I'm pretty sure everyone is taking a beating paying for gas right now. And it will continue to only get worse. Every since moving downtown Cleveland I have save A LOT of money because I walk to work and walk other places that I need to get to. I am also saving up for a bike that will be used for commuting and exercise. If I need to go down to Akron, there is a tow path that I can ride on for about an hour and a half to get to Akron. It's very scenic and takes me really close to my family and friends. I just read an interesting article on Tree Hugger that says if a person moves close to work, transit stops and retail areas that they can save around $2,100 a year! There will always be a need for a car, but with the rising gas prices the cost of gas will soon be more expensive than feeding you and/or your family. Click Read More for my thoughts

Since moving downtown Cleveland I have not kept track of how much money I saved on gas. I can tell you that the a nice chunk of my money was spent on gas, I commuted 45 minutes each way from Cleveland to Akron 5 days a week. I started taking public transportation to cut down on the cost of gas and to sleep an extra 45 minutes on the ride to work! That cut down my gas budget a lot. But the bus became an inconvenience some time. There were days that would require me to stay longer than the 7.5 hours I am supposed to work (which happens to most of us). So I still needed to drive a lot. But I know that either method of transportation added to emissions being spewed in the air. So when I moved downtown Cleveland in fall of '06 it was life changing. Not only did I never drive my car during the week. But I started getting in better shape from walking back and forth to work. The only time I would drive me car is to visit friends on distant sides of town, to meet with my business partner in Columbus and to visit my son in Akron.

While I feel that my moving to Cleveland has helped me out a lot financially, physically and cut down my carbon footprint a lot, it may not be that easy for most people. First, moving downtown in any big city costs a pretty penny. So the money that you may be saving on gas now goes into your rent or mortgage. Also, if you already have a house, you are locked into a mortgage. So you can't just give up your house! Also, public transportation costs are slightly raising because of the increase in gas costs. So the points in the Tree Hugger article are to be taken with a grain of salt.

Here are a few things I propose you can do:
Car Pool: This is one of the easiest and popular things you can do. Find a co-worker(s) that you can alternate driving days with.
Public Transportation: Even if you don't live close to a public transporation place check to see if they have Park and Ride locations. If the mileage to the park and ride is less than your mileage to work then it's a no brainer.
Bike to work when you can: If you are in reasonable biking distance to work and the season/weather is permitting, then purchase a good bike and ride to work a few days a week. If you have a shower that you can use in your work building, then pack up a grooming kit with toothpaste/toothbrush, soap, deodorant and other toiletries you use. Iron a few outfits for work and pack them neatly in a garment bag and hang them in your office.
Telecommute: Only if your boss allows you though. There are a lot of us that can work from home some days. With all the networking/VPN technologies it's just like being in your office. Except that you are in your PJ's, and at home in front of the big screen watching the Price is Right and Sports Center while working on your presentation.