Gas Prices

[Nancy]

The record high for the US average is $4.11/gal, set in July 2008. We will probably break that in the next few weeks and almost certainly will before the start of the summer vacation season.

I can see my area being there way before Memorial Day for sure. We are seeing anywhere from $3.93 to $3.98 a gallon right now. I imagine it will be 4.00 by next weekend in most stations. I'm only putting in half a tank at a time now because I cringe at the thought of filling up costing me around 75.00 . So I have to put gas in a bit more often but at least 30-35 dollars doesn't make me go :thud:

 

[Colleen27]

I can see my area being there way before Memorial Day for sure. We are seeing anywhere from $3.93 to $3.98 a gallon right now. I imagine it will be 4.00 by next weekend in most stations. I'm only putting in half a tank at a time now because I cringe at the thought of filling up costing me around 75.00 . So I have to put gas in a bit more often but at least 30-35 dollars doesn't make me go :thud:

Yeah, it has been 3.99 here for a while; prices were going up-up-up every day then plateaued. It is almost like the stations are doing whatever they can to delay crossing that $4 threshold. But I figure it is inevitable. $5+ is probably inevitable at this point, because it is just going to get worse as the dollar weakens.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I buy gas in $30 increments (yes, we play the gas-price-gamble) and DH does a trade-off carpool with other guys who live near us. I think once gas gets to $5 or $6 a gallon I'll consider buying a scooter for my 15 mile commute to work, although DH has been balkish at that idea because he worries about my safety on the country roads I'd be riding the scooter on.

Unfortunately, a commuter bus doesn't go to the nearby town I work at. Maybe that'll change.

2008 taught us how to combine trips, drive wisely and sparingly (we both drive fuel-efficient stick shifts), and always look at Gasbuddy.com before making a purchase. We also learned how to cut down on other expenses and have kept those habits so we're still doing well when it comes to saving money. Recent gas-prices have been shocking, but we're managing to weather them.

To short-circuit those who would say that we're spoiled in America because gas is so much more expensive elsewhere, I'd have to reply that at least they get healthcare in return for some their dollars spent at the pump. All our dollars go right into the oil company's pockets. The taxes that are supposed to be helping repair and replace our roads sure as heck aren't going there.

 

[Kath2003]

It's $8.50/gallon here. I drive the smallest car available but the only thing we will cut down on is "fun". We still need to get to/from work, so we will pay the gas prices.

 

[ilovemk76]

i'm wondering if gas has ever been this high here in the states?

i don't know the answer to your question, op. We don't have public transportation. We do condense our trips when are running errands. Other than that, anything else we would cut would cut down on our quality of life. I don't know another way to put it. We do the things we have to do and the things we like, like everyone else.

2008

 

[Nancyg56]

There is no public transportation in my area and I am not really close to the stores etc. I absolutely refuse to spend one cent more than I need to on gas so i drive as little as possible. Now last summer that is what we were asked to do here in CT, I did not need the governor to tell me this, I was already refusing to spend more on gas than I had been spending the previous year.

well that little plan backfired. You see, folks here did the same thing and the tax revenue went down. Hmm...................how do we handle that little problem? She suggested that the gas tax get raised. Not going to bother me. I don't care how high it goes..............I am just going to refuse to buy in CT. I seldom crossed into MA for gas even though I am closer to the station there than in my town but that changed at that point.

So I guess that my answer to your question, I changed my driving habits over a year ago and spend the same now as over a year ago.

 

[Kurby]

unfortunately it's one of those things where we have to buy it but not for both cars.

dh works out of the city and either spend 3 hours changing buses or 20 minute car ride to work.

his car is a small 2 door and mine is the mini van that only gets driven on the weekend when we all go somewhere.

which now adays consists of taking dd to dance class (and lately i haven't been going so dh just takes his car) so the van gets a 60 buck fill every 2 weeks or so.

i was only half joking when i told dh if the prices go up much more then we were going to buy an electric bike for him to take to work from may through oct.

while i would ride it dh won't every ride them - he doesn't like them doesn't feel safe.

what we give up are things like going to the movies, dinners out, trips to small towns where we used to walk around and to some shopping in the shops there, buying "treats" and have been sticking to the basic food items

so while the gas companies get rich other industries loose money.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

To short-circuit those who would say that we're spoiled in America because gas is so much more expensive elsewhere, I'd have to reply that at least they get healthcare in return for some their dollars spent at the pump. All our dollars go right into the oil company's pockets. The taxes that are supposed to be helping repair and replace our roads sure as heck aren't going there.

Are you sure that "All our dollars go right into the oil company's pockets." is a correct statement?

Do you realize that State and Federal gasoline taxes are included in the cost of each gallon of gasoline?

