24
2008
Driving to Church = $353.00/year
Posted under Blog Posts, Geek Dad Links
These high gas prices got me thinking about how we use our vehicles. When I need a single $0.28 screw to attach a storm window, I often hop in my minivan and spend $4 in gas to go to Lowes. Brilliant.
So, we are being more prudent and consolidating our trips when convenient.
We normally take two vehicles to church each week because it save me from an extra 90 minutes of un-needed church time. This luxury comes at a cost:
- 17 miles round-trip to church
- 17 mpg @ $3.40/gallon
- $3.40 per vehicle per week
- 2 vehicles = $6.80 per week
- 52 weeks/year * $6.80/week = $353.00
So… my family can save $176 a year by driving only one vehicle to church. That is equivalent to one client dinner at my company, three XBOX 360 games, an elaborate date night with my wife, or [nearly] a Nintendo Wii.
With gas prices expected to be $4.00/gallon this summer, I guess that settles it; we’re taking one vehicle, and I’ll be going to Sunday School. How ’bout that.
UPDATE: 2008-07-25 – At $4.10/gallon, it saves us $213 a year.
Oh Scott,
If driving to Lowe’s to get a bolt seems like a poor use of fossil fuel…the next time you are at church, make sure you are getting your money’s worth also. Maybe spending every other week at home with an insightful book or real quality time with your family would be of more real value.
Just an old crone here that dragged the fam to church for years till the mornings of scratchy clothes, sermons without inspiration and the company of not all that great folks made me change to a more family focused ritual. Make your own. And tell everyone you are doing it to save “gas”…
Lacuna, I’m totally with you. However, my wife finds the church experience rewarding and a chance to meet friends, and the kids like it, too. So I go to church to support my wife and stand by my family, regardless of how I personally feel about it. Someday, we might learn to enjoy a Sunday morning ritual at home. Someday…
I agree with you completely about trying to consolidate trips. We really learned our lesson while renovating the house and having to make several trips to Lowe’s or Home Depot every day for little things. We didn’t realize it until much later how much we spent on gas (and time). It’s part of the reason why I decided to finally give up the ’97 Pathfinder for commuting (and general town driving) and to go ahead and order my Smart car (http://www.smartusa.com/)!
Anyway, good luck saving gas!
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