Top 3 ways to lower gas

I agree commute time is important. I'd probably never do more than 30 minutes each way.

But of course, being in academia, I have the luxury of being able to work from home a lot. Pretty much anytime I don't have to teach or have a meeting. So I could do longer and not be too inconvenienced.

I also like driving, as long as it's not in stop and go traffic. Good time to relax, not deal with other people, listen to some good music etc.

It's just all a matter of personal preference for lifestyle, limited by things related to your career and your commitment to it (do you want to be the best? Do you have to work in a major city to do so? Or is it just a paycheck?). From a sheer profit maximization stand point you're generally going to make more working in a big city, and you can usually live cheaper by living in the suburbs even after factoring in gas prices etc. But of course it's also a matter of how you handle stress, a commute etc. Doesn't bother me, makes life miserable for others. To each their own.

I don't particularly like city life, but if I want to be the best in the field it's important to work at a top University and most of them with top programs in my field are in urban areas with a couple exceptions. Combine that with the academic job market being super competitive to the point of just taking the best you can get as you don't get a ton of offers starting out and there's just not much personal choice involved in where you work

So as such I'll probably end up working in or near a major city and living in the suburbs as that's just what it takes for me to excel in my career and to have the home life that I desire. If I can end up at one of the few good programs in smaller towns, that would be ideal. But I'm not counting on it.
 
[quote name='usickenme']ll

It's still an excuse. You may think it is legit but that doesn't change anything. Furthermore, people never weigh the total cost. It is not simply rent = XX in one location and X in another. It is time, fuel costs, stress, etc. Also, there are actually ways to get a job outside a city center. Believe it or not, People to it all the time.

All your post really proves is the myopia of some people
[/quote]

Okay, so let's factor in fuel costs.
Let's say, going by fatherofcaitlyn's example, that you are spending 500 dollars a month on your car (fuel/repairs). So if rent in a suburb is $1100 a month, while rent in a city is $1800 a month, you are still saving $200 a month by living in a suburb and working in the city.

And as far as stress goes, I'd see driving as a good time to unwind. Your car is pretty ideal for relaxing. You get to listen to music, control the temperature, even talk on the phone with an earpiece, and still maintain focus on the road.

Time spent while traveling could be counted as relaxation time to some.
I know, my father told me that he would take a cigar to work everyday,so he could smoke it on the long car ride home, because for him, that was time for him to relax.

And as far as health goes, most people can find the time to workout 3-4 times a week at a gym, instead of biking to work, which some people don't enjoy. So what, you want to factor in gym fees now? Still saving atleast $100 a month living in the suburbs and commuting.
 
Stress is highly debatable. Most studies show that traffic is stressful. Stess is very bad for the body.
Plus the burbs are usually requires more driving so by factoring in simple commuting, the whole picture isn't being looked at. Not too mention the additional pollution you are creating.

Look if someone wants to live in the 'burbs that's fine. But I hardly think it is a slam-dunk being cheaper. I've done both. A 30 mile commute to a job and a 7 mile commute. I find the 7 is so much better. I have more time with my kids, I never hit highway traffic (yes, I smugly laugh at those suckers). I've put 57,000 miles on my car in 7 years and I'm still close to all the city has to offer. You can still live quite close to most cities in the US without being in the city center. My cost of living is about the same as most suburbs around here (Denver)

I also have the freedom of riding my bike, taking my scooter or even running to work. I do pay more for my house but that is largely the neighborhood.

However, even if you stubbornly refuse to recognize these advantages. There are still things people can do. You don't have to be a slave to your job. Ask to telecommute a day, or work 4 -10 hour days.
 
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I can see those advantages and why you'd like them.

I'm just different and would take a commute over living in a more urban setting.

Different strokes for different folks. I just don't like it when people get preachy about how other's live their lives--FOC does that more than you. I couldn't care less where you choose to live, commute or how you prioritize your life in general. Everyone should set their priorities to live their lives the way that makes them happiest and let others do the same. To each their own.
 
[quote name='dmaul1114']Different strokes for different folks. I just don't like it when people get preachy about how other's live their lives--FOC does that more than you. I couldn't care less where you choose to live, commute or how you prioritize your life in general. Everyone should set their priorities to live their lives the way that makes them happiest and let others do the same. To each their own.[/QUOTE]

Bingo.

It would be nice to have cars with alternative energy if you want to go that route, but I don't want gas cars to disappear because they have numerous performance advantages over electric for the price and it will be that way for a very long time regardless of how our government or the auto manufacturers spend money. Although one good thing gas cars are getting out of this are things like the EcoBoost motor from Ford - a Twin Turbo V6 with 275-350hp depending on how its tuned - and it gets about 5MPG better fuel economy than a similarly powered V8. I believe they are working on an I4 version of it as well to make the fuel economy even better while still giving a huge kick in the pants when you step on the gas.

