Edie on E

As is typical, my car's gas needle is pointing disapprovingly to the big red "E."

Despite being relatively responsible in other aspects of life, I tend to act like a teenager when it comes to my car.

I drive too fast. I don't pay enough attention to what is happening around me, and I tend to forget to fill up my gas tank.

Sometimes I cut it a bit too close and run out of gas. Yup - all the way. Like broken-down-on-the-side-of-the-road-calling-the-nearest-relative-or-forgiving-friend out of gas.

Usually it's just forgetfulness but this time it is pain. Pure pain.

Thus far I've been able to avoid this unpleasantness by gleefully slipping into the passenger seat of my fiance's car whenever we need to drive somewhere. He likes to drive (actually, I think it is more that he DOESN'T like me to drive) so it tends to work out.

I remember to give him some gas money when we go on long trips, but for the little errands around town, he foots the whole bill. Since our checkbooks haven't yet merged, this has kept me pretty blissfully unaware of just what paying $3.50 per gallon feels like.

Last night, knowing that either a fill-up or break down was in my near future, I started considering how much longer I could afford gas without changing my habits.

Eventually my driver is going to become my husband and then it will be OUR money he's spending on gas, not his - so I have to figure this thing out.

I told myself that right off I needed to start driving less like a race car driver and more like a sensible adult. This should bring relief to my parents, friends and anyone who has the opportunity to ride with me.

If that doesn't work, I'll start moving on to some of the other gas-saving tips compiled here.

But what if that's not enough? What else could I do? Walking to work, not going home for lunch, and limiting long trips have all crossed my mind. What do you do, dear blog readers, to save gas? Do you have any advice? Leave a comment!

~ EH