Mileage Project Report

During March I have made a special effort to improve gas mileage on my minivan. I was getting 24.6 MPG. I reset the MPG calculator on March 1 and am ready to report: 25.7 MPG. I am super excited about this because it was almost all city driving. I made one highway trip of about 100 miles, otherwise it was all stoplights and suburban streets.

My next mileage project is highway travel. This week I'll be making exactly the same trip twice -- dropping off and picking up Sam for his spring break visit with my parents. I will do the first trip at my usual speed (north of 70 mph) and the second trip at the speed limit. I've heard that there is a significant difference in efficiency. We'll see.

Today was also grocery shopping day. Double coupons! I'm especially proud of the deal I got on food coloring and vanilla extract --

• McCormick food coloring, on sale for $2. I had a $1 coupon, which was doubled. FREE
• McCormick vanilla extract, on sale for $2. I had a $.75 coupon, which was doubled. $.50
• Store promotion gave me a coupon for $1.50 off my next purchase. $1 moneymaker

That's a fun game.