this wasn't in the plan |but life is still pretty good

Gas prices are dropping.  And regardless of how you feel about that chances are that you, like me, have spent less on gas in October than you did in September.  This means more money in your pocket, maybe.

When gas prices were so high, I was trying to really limit my driving.  I settled into a groove where the kids and I didn't leave the house by car unless we really needed to.  Now that prices are down a bit, I have two options, pocket the difference or drive more and cancel out the savings.  I think the natural tendency, for me at least, is to gradually increase our outings.  So, although it might be super fab that I can fill up my tank for under $50, if I'm doing that more frequently it really isn't any different that when it would cost me nearly $70 to fill up. 

But I'm making a conscious effort to maintain my previous driving patterns as best I can.  I try and fill up no more frequently than every two weeks, it's not always possible, but it still pretty much averages out to two fill-ups a month.

And, of course, I need to make sure I don't just spend that money elsewhere.  If I'm going to be saving money at the gas pumps, I want to actually save it!