Every time I see the fuel needle dip down toward “E” in my car I feel it–a tiny little turn of my stomach. It’s not much, and it’s one of those things you have to do so you put up with it. You fork over the wad of cash for enough go juice to get you to the next circumstance, and you survive. Just like with everything else, right?

Of course, if you’re sincerely making an effort to improve your life, your relationship with Earth, and cut down on a lot of the everyday aggravations that rankle you, then that little turn of the stomach is not so small any more. That little note of aggravation represents stress. And we all know what stress leads to: high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes…all the nasty scourges people suffer through in this Age of Technology have a powerful accomplice. And every little turn of the stomach is another contributor to *gulp* our premature demise.

How much better would it make you feel to know you had to fill up a 12 gallon tank that’ll make it 360 miles vs. a 24 gallon tank that’ll also make 360 miles? Maybe you should read those numbers one more time. That’s the difference between driving a small economical car vs. driving an SUV.

To Downsize or Not To Downsize
In 2008, at the height of the fuel crunch, Consumer Reports.org analyzed the costs involved in downsizing. Their recommendation was to stick with the guzzler you’ve got now because you likely will end up spending a lot more over the course of time if you trade down. I’ve done my own bit of research and, sadly, came to the same conclusion for my family. Looks like we’re stuck in the family van for another two and a half years or so. So the answer for some of us is simple: if you can downsize, do. If you can’t, read on, my friend….

Downsizing Could Save My Life
Here’s what I’m trying to wrap my mind around right now: considering the cost of gas and how it impacts me every single time I have to purchase it, would the opposite be true if I didn’t have to buy so much? And how much money is that peace of mind worth? For me, it’s worth wondering: If I downsize now, at a time when I have no equity in my car, but would experience less stress over gas prices…it’s possible that something so simple as downsizing my car could give me years more with my family than I might have had otherwise. I find I can’t put a price tag on that one.

But if you can’t afford to downsize yet there are a few things we can do to get us by until we can that could minimize the stress:

1. Lay off the gas pedal and save money. The US government mandated a reduced speed limit in 1973 to 55MPH. Why? Because they needed to reduce the amount of oil consumed. Today the speed limit is back up at a comfortable 70MPH, but do you have to drive 70? No, and in fact, if you keep your speedometer around 60 you’ll save money. Maybe a lot more than you realize.
2. Lay off the gas pedal and save stress. Surround yourself with a cacoon of calm and you won’t suffer the same stresses as those fist-waving, foul-mouthed, spittle-slinging cousins of yours out on the highway.
3. Leave earlier, don’t rush. Too often we fail to plan ahead enough to leave in time. Try using this rule: for whatever appointment you might have, calculate the time you need to leave and add 15 minutes for every hour of drive time. And then adhere to it.
4. Become a rush hour Zen master.

Or, better yet, let’s just all ride bicycles! …Mopeds? Motorcycles? I’m game.

Image by Shira Golding