As we all know, gas prices have taken a turn for the worst. In a matter of weeks, prices have gone up almost 60 cents per gallon. For those of you who don’t drive or pay for gas, 60 cents may not seem like a big deal, but it is.

According to the US Energy Information Association, 2009 began with an average gas price of $1.89 per gallon, meaning it would cost $35 to fill a car that gets 20 miles per gallon. Just three years later, gas prices have doubled at an average of $3.77 per gallon, costing $75 to fill a 20 mile per gallon car. At this rate, the average price is gas is predicted to be $5 a gallon by November, 2012. That means it will cost 25 cents every mile driven for a 20mpg car. We Scituate people consider the Derby Street Shoppes to be a close destination, we can be there in less than 15 minutes, but by November it will cost an average of $7.50 to drive to and from Derby Street. Looks like we’ll be seeing a rise in bicycles this summer.

 Being a generally new driver, $1.89 per gallon seems like a dream. If gas were still that price I would be planning as many road trips as possible. All I want to do when the weather gets warm is drive up to Six Flags for the day, but the actual driving will cost more than the full day ticket. These days, driving means sacrifices. Is the gas money worth the fun and vice versa?

 Thankfully, there are many ways to resolve some of these gas related issues. First off, if you plan on driving somewhere far, pack your car! Bring as many people as possible and do not be afraid to ask for gas money, you are the one driving after all and every penny counts.

 A more difficult, yet extremely efficient option is the moped. Starting around $600 these gas miracles cost only about $20 a month for gas. As senior Drew McDonald says about his moped, “ I get about a hundo to the gallon and my tank only holds a gallon. So it’s like 4 bucks to fill up it rocks.” Sounds like a great deal to me.

If neither of those two options suit your fancy, just find the cheapest gas stations around. According to my favorite App, GasBuddy, the best gas stations to look for are Prime Energy (great one in Marshfield), US Petroleum, and Stop & Shop. Ask your parents for their Stop& Shop card and save 10 cents per gallon on the pump.

Times are tough, especially when it comes to gas. But this is a problem we are all facing together with numerous options to keep the pockets full. And remember, prices go down just as easily as they go up.