 

[castmember19]

Well, my dad pays gas for both his and my mom's cars. I pay for my own gas, always have, as part of the "you can drive if..." deal made when I got my license.

I have a 30 minute commute to class every day and have attempted to carpool with my boyfriend on certain days, even if it means being there two hours early (study time!) At one time I wanted to carpool with my best friend like old times (back when I didn't have a car) but she charges me gas money for the exact same distance I'd be going WITHOUT picking me up or dropping me off at home. Basically, I would get dropped off at her house, she'd take me to school, and my mom would have to come pick me up when it was time to go.

I'm taking summer school at a community college that's two blocks away. My dad suggested that I could ride my bike there, except that a) he never taught me how to ride a bike, b) I don't own one, and c) I've tried to learn and I just can't... I have no coordination.

As for work, I asked my mom if she could take me and pick me up because I worry about the safety of my vehicle in the parking lot. She said no because it would cost more to drop me off, go home, then come pick me up and go home again.

I try to fill up when my tank is half empty so it doesn't hit as hard all at once... I know there are flaws in this plan, but it eases my worries to do so and only see say 30 dollars spent on gas than 60.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Are you sure that "All our dollars go right into the oil company's pockets." is a correct statement?

Do you realize that State and Federal gasoline taxes are included in the cost of each gallon of gasoline?

Did you not read the sentence that followed that one?

The taxes that are supposed to be helping repair and replace our roads sure as heck aren't going there.

 

[Kath2003]

Are you sure that "All our dollars go right into the oil company's pockets." is a correct statement?

Do you realize that State and Federal gasoline taxes are included in the cost of each gallon of gasoline?

It's about 50cents/gallon in tax average across the USA, isn't it?
What do you get for that? I mean, our prices are astronimical (we pay about 60% taxes in total including sales tax - which means currently about $5.10/gallon) but we do have a lot more state-funded services.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I don't really worry about it, it is what it is, and eventually it'll go back down. I am glad we own a Focus though!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I don't really worry about it, it is what it is, and eventually it'll go back down.

I hope you are right.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I hope you are right.

Prices went down before. Stands to reason they'll go down again. Supply and demand: when the price gets too high, people cut back. Then less is sold and they start to lower their prices.

I think we're just being tested again to see how high they can raise the prices and people will still buy. People who have to (or feel they have to) drive trucks and SUVs will suffer, people with fuel efficient cars will shrug, reorganize their habits and drive less.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Prices went down before. Stands to reason they'll go down again. Supply and demand: when the price gets too high, people cut back. Then less is sold and they start to lower their prices.

I think we're just being tested again to see how high they can raise the prices and people will still buy. People who have to (or feel they have to) drive trucks and SUVs will suffer, people with fuel efficient cars will shrug, reorganize their habits and drive less.

Yes, if the variables were the same. Lots of things in flux. Don't know where the balls will land so to speak.

 

[Handbag Lady]

We reached our cut-off the last time gas neared $5. Was that 2 years ago? We started carpooling and on weekends, we use public transportation to go to fun places. For a while, we used reverse psychology on our train system and only went places it went. We had fun but used up all of the fun places.

When gas went back down, we enjoyed carpooling and the savings so much, we just kept it up. Granted we work for the same company and my husband and I only carpool together. All we had to do was ask for a slight work schedule adjustment and there you go.

I'm guessing we'd have to hit gas at $6 a gallon to use public transportation to get to work. It takes nearly three times as long to get to work on the bus, but our company subsidizes the fare.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Oh, and we are at $4.19 to $4.25 a gallon here now. I filled up last night at $4.19 only because I found a station at that price.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

I'm just sitting and waiting for the revolution here. This is becoming out of control and the fact that we are just sitting back and allowing it to happen It's time for some old school marching and boycotting but I think we are all slaves to the oil. We don't know how to live without it.
The heads of these companies aren't losing sleep over the increasing price and I'm not buying this whole "reserve" line. I miss the $2.00 a gallon days.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm just sitting and waiting for the revolution here. This is becoming out of control and the fact that we are just sitting back and allowing it to happen It's time for some old school marching and boycotting but I think we are all slaves to the oil. We don't know how to live without it.
The heads of these companies aren't losing sleep over the increasing price and I'm not buying this whole "reserve" line. I miss the $2.00 a gallon days.

I think Americans as a whole have lost the willpower and focus to coordinate real protests. People are too busy just trying to scrape by to spend their time and money protesting, and I don't think many people really believe protesting to be relevant/influential any more anyway.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

I think Americans as a whole have lost the willpower and focus to coordinate real protests. People are too busy just trying to scrape by to spend their time and money protesting, and I don't think many people really believe protesting to be relevant/influential any more anyway.

True, but I bet the people of Egypt wold disagree.