Gas Prices

Do the increasing gas prices deter any of you from far away shops? I wanted to do a few at the outlet mall, but it would be a 100 mile round trip for about $40. It would be almost $17 in gas for the whole thing.

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I personally never take a shop that far away unless I am already in the area for another reason, such as a work meeting. I've gotten to the point where I won't even go even 10 or 20 miles for most shops because of the gas unless I have the time to do a route and pick up a bunch... but I don't even do that so much anymore because it got too stressful planning, executing and getting reports done. Since I have a full time job and do this only part-time for extra spending $ (and to make my new car payment) I limit my shops to places that are on my way to or from work or places that I know I need to go for some other reason, and I like to pick up phone call only shops. I averaged almost $400/mo doing just the convenient shops. I mostly take shops for $10 or more unless it's really quick and easy, involves a free meal on top or it's an easy phone call.

Ken and I went to Carrolton, KY today round trip, then back to the airport in Louisville before getting home. Total route was 149 miles but I had an ulterior motice. There is ab outlet store in Carrolton that's one of the few places that carries jeans in my size (14L)! lol Sooooo, I picked up a shop at the outlet store for me and a Jackson-Hewitt audit for Ken to keep him busy while I went shopping. So we spent $28 in gas for a route that only earned $120 plus $10 reimbursement for my jeans, but I got pants that fit and a couple of new sweaters as part of our route instead of just spending the gas money to go to Carrolton without shops to do. I could have made it more profitable by popping over the bridge at Madison, IN but we had a few time constraints on those post offices.

Today I Will Choose Joy!

"Finally, whatever things are good, true, noble, lovely, of good report...if there be any virtue, if there be any praise...think on these things." ....It's a command, not a suggestion!

It's impossible not to consider gas prices every day in every thing we do. If I have some shopping in a certain area that is out of my normal travel zone then I try to snag a job to cover gas and the expense of the shopping trip

Meanwhile, it's going to take a real bite out of everything since it appears they will just keep going up for a while.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
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Our gas prices are at $3.23/gallon. If I go to Costco, I can get it for $3.19.

We live about 28 miles outside of the city, however, it takes me about 45 minutes to actually get into the city until I go up, over and around the mountains. I have very few - if any - shops that are on the outskirts of the city.

The only thing I can do is make sure I schedule at LEAST 4+ shops on any given day I head out. If it's any less than this, unless the shops are paying $25.00 plus - then it's hard to justify taking them.

Since we've lived out here though, we've learned to - and have been, conserving our gas. We've never gone out for just one trip into the city unless we had more than one errand.

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Proud To Be A Soldier's Mom

I debate this myself. My town is small, not much here as far as shops. I usually plan routes and do these to make it worth the effort to travel 45 minutes for a shop. I only shop once a week (would do more if family didn't demand things like dinner and help with homework LOL) I always plan 10-12 shops in my routes with shop pay $10.00 or more. I have to make it worth my time.

I love gas audits. The are fast 20 minutes, snap away at pics and out I go. I can get lots of these done fairly quickly.

Don't you guys track your mileage and write it off on your taxes?

Yes you do write off gas mileage expenses but the goal still is to make money. If you spend more on gas then you earn why leave the house.

You only get your write offs once per year, but you need to fill you tank and cover your expenses each week.

~~*~~*~~*~~ kal ~~*~~*~~*~~
Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just forget to load the film.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/2012 12:33AM by kalfini.

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