Rising gas prices hitting home

Patrick and Tawnya Weeks and their four children ages 6 to 12 regularly play together in their backyard in Mesa instead of driving around town to restaurants or other family destinations. The reason: It costs too much to buy gasoline for their 1996 Ford pickup truck - $75 to fill it up.

GRAPHIC: See the average price of gas around the Valley and nationally

GRAPHIC: A survey of Arizona motorists on how gas prices impact them

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"We're staying home and trying to save gas money," said Weeks, an unemployed plumber.

The Weeks are among thousands of Valley residents whose lives have been affected directly and indirectly - economically, emotionally and sometimes absurdly - by the rising price of gasoline.

Like Laura Lopez, a teacher who drives an average of 130 miles each week from her Mesa home to a preschool in east Mesa in her 1998 Ford Taurus.

Lopez and her fiance have eliminated "date night."

"We used to set one night a week to go out to dinner and maybe a movie, but not anymore," said Lopez. "No more date nights until gas prices get lower."

The steadily rising price is having a direct financial impact on Valley motorists.

"We were planning a trip to California, but had to postpone it because of the high costs of gasoline," said Craig McCormick, 44, owner of Arizona Home Repair Co. in Chandler. Instead, the McCormicks, including his wife and two daughters, will bide their time at home.

McCormick is trying to offset the extra gasoline expenses for his construction jobs by adding an average of between $30 to $40 to each home repair bill.

Carole and Dwayne Gibbs of Queen Creek have reduced the number of trips they make to visit their children and grandchildren in Mesa.

"We drive less and stay home and play with our dogs more," said Carole Gibbs, who drives a 1996 Chevrolet Camaro.

JOBS, FOOD BANKS AFFECTED

Jasmine Dominguez, 21, a student at Arizona State University, and Lloyd Ornelas, 22, who is learning to become a firefighter at Mesa Community College, both lost their part-time jobs because of skyrocketing fuel prices.

Dominguez, a notary, drove across the Valley to title companies and buyers preparing legal documents. But no longer.

"I had to stop because it cost too much to drive all over," she said. Ornelas, who worked as a house painter, had to stop working because of the cost of driving from job to job.

Fred Bates, director of member services for the Association of Arizona Food Banks, said gasoline prices are hitting food banks on two levels.

"It's costing us more to drive our trucks and pick up and deliver food," said Bates. "And, because of the economy, including gas prices, more people are coming to our agencies to get food."

He said the 650 food distribution centers in Maricopa County have experienced a 30 percent increase in the number of people seeking free food.

BUS SERVICE INCREASES

Motorists who work in the East Valley and who must drive daily from their distant homes are especially hard hit, particularly those who drive gas-guzzlers.

Kelly Wilkerson works in Scottsdale, and her friend, Rissa Walker, works in Tempe. They both live in Glendale. Wilkerson drives her 2003 Ford SUV and drops Walker off in Tempe, then heads for Scottsdale. Walker takes a bus from Tempe to Scottsdale each day, where she gets her ride back to Glendale.

"Both of us are riding buses more," said Wilkerson, who fills her SUV every three days at about $57 for each filling.

Bus service in Tempe, like in every other Valley community, is steadily increasing in popularity. In 2006, there were 7.6 million bus rides, and last year the number jumped to 8.2 million. It is expected to break records this year.

Kathy Ruddle drives about 240 miles from her home in Cornville to Mesa about once a week to bring food and other commodities to her son, Enock, 23, who rides his bike to and from work.

"I've been cutting down on junk food to help pay for the gasoline," said Ruddle, who drives a 2006 Ford van.

Then there are drivers who keep close track of their gasoline expenses and, as it climbs, take other measures to combat the rise.

"On weekends, I used to get together with my friends and go out, but now I just stay home and play Nintendo games," said Fahlisha Lewis, 22, of Mesa, who drives to Casa Grande daily to work. The trip costs her about $288 a month for fuel costs alone.

"It's horrible," Lewis said.

BETTER GAS MILEAGE, LESS DAY CARE

Drivers have found other ways to combat gas prices.

"I had to buy a new car because my old car (a 1999 Dodge) got poor gas mileage," said David Weyant of Mesa. His Dodge got 14 mpg. His 2005 Mazda gets 28 mpg.

Cole Merchant, 25, and his wife, Monique, spend between $1,000 and $1,300 a month to fuel their pickup truck and SUV. Merchant, a construction worker, drives his truck between 150 and 200 miles each week in the Valley to job sites.

His wife, who is expecting their third child, drives her other children, Austin, 3, and Abbie, 1, to a day-care center near their home in Queen Creek and picks them up on her way back from work.

"But we're thinking about taking them out of the day-care center because it'll be cheaper to keep them at home with my wife," said Cole Merchant.

Nearly all of the motorists interviewed at East Valley service stations said the high prices were affecting their lives, but some less than others.

"I haven't put anything off since gas prices went up like many other drivers, but I'm spending more," said Stacy Peterson of Fountain Hills. "I try to find the cheapest gasoline, even though I can afford to pay the higher price. I guess I inherited from my dad, who grew up in the Depression. He always said, 'Look for the cheapest gas.' Of course, I try not to drive too far to get it, either."

RUNNING ON EMPTY

Then there is Mario Campo, 17, and David Campo, 18, of Chandler, who may be symbolic of the current fuel price problems facing Valley motorists. The brothers attend schools in Mesa, and their 1989 Nissan stalled as it was about to enter the Quick Trip at 1331 S. Country Club Drive in Mesa.

It ran out of gas.

The Campo brothers had to push their car to the nearest pump, where they bought $5 worth of unleaded at $3.36 a gallon.

"We figured we'd make it back home to Chandler, but we didn't," said David. "We only have five dollars left for gas."

Nick Gehringer, 27, a financial trainer who lives in Mesa, offers advice on how to combat rising gas prices as part of his instruction.

"I tell my students some of the things they should consider ... (are) to get a better vehicles, don't spend money on trivial things and save your cash," he said. "And don't upgrade your cable TV until you can afford it, eat out less and stop smoking!"