In an online survey, we asked readers how they would cope with the rising cost of gas. Of the more than 6,500 people who responded, just over half said they would either drive less (43 per cent) or cut other expenses (9 per cent). The other half said they would not change their driving behaviour (30 per cent) or said they don't drive (19 per cent).
Many readers went a step further and wrote to us about how higher gas prices would affect their spending. Here are some of the best comments we received.
"I am a post-secondary student who has no access to a bus so I must drive every day. The little bit of money I have for personal spending keeps getting cut smaller and smaller to pay for tuition, books, and gas. It's getting nearly impossible to stay out of debt."
– Shannel, Winnipeg
"I am a self-employed tradesman. I have no choice but to use gas. I am just barley getting by now and have had to reduce spending on everything from shampoo to furniture. Gas prices are crippling our entire economy."
– Harry Mc Murter, Cobourg, Ont.
"The rising gas prices has affected all parts of my life, from going to work, to running errands, to visiting family and friends. I calculate the cost of gas for everything I am going to do to ensure that I stay under my limited budget."
– Jonathan Barnes, Los Angeles, Calif.
"The biggest change I have made is taking lower-paid employment in a place where I don't have to drive."
– Leroy Harder, Kamloops, B.C.
"I fill up in the United States. Takes me 10 minutes, round trip. With the Canadian dollar at par, it gets cheaper every day."
– Harry, Delta, B.C.
"I'm trying to spend less on groceries, make more food from scratch, and simply buy less stuff."
– Helen Pettingill, Norval, Ont.
"As the price continues to rise, we are funnelling more of our grocery budget over to funding the gasoline budget. We are eating a lot more meatless meals to compensate."
– Mary Campbell, Maple Ridge, B.C.
"I am spending less on entertainment, not going out to eat, only going to the movies on Tuesdays when it's $5. I've been holding back on buying clothes. I commute from Brantford to Burlington (110 km round trip) for my job."
– Brad Kosid, Brantford, Ont.
"I'm a student on a budget. I'm going to have to reduce the number of times I can go home to visit my family. Now that the cost of transportation is higher for me, I have less extra income to put towards my student loan. I can barely afford life right now."
– Mona, North York
"I have to plan when I will be filling up my car around my pay days and planning when to fill up based on how much driving I'm doing in a week. I'm also paying for gas more on my Visa than with cash as the funds aren't available."
– Amanda Smith, Gananoque, Ont.
"Less road trips are planned and more time will be spent at home, thus spending less for accommodations, food, attractions, etc."
– Trina Tallon, Sudbury, Ont.
Dianne Nice