Gas prices are through the roof. A gift to help with gas.

Ebony lives in Illinois, where gas is now averaging more than $4 a gallon for regular unleaded in some places. We can all sympathize. Gas prices have skyrocketed in 2012, and most of us are at a loss to explain why.

I admit that I have no idea what geo-political and economic forces are responsible for our current fuel cost woes. But I do know that it cost me $70 to fill my tank this weekend. And I do know that a lot of people are struggling to pay their regular bills, let alone pay to keep pricey gas in their tank.

Ebony wrote to me with a complaint about gas prices and I've decided to do what I can to help. I'm sending her $200, which should be enough to fill her tank for a couple weeks - maybe longer if she drives a hybrid or fuel efficient car. I didn't ask what model she drives! Regardless, a little help with the fuel bill should brighten her day.

If I didn't respond to your email this week, there are still steps you can take to save money on gas and keep some cash in your pocket.
- Make only necessary trips. Driving to work is necessary. Driving to Burger King for a snack is not.

- Plan ahead and consolidate trips. I can't say how many times I've made three or four trips out to different stores to do my weekend shopping. If I had planned ahead, I could have saved myself time and money by doing all of my shopping in one trip.

- Walk. This one's pretty simple. If you're physically able, skip the car and walk for trips within a mile or two of your home. Walking not only saves gas, it's healthy and good for you. Just be sure to use sidewalks to stay safe. If walking isn't your thing, you could also invest in a bicycle and use it for trips around town on nice days. You can usually find an adult bike for $20 or $30 at garage sales in the spring. It won't take long at all to recoup that investment.

- Change your air filter and inflate your tires. Dirty air filters reduce air flow into your engine, reducing combustion efficiency and causing you to use more fuel than you normally would. Keeping your tires at optimal pressure could save you up to 5% on your gas costs.

Hopefully you found today's post not only inspiring but also educational. I'll be back soon with more good news.

Thanks everyone.

$90 to three folks from Florida, Georgia and Tennessee

From time to time, I receive emails from people who question whether I'm "for real" or if I really do share free money with people who email me. Actually, I get those kinds of questions every single day and it's understandable. It's such an unusual thing for someone to give something away with no strings attached and asking nothing in return. So I really do understand the occasional skeptic.

Now, it's not my obligation to provide proof of my giving. I take people at their word when they say they need money. And in turn, I hope that others take me for my word when I tell them that I am giving money away to people in need.

Well today, for whatever reason, I had a camera with me when I stopped at a post office to drop off 3 letters to some nice people who recently requested some assistance. Xavier from Georgia needed $50. And Danielle from Florida and Rachel from Tennessee will each receive $20. I decided to take a picture of the envelopes before I dropped them in the mail. I've obscured personal details to protect the recipients' privacy.

If nothing else, I hope seeing real pictures of real envelopes going to real people who really need some help will inspire confidence in those who write. Know that even if I don't reply to your email, at least I read it and consider it. And who knows. You may one day see your name here too.

I know that Rachel and Danielle asked for more money than $20 each. But sometimes I am not able to fulfill every request for the exact amount someone asks for. Twenty bucks doesn't go far. But it might be a way to buy a little lunch for a family or some school supplies for the kids. When times are tough, every bit helps, or at least I hope it does.

If you have a request of your own, I'm looking forward to hearing from you. If you don't need help, consider taking the time to help those who are in need. And as always, have a good day everyone.

Another gift for a good person

I'm sending $100 to Val from Colorado. She sent a request recently asking for some help with a doctor's bill. I know that $100 will hardly cover a co-pay for a routine visit to the doctor these days. But my thinking is that a few extra dollars will take some of the sting out of the check up, x-ray or exam bill.

We won't get into the politics of medical care, health insurance and the like here in the United States. Suffice to say, it's not cheap to go to the hospital or specialist whether you have insurance or not. A trip to the hospital for a serious illness or procedure can result in a family going deep into debt in a few short days.

You can make a difference though. If you have a neighbor or friend who is struggling with medical bills, offer to help them out. Even if it's just a little bit, if you can afford it, do what you can to help them. If you can't really afford to pay for another person's doctor bill, consider volunteering with a hospital or medical related charity. Giving up an afternoon of your time to help others is just as good, if not better, as giving money.

Thanks for reading and listening while I climbed up on my little soapbox here. I'll be back soon with more updates. Keep those requests coming.