While gas prices are soaring to record highs, commuters are really feeling it at the pump.

Steve Baxter commutes to Winnipeg nearly every day and says his daily cost went from approximately $9 a day to around $14 a day.

In an effort to combat the gas prices, he has purchased a more fuel-efficient vehicle.

Brad Penner drives from Ile des Chenes to the west side of Winnipeg each day and he says his monthly fuel bill reached $600-$700.

The cost became too much and Penner says he had to sell his truck.

“I had to kiss the big girl goodbye, yes. I could no longer afford $180 a tank,” says Penner.

This was no ordinary pickup truck, which made it more difficult to get rid of it.

“This was my second full-sized pickup and (it) had received a great deal of money in modifications,” Penner says. They now own a hybrid vehicle instead.

Kevin Roy says even the shorter commute between Steinbach and Ste. Anne is getting costly.

“Those gas prices are just nasty,” he says.

Roy jokes that his wife is suggesting it might be time to start using “horse and buggy” for transportation.

GasBuddy’s Head of Petroleum Analysis, Patrick DeHaan, says prices are expected to continue to climb throughout the year.

There is speculation that we might see some relief in December.

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Written by Judy Peters/Kenton Dyck