Cheap Gas??

Cheap gas is one of those famous oxymorons like jumbo shrimp, exact estimate, soft rock, etc. If you've been living anywhere besides under a rock for the past 5 years, you've probably realized gas aint cheap. But you can minimize your expenses in many ways.

1) Use alternate transportation. The bus pays for the gas, so no matter the gas price, you pay a standard fare. Best deal currently: Capital MetroBus 31-Day Pass (unlimited rides) - $28/ $14 with a student or military ID. That's cheaper than a tank of gas.

1a) You could take the proposed Austin Light Rail, which after years of delay's has an expected start date of this March.

3) If you're going to drive, make sure that you're carpooling. Not only will this make you feel better about saving the earth, but if you split the costs it can help save your wallet too.

4) Before you go out, check Austin Gas Prices to be aware of the lowest prices at gas stations closest to you. It's searchable by zip code, which is a nice feature and also maintains an up-to-date list of the lowest regular gas prices in Austin in the last 36 hours, along with maps and directions to the stations. There is a also a corresponding list for the highest regular gas prices in the last 36 hours. All prices are entered by ordinary Austin residents and it is a great way to rally as consumers and save on gasoline expenses.

-- There are also several forums and polls on the site for residents to discuss gas and transportation related queries and legislation.

-- Join the related site, GasBuddy. Sign up and pledge to report the cheapest and most expensive gas in your area. The more you report, the more points you collect and you could potentially win vouchers for pre-paid gas! Membership is completely free and this is an effective community tool to help Austinites in their quest for cheaper gas! Check out a gas price temperature map that shows you the gas prices across the nation and Texas at a glance.

5) Before driving, you should also pick up some tips to maximize your gas efficiency and keep your car purring from Fuel Ecomony, an entity of the Environmental Protection Agency.

These are my best tips for getting around Austin cheaply. Check out this interesting video by The Wall Street Journal about electric cars taking over pick-up trucks in Texas. I don’t know if that is an actual trend but it is a cool idea! If you're feeling drastic, give it a try.

Deal of the day: Every Monday is free pool at Slick Willie's. There are numerous locations around Austin.