I have to say I haven't factored in gas money to any great degree yet, but that's changing. I'm more like hobo finds- the gas "doesn't count" if I'm already out running errands and just happen to take a long-cut on the way home (for some reason I seem to always have an excuse to run out to the grocery store on our neighborhood's trash night). I also make semi-regular trips to the scrap yard to do the family recycling anyway, so I don't count those trips either (rarely do I make a trip to the yard that doesn't count as a household errand).

In looking at CL ads, it's more the time than the gas. I see "curb alerts" with a few goodies or a broken freezer or something, but unless I'm planning on getting in the truck anyway, taking 30 minutes to drive across town pick up a couple bucks worth of something that may or may not already be gone (folks are pretty quick around here- I'm not the only one scanning CL) is just not worth it.

That said, as I'm paying more and more attention to auctions in the area I very much do consider gas. There might very well be a pallet of cheap computers out in Scott City, but it could easily take me three pallets worth of computers to pay for the gas to get there.



If I ever get more serious about this (or my firewood "business") and actually incorporate for tax purposes, you bet your sweet bippy I'll be logging every mile. Kind of a nothing-or-all situation...

cheers,
tbg