Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Self-Discipline: How To Save Money On Gas

I should begin this week’s series by admitting: I love to drive.

My son is quiet in the back seat. The city is full of possibilities. I am free!

I’ve postponed this discussion because the alternative is painful.

While tips about improving gas mileage and finding the cheapest prices at the pump help, I need to convince myself to hand over my keys.

It’s not an issue of dollars—but a question of discipline.
  • How often do I get in my car simply to avoid my work at home?
  • Invent an errand to escape from my family?
  • And yes, the height of all laziness, occasionally DRIVE the half mile to my library because my book bag’s too full to fit in the stroller?

I’m baring my soul, friends.

My life improves when I stay at home. For a month we had only one working car. My productivity shot through the roof! My car time became organized and efficient! I was content…because I didn’t have to make a choice.

This week, I’d like to come up with some strategies that will keep me at home when my ignition fingers are twitching. I need armor against my weak nature!

Tomorrow I will do some backflips with a calculator and bank statement—figure out how much I’ve been spending per day on gas. I’ll compile a list of activities that should keep me at home. I’ll try out some workable schedules that consolidate driving.

But mostly, I’ll pray for discipline:
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I hate to drive, and I've noticed that my productivity skyrockets when there are no errands in a day.

However, as kids get older, ACTIVITIES kick in. So, brace yourself with a plan for keeping productivity high when the kids have piano and scouts and religious ed lessons!