On top of that, asking people to not use cars altogether is not only preachy, but also completely unrealstic & usually impossible for the vast majority of people; the exception where walking/biking actually does make a ton of sense, though, is if you live in a major city like NYC where it is actually easier to not have a car due to the ease of public transportation and the high price of garaging a car. Anyway, bottom line, if you want to walk/bike to work, go for it, just don't tell others they have to or claim that it is a good solution for everyone! Sometimes you have to take a step back and look at the multitude of situations where your current life just plain won't work for a massive percentage of people. Its not uncommon to fall into that trap though, sorta "If I don't have a problem, no one should have a problem" sort of thing.
 
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[quote name='VanillaGorilla']"The U.S. Senate on Tuesday blocked debate of a bill to offer about $17.7 billion in tax incentives for consumers to build renewable energy sources like windmills and solar arrays, and buy plug-in cars that run on electricity rather than gasoline."

Nice of that Democratic majority Senate to block that bill then.[/quote]

Yet it's all Bush's Fault!!!! :roll:

The democrats have had control of the Senate AND House for a year and a half now. If you are going to blame Bush on our current economic situation, you better be spreading the blame around.
 
[quote name='paddlefoot']Yet it's all Bush's Fault!!!! :roll:

The democrats have had control of the Senate AND House for a year and a half now. If you are going to blame Bush on our current economic situation, you better be spreading the blame around.[/QUOTE]

That and I recall it being a big promise from Nancy Pelosi that Democrats would "ensure" gas never got higher than $2.70 a gallon (which it was in the last election).

Thanks Democrats.
 
[quote name='paddlefoot']Yet it's all Bush's Fault!!!! :roll:

The democrats have had control of the Senate AND House for a year and a half now. If you are going to blame Bush on our current economic situation, you better be spreading the blame around.[/QUOTE]

Wow a year AND a half?

That totally absolves the Bushies and the Congress they controlled utterly for over a half a decade of malfeasance.
 
The government is in the toilet from giving out so many hand outs, but just give every family who actually works and aren't crooks a hybrid vehicle. Every dollar we spend goes to a place who hates us privately or publically anyways. So what do you do? Cut their money in half by using less of their product.
 
[quote name='Allnatural']Stuff like that happens unfortunately. My father does maintenance for a number of section 8 apartment complexes. They had to put locks on the thermostats because many of the tenants were setting the heat at 90-95 degrees...with the windows open.[/quote]
Not to start anything or sound racist, but that's how black people are. I go to a black person's house in the winter, and I see them wearing nothing but boxers, with the heat on 90, and the window open to create a breeze.

Unfortunately, my grandma is the person to leave the AC running with the windows open, claiming it doesn't waste energy. QUIT BEING STUPID GRANDMA!! :bomb::bomb:
 
[quote name='Access_Denied']Unfortunately, my grandma is the person to leave the AC running with the windows open, claiming it doesn't waste energy. QUIT BEING STUPID GRANDMA!! :bomb::bomb:[/quote]
One of my neighbors runs the AC non-stop through the spring, summer, and fall. It could be 40° outside (at night) and that AC will be running.
 
[quote name='Access_Denied']Not to start anything or sound racist, but that's how black people are. I go to a black person's house in the winter, and I see them wearing nothing but boxers, with the heat on 90, and the window open to create a breeze.

Unfortunately, my grandma is the person to leave the AC running with the windows open, claiming it doesn't waste energy. QUIT BEING STUPID GRANDMA!! :bomb::bomb:[/QUOTE]

I hope you're a white person, and that your gramdma is too - that way I can say "Not to start anything or sound racist, but that's how white people are."

EDIT: Also, it's very racist of you to take an economic classification (section 8) and interpret it to mean "just black people." Classy. Very classy. :roll:
 
[quote name='Allnatural']One of my neighbors runs the AC non-stop through the spring, summer, and fall. It could be 40° outside (at night) and that AC will be running.[/QUOTE]

I run mine pretty much all that time. Have killer allergies so opening the windows isn't feasible. That said I keep it no lower than 75, so it's usually not running much when it's cooler anyway and I will turn it off if it's staying below 75 inside.

Winter we use more energy as the heat generally stays on 75. Our duct work sucks, and the condo is poorly insulated with drafty windows (I just rent a room so I have no sway in getting this shit fixed) so it gets very cold in the bedrooms and living rooms. Sometimes still need a space heater in those room on the coldest days even with it on 75 and dressed very warmly.

But still, our highest energy bill last winter was under $300 so I can't complain to much. So far this summer they've been just under $100. Kind of make up for the winter usage by keeping the AC at 75 (about 5 degrees warmer than I'd like it) and just using fans since clearly the AC doesn't work all that great in the problem rooms either.
 
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