The other morning, as I was running around collecting advertising, I thought of an amusing and slightly sadistic hobby. If you really wanted to experience the pain of your fellow man, you could sit at a gas station all day and watch people’s reactions as they fill their tanks. With gas prices topping out at ridiculous levels these days, the emotions could be quite entertaining.
I imagine you’d see people raking their hands through their hair in disbelief. A few smiles disappearing as they realize, yes, that really is the price. Maybe someone simply turns their back to the pump and refuses to acknowledge reality. Perhaps even a few tears. Of course, I don’t have the time or the stomach for such an activity, but as I fill up my own tank, I’ve experienced pretty much all of those emotions. So, in the interest of public service, here are a few tips for lessening the pain at the pump, according to Bridget.
1. Don’t fill up at all because you’re walking everywhere. I personally love walking. Where I live in Britton, I can walk most places. The grocery store, work, the post office, the parks. I’m sure I’ve saved a gallon or two of gas this way. I have not yet begun walking to Lake City, although I did have that as a goal for my last birthday. Anyway, hopefully walking is an option for you, too.
2. Look for gas coupons. Depending on where you live, this may or may not be an option, but if you live near a Hy Vee, they offer gas discounts tied to grocery purchases. When I lived in Brookings, SDSU had a couple of coupon books that always seemed to contain a gas discount or two. Perhaps you had to buy a scoop of minnows to get it, but you’re probably going fishing anyway, right?
3. Look for change on the ground around the gas pumps and apply it to your purchase. If even a few vehicles are like mine, getting out of the car is like setting off one of those Fourth of July poppers. Garbage and all kinds of stuff come flying out with you. Inevitably, a few coins hit the ground. I found a quarter by the gas pump just the other day. Discount! Then again, it was probably the quarter I dropped the week before.
4. Travel around with a turkey baster. There’s always a small puddle of gas on the ground by the pumps. Just grab your baster, suck some up and add it to your own tank. You’ll save a few cents! Note: Please do not do this.
5. Finally, as a last resort, hang around my mother. She is very apt to give out handouts for travel money. She loves a traveling man. As someone who puts thousands and thousands of miles on her vehicle every year and meticulously hunts down the cheapest gas, she knows what it costs to hit the road. We always joke that she would let a little gas out on the ground if it meant she could fill her tank with cheaper gas. She’s also been known to hide gas money in vehicles. So, if you find a $20 bill in an envelope in your glove compartment, it could be from her!
All of this is fun and games, of course, but I seriously hope we can do something about these gas prices and so many other prices, for that matter. Otherwise, my life is going to get a little more dull, and my feet are going to hurt a lot more as I figure out how long it would take me to walk to Aberdeen for supplies.
