Hi Eric -
I'd like to tell you that gas prices will stay the same or go down - not!  I'd search out the economical vehicle you can stomach!  Yes, I can remember paying $5 for a fill up, not a gallon.
We have as a nation allowed ourselves to be economic slaves to the radical environmentals and foreign oil barrons (most of which hate our country/religion/etc., etc.).  Now that Obama has reniged on his promise not to tax the middle class, all bets are off - getting a second job (source of income) might not be crazy if this governmental spending is not stopped.