What are your frugal and sustainable tips and tricks?

[Finchbreeder]

Aust is phasing out coal as fast as possible, and gas a bit slower - but not replacing them with wind and solar as fast. Which dipstick did that maths?

 

[saysfaa]

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I looked into the cost of charging EV's. For my situation, here is what I found...

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What is the peak rate?

We don't have off peak or night rate options. We have a flat rate of about $0.2 per kWh for all kWhs used per month plus various charges that we would pay anyway.

It might be more fair to consider the gasoline price without the taxes that mostly pay for the roads. Because those costs are starting to be paid by EV owners now too, in ways that don't show in the recharging costs.

$3 less 18.4 cents (federal) less 32 cents (Minnesota) is about $2.50 per gallon.

Illinois is 66 cents but gas is about $3.45 so $3.45 less 18 less 66 is about $2.60.

Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa also follow a similar pattern of price between then differing by about the amounts of state tax on any given point in time.

I know there are other taxes on gasoline but I don't know how to find them all or whether they also go mostly to roads.

Sorry, accidentally hit post while I was still working on it. It is finished now, maybe.

 

[Finchbreeder]

Unleaded petrol in Country West Aust. $1.90/litre inc taxes.

 

[saysfaa]

What is the peak rate?

We don't have off peak or night rate options. We have a flat rate of about $0.2 per kWh for all kWhs used per month plus various charges that we would pay anyway.

It might be more fair to consider the gasoline price without the taxes that mostly pay for the roads. $3 less 18.4 cents (federal) less 32 cents (Minnesota) is about $2.50 per gallon.

I drive about 30 miles per week when I am home. Several times a year, I visit friends or family. The nearest is about 200 miles away (3 hours drive), most are about 1,000 miles away (12 hours drive). I do those drives in one day. I make minimal stops. No restaurants or coffee shops. I stop for gas, (bio breaks at the gas stations). On some trips, I stop to stretch my legs a bit at an estate sale or an unusual shopping destination - like picking up chicks at a hatchery.

My vehicle gets about 15 miles per gallon. Or, if the trip is long enough (distance) and short enough (duration), I rent a car that gets about 50 miles per gallon.

If I did the math right, that is about 17 cents per mile vs 8 cents per mile when I am home or at the home of the people I'm visiting. For about $5 vs $2.50 per week.

Or 5 cents per mile vs 30 cents per mile on a drive day - or $50 vs $300 per day (and still making the trip longer) if I rent. Or $150 vs $300 per day if I drive my car.

 

[saysfaa]

Driving a vehicle that gets 15 miles per gallon can be frugal and environmentally responsible.

She's 25ish years old, bought when we had 5 small children. It took less gas to drive her than the two cars we would have otherwise needed. Now that they are grown and gone, it costs less to drive her the little that I do than to replace her. Especially now that she has a salvage title because she's been totaled twice, the air conditioning is not worth repairing, and multiple computer diagnostic systems are malfunctioning. And the key won't come out of the ignition sometimes. And a few other issues.

I wanted her to last the rest of my life. I can live with all of the above. It is probably the rust that will eventually cause me to give her up. Just things like losing chunks of the quarter panels won't do it but when water starts getting to the seats or carpet, I will give her up. Dh is already studying what to get for me next.

 

[fuzzi]

I drive about 30 miles per week when I am home. Several times a year, I visit friends or family. The nearest is about 200 miles away (3 hours drive), most are about 1,000 miles away (12 hours drive). I do those drives in one day. I make minimal stops. No restaurants or coffee shops. I stop for gas, (bio breaks at the gas stations). On some trips, I stop to stretch my legs a bit at an estate sale or an unusual shopping destination - like picking up chicks at a hatchery.

My vehicle gets about 15 miles per gallon. Or, if the trip is long enough (distance) and short enough (duration), I rent a car that gets about 50 miles per gallon.

If I did the math right, that is about 17 cents per mile vs 8 cents per mile when I am home or at the home of the people I'm visiting. For about $5 vs $2.50 per week.

Or 5 cents per mile vs 30 cents per mile on a drive day - or $50 vs $300 per day (and still making the trip longer) if I rent. Or $150 vs $300 per day if I drive my car.

If I go visit my grandchildren the driving distance is 950 miles, one way. I stop halfway, as it's too long for me. I can usually drive all day on a tank of gas, filling it before I stop for the night. If I had an EV, and could drive only 200 miles on a charge, that would really extend my trip.