Dallas suburban scooter idiots

While everybody is hurting bad in Dallas because of $4 gas, it hasn't bothered me much. I only live 2.8 miles from work and my vehicles are fairly fuel efficient. Regardless, I'd probably spend a grand total of $5 a week on gas if I drove a scooter. I've strongly considered buying a Yamaha Vino 125, which costs about $3,000 new. It would be fun to ride, but I'm still a bit cheap and don't want to part with the 3 grand. I'd rather ride my mountain bike which, last time I checked, uses no gasoline. So read this account from the Dallas Morning News about a couple of high living idiots in Flower Mound. They had the scooter idea like me, but still aren't clear on the concept of money management and cost savings:

Kim Hale figures sometimes you have to spend money to save a money.

So, a few weeks ago, as her T-Rex-sized GMC Denali continued to chew through $100 bills at the gas station, the Flower Mound stay-at-home mom decided to submit to the economy of scale.

She and her Porsche-driving husband, Jim, bought scooters.

Not any scooters, mind you, but trendy, Italian, I-shop-for-sushi-with-a-burlap-bag Vespas. With custom paint, the pair cost just north of $15,000. The environmental panache came free.

"We figure they'll pay for themselves in no time," said Mrs. Hale, 40. "It cost $14 to fill them both up and they get 60 miles per gallon."

The fuzzy math goes something like this – Mrs. Hale spends about $400 a month quenching the thirst of her SUV. This summer, she plans to roll around Flower Mound on her Vespa instead. She said the savings should make the payment on their scooters.

Last weekend was a good example. She and her 43-year-old husband took the scooter to the grocery store, to dinner and to Target.

"I was joking with my husband," she said. "We probably saved $30 this weekend in gasoline alone, and that's just driving around town."