This is actually becoming a real pain. I spend 20-30 bucks a day in fuel costs just driving my local trash route and business route, and my route is huge. I'm in Southern Indiana by a major college. I usually find about 60-70 bucks a day in appliance and building scrap laying around. I also get anyway from 3-5 calls a week from clients via my website and craigslist ads. I used to pay out a decent dollar for the stuff I picked up as well, and now I factor in fuel costs for out of town runs and even my clients take a hit.
Also... Before high gas prices, I would run my loads into the yard at the end of the day and just take an easy 50 dollar profit after fuel and food costs. Now I get really down and dirty and clean my metal and stock pile as much as possible. I try to go that extra mile to get the most I can.
Example...I took a grinder to an electric mower to avoid throwing it in the light iron bin. 20 minutes of grinding for an extra 2 dollars for the tiny arse electric motor. It's a little uneasy and nonsensical but then I think about how that's half a gallon of gas and I'm okay with it.
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