“GAS BUSTERS”
At the time of this article, we are paying $4.79/gallon for gas in California. By tomorrow morning I suspect that the price will be history and $4.79 will look strangely appealing. Therefore, now is definitely the time to start developing the good habit of planning ahead each time the key hits the ignition.
Compared to most of the world, truly we are a spoiled country. We have become accustomed to the luxury of “running down to the store”, “dropping off the children at practice”, or announcing, “I’ll be right back” as we drive to get a cup of coffee, a soda, a sandwich or whatever. Unless you are wealthy, now the time has come to beat the pump and become a gas-buster. A few of my suggestions are not new but a reminder: expand your one or two errands in to several errands at a time, buy enough food for the week-not the day, if you need something specific then use the telephone for verifying that the desired item/product is available, use the bus or other public transportation, bicycle, walk more often, car pool, ask family and/or friends to share the price of the gas if you are transporting them, and do offer to help pay for their gas if they are transporting you, ask others what they do to conserve gas. Personally, I am thinking of asking for a tank of gas for my birthday!
Most importantly, do adopt the practice of planning ahead, especially in your job search activities. Make a list of potential employers, check out the employers’ websites and their addresses, and if there is not an on-line application process, actually map out the shortest route to drop off your resumes in an organized fashion. This is the most effective and efficient gas conserving way to proceed. UPS even has taken this a step farther and they require all routes to be mapped out to take right turns only to save gas and time! Choose one full morning, one full afternoon, or one entire day to apply for jobs to avoid the piece-meal approach of the “one-here-one-there” method. Call first to find out the business hours where you want to apply, and ask if it is permissible to drop off a resume or to fill out an application, or double check to see if they have an on-line application process – no need to waste a trip. Always keep several up to date and clean resumes in a folder just in case, while on your errand day, you come across an opportunity to apply for a job.
Save money, save gas. Take the time and plan ahead. You definitely can do this. Become a GAS BUSTER!!
Ginger Campbell has worked for the AARP Foundation for 32 years. She was a Project Director for the Senior Employment program for 30 years and helped over 5,500 mature job seekers in Humboldt and Sonoma Counties in. Northern CA. She is now the National Program Coordinator/WorkSearch SCSEP.