gasoline – Nates Computer Services

June 1 2012 I got rid of my car and I have not wanted it back. Primarily by using the web instead of driving as well as biking and walking.

Datacommuting ebook now available on iBooks, Amazon (Kindle) and Nook

preview of the ebook
Republished from Aug 9 2012
(
In Brainerd)
So I was going to take 60 days to see whether I could get by without a car before insurance would go up. Yes, I can get by without a car. Yes, I can get by without rides from friends and family (I have had a few from family and one family friend, but they weren’t necessary). Yes, I like not having a car. I will continue to walk, bike, take bus, or car pool.
So how else besides walking and biking do I get around or could get around?
I use email, phone.
Video conferencing( Skype, Yahoo Messenger, or Face Time ), screen sharing, text messaging and facebook and other social media.
Online Meetings with GoToMeeting
Brainerd & Crow Wing Public Transit
Jefferson Lines
Brainerd & Crow Wing County Regional Airport BRD
Paul Bunyan Trail
Grab a Cab (started since original article written
Brainerd Area Taxi
Executive express (took over lakes express fleet)
Reichert Bus Service

My Office, GoToMeeting and Drive Time

I’m going to give you an example of a couple of changes I’ve made to my business model.
Although my prices have lowered slightly and I’ve cut out most the on-site business. I am now able to handle more customers, or do more for my customers, because of savings on drive time.Hhowever I am still backlogged with some of my customers and back end projects for my business.
I have been consistently saving money on fuel since I’ve been using Citrix GoToMeeting in 2010 and now have the combination of having my office for people to meet me at.
My fuel use for my car has been cut significantly. When I was first starting, I was filling up every 2 weeks or more. Last year it was about once a month. This calendar year so far, It has been about every 2 months, so I have filled up twice so far.
This is how much I have spent during this time period during the calendar year to date for the past 6 years.
Time Period           spent on fuel                   gallons of fuel
From 1/1/12 to 5/4/12 $73.34            21.443    (as stated on receipts)
From 1/1/11 to 5/4/11 148.74              40.4         (approximate calculation-fleet farm didn’t have the number of gallons on receipt, but gives .04 per gallon discount, the other gas stations did give a receipt)
From 1/1/10 to 5/4/10 143.66
From 1/1/09 to 5/4/09 142.01
From 1/1/08 to 5/4/08 251.93
From 1/1/07 to 5/4/07 181.38
Note: This includes fuel used both business and personal
Update:
2013 $0 0 gallons
2014 $0 0 gallons
Update 2015: we are temporarily going without an office. permanently without a car. We also use many other means to avoid driving and avoiding people driving to us including other electronic tools such as cloud services including online storage, our website, video rental using web, email, WebEx, GoToAssist. Also use non electronic means such as walking and biking.