Spare the Air Free Rides

It was a hot, hot 105-degree afternoon when I caught the Tri Delta bus to Pittsburg and then the BART to Fremont. The only consolation about the sweltering experience was the fact that the rides were free, and that maybe there was a significant number of commuters who chose to park their cars today and not contribute to the already hot, stagnant, and polluted air quality.

Last Friday, July 21, was the sixth and final budgeted Free Fare day of the year for $7.5 million Spare the Air program. Though it was the last free-ride day, it certainly is not the last of the program which runs from June 1 through October 13 for the summer Spare the Air season.

I saved $12.40 round-trip to play badminton and kept one more car off the highway.

Established by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, in 1991, Spare the Air aimed to reduce air pollution and provide advance notice when a "bad air day" (when ozone levels exceed the federal health standards) is likely to occur, alerting the vulnerable seniors, young children, and those with lung and heart problems.

On Spare the Air Days, Bay Area residents are asked to fight pollution by driving less, taking public transportation, trip-linking, walking, biking, choosing not to use gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment, and avoiding polluting household products. People who are especially sensitive to pollution are advised to limit their time outdoors, particularly in the afternoon hours.

In perhaps their biggest effort to lure commuters leave their cars, this was the first time the Spare the Air program offered free rides all-day, instead of the past free rides during the morning commute only. Jeannie Krieg CEO of Tri Delta Transit has disclosed that ridership has increased 19% during the free Spare the Air days, with a record of 11,144 riders—their highest ever—last Thursday, July 20.

“It’s too early to tell the impact on pollution or if people will take their cars less. But we are hoping that Spare the Air will have achieve their desired impact,” Krieg said.

The best things in life are definitely free. . .or low-cost--and that's my point.

Visit Spare The Air for more details on how to fight pollution or for air-alert advisories in your area.

My $3.14-dollar-a-week Day-Off

Even in Manila, I used to take a "day-off" which means time with myself. I used to go to Red Ribbon (for ther tocino and rice meal, great coffee!))on Hemady or Figaro's (for their ham and mushroom omelette) on Tomas before going to work.

Here in the USA, I continue my small tradition, usually on Thursdays, when I start my day early with a "day-off." After bringing the kids to school, I drive around, looking for leads. I find that I am constantly led to a couple of hours to have coffee and breakfast somewhere in the area. So I budgeted $5 to find a decent place and meal.

I have tried all the donut places around. Giant Donuts in Oakley has good donuts and good coffee (not so strong but lots of flavor). Peter Piper Donuts in Antioch's donuts are a little too sweet for me and their coffee, a little thin. I also tried the discount breakfast in Country Waffles in Brentwood featuring toast, eggs, and coffee for $3.99 but the bread and eggs were ordinary, (medyo lutay nga yung bread) I could have made better at home. I also discovered a festive Oakley Mexican panaderia (bakery), similar to Philippine bakeries. Panaderia La Michoacana sells colored breads and custard or fruit-filled churros for 50c each. I tell you, the Mexican-made churros are rich and decadent.

Well but you see, aside from breakfast, I was also looking for ambience--a place to be alone with my thoughts and writings for a couple of hours, without my baby (safe with Syrel)tugging at me every 2 minutes. Country Waffles had good ambience and the smell of coffee and waffle syrup wafting around was quite inspiring.

But my latest find is Sylvia's Country Kitchen. Intrigued that it bore my sister-in-law's name, it seemed quite popular for brunch. I went in and scanned the pricey menu ($7 average for eggs, ham, toast, hash browns and coffee). When the price is above $5 here, make sure there are two of you to split the big servings.

I decided to get a small meal to fit my budget. I saw an entry "homemade muffins" in bran, raisin, raisin-nut, cinnamon-coconut. Tired of sweet donuts for breakfast, and because I can make a mean omelette, I tried a raisin-nut muffin (because it was homemade) with coffee. The muffin was surprisingly moist, almost like a banana cake but with lots of natural textures--walnuts and plump raisins--and lots of fiber. I put on some of the butter and orange marmalade tubs on hand and they enhanced the muffin in a pleasant way. Sarap!

I ate alone and savored every minute of peace and pampering as I read the used book I ordered at Amazon.com "Angels 101." I might have been alone but I felt so connected! Many people ask me how I can eat alone. I say, sometimes, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Sabi nga ng credit card company, "Muffin and refillable coffee: $3.14. A couple of hours of inspiration and Me-time: priceless."

Adjusting to a Land of Excess

Moving to the USA was a hard decision. Coming from Manila where the lifestyle is laid-back and there is always a beach an hour away from where you are. Labor is cheap (and I say this with much fondness) and friendly in our hometown, too--there is always someone to help you out: to cook, to take care of the kids, to drive, to carry, to line-up, or to give you a massage(for about $6/hour)--and they are always smiling, like you were doing them a favor.

Coming to America is challenging because we brought in our hard-earned pesos that were converted to dollars. And at P52 pesos to a dollar, everything in the USA seemed very expensive, even in a SALE.

Here in America, they make it easy for you to want to buy. There are mark-downs almost every week and how can you not buy something that you don't need when the price is so low? I heard of a mother who bought 13 Easter outfits for her toddler because it was on sale --but never got to use them all next Easter. How many Easter outfits can you actually wear? Did she end up saving money on the mark-downs?

Did you see the Oprah episode on Debt Diet? There was a couple with 2 kids making $102,000/year but had a debt of $170,000, $80,000 on their student college loans. They live in a house they cannot afford, have 2 new flashy cars, their celfone bills are $394/month and they spend $100 a day on take-out food because the wife won't cook, and spends $7000/year on her hair!

The average American also has $8,000 in credit card debt.

It's not that I am judging them. It's just with so much, I am hoping to catch some of the money they throw around.

Well, for a family with 5 kids starting in the States, with an income of about $55,000/year, that's a lot to think about because our standards are way lower. I remain in a constant struggle to balance our budget by living frugally but comfortably and as debt-free as possible.

There are some standards that I won't concede, though, like a decent house (rental) and cars with good AC and will not conk out on me on the highway. I also will not allow my kids to look kawawa (unkempt) or go hungry. Other than that, I am willing to live beneath our means.

Kaya kaya? Count the ways of frugal living with me and who knows what we will find?