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Is anyone else feeling it, or just me? It cost me $84.00 to fill up my SUV yesterday,Ouch. I can usually get by with one tank each month, but with Summer here- 5 Kids, going to the zoo etc., this was my second fill-up. It hurts, that is almost $170 just in gas! How are all of you guys dealing with the prices and what are you doing to make your dollar stretch? Any good budgeting tips and advice? Thanks for your help!

I try to stay home 2 to 3 days each week.  When I do go out, I try to get as much done in a trip as possible.  I will make a list of things I need to do and places I need to go and keep it on the door to the garage.  I just add to it until I am ready for a trip out.  I try to schedule all appointments the same day to reduce the need for trips.  I also will have the hubby stop by the store on his way home from work if I just need a thing or two.  I may me a little mental, but every time I have to make a trip anywhere I know that it will cost me at least $4 for gas, so if I add the $4 to what ever I have to get and it's not worth and extra $4, I don't leave the house.

Excellent idea! 

I love the Smith's gas idea.

We just bought a scooter. It was $1200, and it gets 80 miles a gallon and costs $15/month to insure. We took my husband's commuting gas from 3.3 gallons to 1.2 gallons. That is a huge help, though only in the summer.

We are also simplifying our diet. We eat more oatmeal instead of cereal, split pea soup and homemade bread for dinner, and lots of homemade refried beans. We haven't increased our grocery budget at all from last year to this year because we have simplified. And to make meat stretch, cut it up in tiny pieces and put it in a sauce. I can usually get away with half the meat or less by chopping it small, for example in a casserole or sauce. The Pampered Chef food chopper is great for chopping meat small if you have one.

Smith's is the best I've found for canned goods. We buy Kroger brand diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, canned pears, peaches, and pineapple for great prices compared to other store brands or to name brands, and we like the quality. Buy by the case for the best deal.

Also, we started using cash. As in actual dollar bills. Some studies show you save up to 40% at the grocery store just by using cash. And when the grocery cash is gone, it's gone.

Ok so did someone really purchase a Smiths gift card for $90 and have it print a coupon for gas?  I was asking a cashier about it in Payson and he made it sound like to me that it wouldn't work.  I explained what I wanted to do, but didn't really understand his response. 

I did it in Payson yesterday and it worked just fine! 

When you go to pay for the gas, just swipe your rewards card at the pump and it automatically takes the 15 cents off per gallon.

Ah... the good old days....

I don't know if they really have a policy in place for the gift card rewards.  I went and purchased a gift card and I forgot to give the cashier my fresh value card so I went to customer service they gave me a card for their main customer service center that had a phone number and their web site.  I called and left a message for someone to get back to me.  I also went on the web site and sent and email for someone to help me.  When I got a phone call back the guy was very helpful and added the 15 cents off for my gas to my card.  When I got the response from the email they said that they don't offer the discount with the purchase of gift cards.  If anyone can find out for sure what the policy is I would love to know because I got the two different answers.