Top 10 Ways to Save On Gas, But Stay Busy

Did you know Henry Ford had a model for an electric car? 

There is a man in the mid-west who will convert your car to run on canola oil.

Doc McCloud went to the future without ever having to stop at a gas station.

Unfortunately here on Long Island, most of us are still driving around in gas-guzzling vehicles and everyone is really getting slammed at the pump lately. Believe me I wouldn’t have bought a Jeep years ago if I saw this coming!

However, it’s not all bad. It’s given people opportunities to look for new types of things to keep themselves busy, while being somewhat close to home. With that…I give you this week’s Top 10 List of things to do instead of using gas!

10) Build A Fire – Building a fire is a very underrated activity, especially if you do it correctly. Trust me, I’m an Eagle Scout. Think about it though, you get a small fire pit, and start to toast some S’mores, tell some good stories, and cook some cheeseburgers. You’ve got it made. Granted, safety here is a concern, but teaching survival techniques counts immensely for something. I pick #10 for this one because it’s harder to find an appropriate location to do so, but with parental supervision, there won’t be any visits from the fire department.

9) Walk Places – Walking places is a great way NOT to use gas and to conserve. However, if you buy too much on your morning jaunt to Walgreens this becomes somewhat cumbersome. Try walks around your neighborhood. See what houses are being sold. Check out if there are any creepy neighbors. See if you can find a few garden gnomes. Maybe even take your pet baboon.

8) Monopoly – Monopoly might as well be America’s second pastime. First of all, it takes hours. Second, if you’re looking to engage in what I like to call, “family warfare”, then play Monopoly. The nice thing about Monopoly these days is that there are tons of varieties. Personally, I have “Beatle-opoly” and “Brew-opoly”.  Just picture this…cool summer night, dusk, patio and friends and family fighting over who gets to be the thimble or little iron. On a side note…you actually can design your OWN “opoly”, and I am shooting for “Nicholas Cage-opoly”.

7) Get Organic – Pretty easy to do actually. Now, when I say organic, I am suggesting growing your own veggies and fruits, not breeding your own chickens or cows. Go with the simple stuff: herbs, tomatoes, figs. If you want to get risky, I’d say try some home grown potatoes or cabbage.  You can also make a nice little design out of your garden, add a few gnomes, a little fence. For the men reading this…there is nothing manlier than growing your own food. Granted, everything then must be fried, grilled or covered in cheese.

6) Roller Blade – Who said in-line skating went out in the 90’s? It's great exercise, a great way to get places minus the gas, and to top it all off,  if you get a nice set of elbow and knee pads, and a nifty helmet, you can call yourself a flashback. The only thing better is actual roller skates. All you need to complete the ensemble is a Sony Discman and a recording of Savage Garden. I might break out my Bladerunner Pro 500’s again!

5) Communicate – Smoke signal, letter, currier, you name it. This is the perfect time to connect with old friends without having to actually SEE them. Sure, there’s email, but let’s get old school. There are so many ways to get in touch with old friends and family. Gain a little weight? No problem! No one has to know because you sent a real letter. Going bald? You can’t see a hairline when you send a telegram? Just grab your roller blades and bring them to the old post office. Or, pull a George Lucas (Star Wars), and make up a few languages that only you and a friend speak! Rosetta Stone will have nothing on you. How does it save gas? Well, you’re just basically staying home.

4) Hobbies – People, to save on gas, take up a new hobby. There is an endless variety. Granted, you will have to drive to pick up your supplies, but once you are home, stay put. Remember that ‘coming of age’ movie you started to write? How about that promise you made to yourself to play the guitar? Cooking? Want to read the entire “Dark Tower” series? NO problem. Research an interest? Want to know more about Easter Island or Machu Pichu, take a virtual journey through books at the local library. You could take an online class, but you and I both know you’d end up on Facebook.  

3) Redesign a Room – Probably one of my favorite activities on the list. This is special for both men and women. First, ladies, take the time to move some furniture around and add a few new family photos. Clean up some old magazines and kick off the dust. How does this save gas? It’s a nice activity to do at home without going anywhere.  There is so much potential in your own home. Plus, moving things around can help you save on heating costs in the future. Men, this is your chance to create a MAN CAVE. Yes…break out those old AC/DC and Whitesnake posters and 1998 World Series newspapers. Throw in a cooler and mini-fridge. Grab an old recliner and leftover carpet your wife was saving for “something useful.” Your garage just became your new favorite spot, where you can also use your time to take up your new hobby of the bass guitar.

2) Softball – Everyone loves softball. Me, personally, I’m on two teams. Most others wouldn’t have placed this so high on the list. However, I am all about being old, out of shape and competitive. With the exception of actually having to drive to a field for a game, or again, roller blade, you have time to do JUST enough physical activity to make you tired and still feel useful.  The best part about this one is the community. Get that quirky friend from work, that cousin who you haven’t seen in a while, your dad because he’s retired and bored, and of course, your token fat dude. (You need at least one. )  Now, men reading this, there are co-ed leagues, and I am not saying that this is a bad thing, but remember it was men who created the much lazier version of the women’s game, therefore bring it back to manly. How does this save gas?  Stick to local fields, carpool with your teammates and after a double-header, you'll be too tired to drive anywhere else besides your home, to hibernate in that Man Cave you built.

1) Wing Nights – This is a wonderful way to go out to dinner and spend very little money. Wing Nights are great because they are CHEAP and fun. Think about it, a family of six, each gets 10 wings for 10 cents. That's six bucks! Beautiful! Throw in two baskets of fries and some sodas and BAM, $20 for the whole thing.  Plus, it’s a great way to check out games on the oversized TV’s, bond with friends, figure out the problems of the world, or take advice from a random patron. Many years ago my friends and I had our brutal advice guru in a local Irish clergyman, who taught us how to eat wings the right way. Now, my friends, I pass this on to you. Wing Nights in the summer are a staple here on Long Island so you don't have to drive very far to find a great joint offering this delicious deal. Plus, you'll easily recoup any of the gas money you do spend because as I said - Wings are CHEAP!

See? There are ways to still enjoy your spare time and save on gas. The best part is the more we stay home, the more oil companies will be swimming in oil and be forced to lower prices. Everyone wins in the end!

Next week, I will be focusing on something I’ve wanted to do for a while…Pizza Places with secret hidden restaurants in local towns. There will be less comedy…but hopefully great suggestions for some fine food.

You keep reading and I’ll keep writing!