Tahakopa School teaching principal Cherie Zoutenbier-Bisset said she had been making plans for the expected 25c-30c a litre price increase for 91-octane petrol for the past few weeks.
The mother-of-four lives just outside Milton, from where she commutes the 150km round trip to her job in the remote Catlins hamlet five days a week, in a Toyota Highlander SUV.
She said ferrying her children to after-school sports and other activities meant some weeks her fuel bill approached $300.
Although she was "fortunate" to be part of a two-income household, she said the expected $30-$35 extra spent on fuel each week would still mean she needed to plan journeys more carefully.
"If my husband didn’t have a work car, we’d have to pull in on the extra-curricular stuff for us and our kids.
"As it is, I’m already finding myself fine-tuning trips, making sure I go to the supermarket or other messages if I’m in town, and don’t have to do extra runs."
She said she did not know how some families would cope with "another kick in the guts" to their household finances.
"I feel for my friends and others in the community who are on single or lower incomes.
"I have friends who commute from Balclutha to Dunedin and, if it weren’t for the cheaper fuel prices they can fill up with in Dunedin, I know some would have to make some very hard decisions.
"It’s just another layer of financial stress for people."
Mrs Zoutenbier-Bisset said she did not blame the Government for the removal of what had always been signalled as a temporary subsidy.
"It’s just the global situation at present, with inflation and other issues.
"What can you do?" Mrs Zoutenbier-Bisset said.
