Families take frugal challenge: To cut back on gas use
— -- When gas prices hit $4 a gallon this summer, drivers across the country started cutting back to save money. They slowed down. They didn't tailgate as much. And there were fewer cars on the road.
Now that gas prices are falling, though, many Americans are drifting back to their gas-guzzling ways.
Resisting that temptation may be the biggest test facing two families that participated in last month's Frugal Family Challenge. When USA TODAY and ABC's Good Morning America Weekend challenged the families to cut their average monthly gasoline usage by 25%, the average price of a gallon of gas was $3.60. Now, the average price is $2.40.
But declining gas prices didn't dampen the families' enthusiasm for the project. With help from Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for automotive website Edmunds.com, both families exceeded their goals, and they're determined to continue their frugal driving habits. Good Morning America will reveal the winning family on Sunday, and we'll publish the results in Monday's issue of USA TODAY.
THE PORTER FAMILY
Before the challenge, Tim and Kelly Porter of Salem, Mass., used their cars for most of their errands.
Tim, 42, usually drove to his second part-time job as a driver's education instructor, even though the school is around the corner from their home. Every weekday, Kelly, 41, drove their son, Alec, 10, about a mile and a half to school and picked him up in the afternoon.
To cut gas, they started walking more.
Tim walked to his part-time job and Kelly picked Alec up in the afternoon on foot. Kelly also walked to the post office and library. On some days, Kelly, a stay-at-home mom, didn't use the car at all.
In the process, the Porters learned that eliminating short trips can save big money. The reason? A cold car uses more gas than a warmed-up vehicle, and generates more pollution, too. Cars are built to "run hot, not cold," Reed says. "If you stand behind a car that's been turned on, right away you can smell the unburned gas and pollutants, particularly in older cars."
Related Stories
ABC News Live