Let me tell you something I know you don’t want to hear – gas prices are rising again. 

In fact, they have risen 20 percent since the end of December and experts predict they will keep rising through the rest of the winter and spring. They doubt prices will reach the record high of summer 2008, but never say never.

Now, I have a confession. I think I brought this increase on. This summer, when gas prices reached their all time highs – both per gallon and per barrel – I spent my time commuting about 45 minutes one-way to work. When I stopped driving at the end of the summer, prices slowly lowered to below the $2 mark. I start a new job tomorrow. I will again be commuting and gas prices are again rising. Coincidence? I think not. Karma has it out for me and is using my car to get to me. I’m sorry it has to affect the rest of you.

That said, just because prices are rising doesn’t mean we have to sit idly by and accept it. We can keep sending the oil companies a message by carpooling, utilizing cheaper public transportation (we have U-Passes for a reason) and even walking or biking (Europeans do it. Why do you think they are so much skinnier than Americans?).