I didn't expect it to happen before the Memorial Day holiday weekend, but regular unleaded gas has topped $4 per gallon at most of the stations in my Hartford County town. Yesterday, I drove to the one station that's a bit off the beaten path and paid just $3.99 per gallon. Somehow, that felt better. I even topped off my tank--although I know I'm not supposed to--because I couldn't resist purchasing just a few more drops at that "bargain" price. Here's a quick tip if you're hoping to locate the cheapest gas prices near your Connecticut home or office.

Am I the only one who's suddenly calculating the cost of the trip before deciding to go anywhere? Tonight, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of my New England Travel site on About.com at a restaurant five miles from our house, rather than driving to one of the farther away restaurants we considered.

According to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report, the statewide average price for unleaded gasoline in Connecticut is still just shy of $4 at $3.995, but it's rather disheartening to see that the price we're paying is 22 cents higher per gallon than the national average.

Here's a Quick Poll... Have You Done Any of These Things Recently to Cut Back on Gas Expenses?

• Combined errands into one trip
• Taken a bus to work or school
• Started to carpool
• Opted to telecommute from home
• Decided to stay closer to home for vacation this summer
• Purchased a more fuel-efficient vehicle
• Walked somewhere instead of driving
• More than one of the above
• None of the above

View Results

_{Gas station photo © 2008 Kim Knox Beckius.}