Genine Compton of Ohio was arrested at the beginning of the month for driving, breast feeding, and talking on the  phone.  Now, I am a proponent of all 3 but not at the same time.  There has to be another side of this story.  Anybody know it?  Because I am not getting it?!?!?!

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

If you’d like, you can view the results of the last poll about reusable grocery bags.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

I was traveling home late the other night and it was so hard to stay awake.  I know we’ve all been in this position before, so I thought I’d offer some tips.

 1.  Keep the car cool.  Avoid turning on the heat.  If it’s hot outside, turn on the air conditioning and turn the vents straight toward your face.

 2.  Turn on the radio.  Turn it up loud and sing to it.  Try to sing loudly and get into the music. 

 3.  Eat something.  When my husband used to travel home from his evening job, he would pop some popcorn before he left work.  He would eat the popcorn on the way home and it would keep him alert.  You might want to try stopping for an ice cream or something.

 4.  Find someone to talk to.  This is the #1 thing that wakes me up.  When I’m traveling and I start to get tired, I pick up my cell phone and make a call.  Having to interact in a conversation helps to energize me.

 5.  Pull over and walk around.  Find a well lit gas station, restaurant, or rest stop.  Walk or run around.  Breathe in the fresh air.

 6.  Get a good night’s sleep.  If you know you will be traveling the next day, then plan for it.  Go to bed early the night before.

 7.  Stay hydrated.  Even being slightly thirsty can cause you to feel fatigued. 

 8.  Drink caffeine for a temporary fix.  A cup of coffee always gets me going.

 9.  Get someone to go on the trip with you.  Having a friend to chat with will encourage conversation and will also give someone that you can share the driving.

10.   Keep a wet towel or ice pack in a cooler.  Use it to put on your forehead, neck, and temples.

You may even want to purchase a nap zapper.  Until today, I’d never heard of one.

If all else fails, pull over and take a nap.  Of course, you’ll want to do this in a safe looking area with the doors locked.  What works to keep you awake while driving?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1.  Drive sensibly – Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration, braking) wastes gas.  Driving sensibly can help increase your gas mileage by 5% for around town driving and 33% at highway speeds.

2.  Observe the speed limit – Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. 

3.  Remove excess weight – Avoid carrying unnecessary, heavy items in your car which will reduce your mpg.

4.  Use cruise control – Using the cruise control will help you maintain a constant speed, which will in most cases save you money.

5.  Keep your engine tuned – Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensory, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

6.  Check and replace air filters regularly – It saves gas and improves mileage.

7.  Keep proper tire pressure – Under inflated tires lower gas mileage.  Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.

8.  Avoid roof racks when traveling – Place items in the trunk if possible.

9.  Avoid unnecessary idling – It wastes fuel and pollutes the air.  If possible, schedule your commute from work during the least busy times.  I remember when I worked in Blacksburg, I really had to watch the times that I left work.  Waiting an additional 10 minutes could cost me an additional 30 minutes of commute time.

10. Practical tip – Schedule your errands more efficiently.  I try to do all my errands on one side of town in one day, that way I’m not driving all over the place.  This saves time and money.

Hope these tips help.  Do you have any tips?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

I don’t wish anything bad upon you, but you might want to read my post “How To Get Out of a Ticket”.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy