $3.20 by September
-Many people also said they were trying to consolidate errands as a way to save gasoline.
Others are giving up little luxuries.
-One woman is rarely getting her hair done and not geting her nails done anymore.
-Another senior citizen is considering not cutting his grass anymore. It costs him $12 to mow his three acres
He used to own a push mower, but they sold it and bought two calves and they pasture his yard. Fatten them up, kill them
before winter, then you don't need to feed them
-Even before Katrina hit, One woman had joined a van pool to get to work. She used to drive her Crown Victoria across
3 counties to her job. When it started costing her $20 every other day to fill the car up, she went to the van pool. That
costs her only $10 a month, because the government subsidizes the ride.
Her commute takes 30 minutes longer now, but she's dealing with it.
"I had to step out of my box," she said.
-Another woman lives in a subdivision that's filled with cars. Everyone having 3 or 4 cars per household.
-Some are cutting down on phone calls or on phone call lengths.
-Most people are turning towards public transportation.
-Some people limit the places they go to.
-Some people are switching to food stamps.
-I've also seen people ride their bike to work like a girlscout.
-Stopped buying new clothes.
-This one family had to cancel the annual Christmas get together.
-This one person's weekends are boring cuz he can't go anywhere due to high gas prices
-Some people are gaining a lot of interest on credit cards from paying just the minimum payment.
-Golf travelers are staying closer to home.
Desperete times calls for desperete actions
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-One person totally stopped shopping. He only buys milk and bread from the grocery store and only when they go on sale.
-I heard one couple had to refinance their house and car to save money for gas.
-One woman stopped wearing makeup and getting manicures.
-Some students have quit their sports team or their clubs cuz it costs extra money to drive to the meets.
-Another person just stopped driving all together and walked everywhere.
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