Gas Prices Went Up. Here's What I Cut, Shifted, and Swapped This Week
- Jeannette Fennel
- May 22
- 6 min read
I was out running errands over a week ago when I drove past a gas station and glanced at the sign. Unleaded: $5.27 per gallon. I sighed.
If you felt that too, you’re not alone.
Here’s the good news: budgets are not meant to be rigid. Life changes after you’ve already mapped out your month. Gas prices spike. An unexpected expense shows up. Something shifts. When that happens, you have a choice: adjust now, or overspend by the end of the month.
A budget is meant to flex. That’s not a flaw in the system. That’s the system working exactly as it should. When one expense goes up, something else has to shift. This week, gas is my something. So I made four small adjustments to stay on track, and I want to walk you through exactly how I implemented each one.
Four Small Shifts I’m Making This Month
1. Driving less
Combining errands into one trip. Planning grocery runs better. Skipping the random “just because” drives that add up more than we realize.
2. Choosing virtual when I can.
Virtual doctor appointments, virtual meetings with professionals, less unnecessary time on the road. If I don’t have to be somewhere in person, I’m asking for it to be virtual.
3. Working from home more.
Fewer commuting days means less wear and tear on my truck, less gas out of my pocket, and more flexibility in my day. When I have the option, I’m taking it.
4. Shifting my spending.
Cutting back on dining out this month and putting that money toward gas instead. More meals at home, more intentional choices about where my dollars go. When one expense goes up, something else has to give a little.
Now here's what that actually looked like in practice this past week.
Saturday: Fill up where it’s cheaper, on a trip you’re already taking
I went fly fishing with a friend. We drove about an hour and a half to one of our favorite spots, and I knew going in that it would be a pricier outing with gas where it is right now.
But here’s the thing: we were heading into Idaho. If you’re not familiar with the Spokane area, the Idaho border is only about 20 to 30 minutes away. Gas over there has been running about 75 cents cheaper per gallon than on the Washington side.
I didn’t make a special trip to Idaho for gas. I was already going. I just topped off while I was there.
That’s the move: know your area, know your prices, and take advantage of where you already are.
Sunday: Stay close to home and still enjoy yourself
Sunday was housework and a beer date with my husband at Whistle Punk. We didn’t dine out, kept it simple, but we still got out of the house and enjoyed each other. A pint and good company goes a long way.
Not every weekend has to be an expensive production. Sometimes the best reset is the low-key one.
Monday: Work from home, stay home
One of the genuine privileges of owning my own business is that I can work from home, and on Monday I leaned all the way into that.
I worked on upcoming projects, studied for my ChFC, and stayed connected with my contract job through email. In the evening I pulled weeds in the yard. Zero gas spent. Zero miles driven. An honestly productive day.
If you have any flexibility to work from home, even one or two days a week, that’s real money back in your pocket.
Tuesday: Batch your errands like a pro
Tuesday I had a PT appointment I couldn’t skip. My physical therapist is doing hands-on manual therapy right now, so Zoom is not an option. I had to be there in person.
So instead of driving to PT and coming straight home, I planned ahead. I’ve been wanting a filing cabinet for my home office and thrift stores genuinely have the best deals. I swung into UGM Thrift on the way home and found a gently used one in great shape for $25. After that, I picked up groceries for the week.
One trip. Multiple stops. Done.
Batching errands is one of the simplest and most underrated ways to cut down on gas. Instead of making three separate trips across three different days, you build one efficient route and handle it all at once.
Wednesday: Rinse and repeat
Almost a carbon copy of Monday. Worked from home, stayed in touch with my contract job via email, and studied. No commute, no gas, no problem.
Some days the most strategic thing you can do is simply stay put.
Thursday: Already out? Make it count.
Thursday I had a coffee meeting with a potential client at Derailer Coffee, about 25 minutes from my house. Instead of driving out and heading straight back, I did a little route planning on the way home.
I stopped at Home Depot to grab potting soil and swung by Costco to stock up on some of our favorite staples (Veggie Straws, anyone?). One drive out, three stops handled. If I’m already out, I’m going to make that trip work as hard as possible.
Friday: The hardest shift is the mindset shift
Friday I worked from home and filmed a YouTube video. Talking in front of a camera is not exactly my comfort zone, but honestly? I’m starting to enjoy it more than I expected.
In the evening I met up with some former coworkers at 45 Degree Brewhouse, a local brewery. Good people, good beer, good vibes.
And then came the real test.
After spending time with that crew, it was genuinely tempting to swing into one of our favorite local restaurants on the way home. It felt completely reasonable in the moment. But my husband and I talked it through. We already had everything to make homemade spaghetti waiting at home. So we went home, ate well, and now we have leftovers for days.
This is what shift number four looks like in real life. It’s not always a spreadsheet decision. Sometimes it’s a conversation in the car on the way home, talking each other or yourself into the choice you already know makes sense. That’s the work. And it’s worth it.
The bigger picture
When gas prices spike, or groceries go up, or an insurance premium jumps, the answer isn’t panic. It’s adjustment. You look at where you have flexibility and you lean into it. You pay attention to your area and your options. You stop making three trips when one will do.
None of the shifts I made this week were dramatic. I didn’t overhaul my life. I didn’t deprive myself of things I enjoy. I went fly fishing. I had beers with friends. I grabbed a pint with my husband. But I also filled up in Idaho, batched my errands, cooked at home, and talked myself out of an unnecessary restaurant stop on a Friday night.
That’s it. That’s the whole strategy.
A budget that works isn’t one you set in January and never touch again. It’s one you’re willing to revisit when life throws something at it. Gas prices going up is not a reason to throw your hands up. It’s a prompt to get a little more creative, a little more intentional, and a little more aware of where your money is actually going.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be willing to adjust. And if you can do that, one small shift at a time, you’ll be amazed at how much ground you can hold even when prices are working against you.
That’s what financial flexibility looks like in real life. And you’re more capable of it than you think.
➡️ What strategies have you been using to offset rising gas prices? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
Hi! I’m Jeannette and I help professionals ditch debt without the overwhelm and build wealth without the stress.
📞 Contact me to schedule a FREE 15 minute phone call and start to make a plan with your money.
Friendly reminder: The information shared is for educational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for financial, legal, tax, or mental health advice. Please consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.
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