If gas continues to be close to $4/gallon there is good reason to worry about the economic recovery. It will have many families worrying, How can I get cash today to pay for transportation tomorrow?” As gas prices get high, food prices go up as the added transportation costs to ship the food is passed on to the consumer. Often, summer is the worst time, also for higher gas prices. While gas and food costs are basic necessities, the fact is that they are variable. They don’t always go up and sometimes they even go down. The key is to be as flexible with your lifestyle to buy more gas and food when prices are low, so you can wait out the high prices.
Food Prices
Summer is a time to stock up the pantry with low cost food. You can garden to save money on grocery purchases and the gas cost to bring the produce from your backyard to your kitchen is zero. Take advantage of summer to stock up your pantry by also preserving some of the produce from your garden. However, also stock up the refrigerator by buying other things in bulk, like meats or household products. Cut your reliance on your local grocery stores by visiting farmers’ markets where produce is not shipped over large areas, but is grown locally, making it cheaper.
Gas
Know the public transportation routes in your city. Even if you have a car, the cost of gas can get so high that it makes sense to take public transportation during those high gas months. Instead of ruining the rest of your budget paying for an expense that adds nothing to your enjoyment of life, take the bus or carpool and save money. If you plan to take a trip for the summer, opt for a train or a bus, and save money on gas and enjoy the scenery, too.