Gas Prices

[crz4mm2]

I have a 90 mile commute to work. No public trans. I would have to get rid of my SUV (only 1 year old) and buy something smaller......... I would love to, but can't get out of it yet.
I have cut down on the un-necessary trips to town (we live in the country). I think rather than just take off like I used to.

BTW, I had to fill up the rental car before dropping it off yest (in Orlando) and the stations closest to the airport were 4.89 and 5.89 a gal (for the cheap stuff).....

 

[bdcp]

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?

Not only that, the US Federal Gov makes more on each gallon of gas than the oil companies do. While some on the hill want people to think it's the big bad oil companies, it's really the Federal Gov that is taking in more of our money (as in most things). Don't fall for the big bad oil company line. It's just to distract you.

 

[bdcp]

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.

Don't you really mean "taxpayer funded" services?

 

[crazelion]

I have cut way back on driving to the point. That I only to and from work and pick up the kids.

What public transportation. Public transportation only goes downtown, projects and mall. Downtown area is coming bad now again. I prefer my car when going downtown. The only reason I go downtown because I work there.

 

[tvguy]

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.

Well, not sure how productive a protest would be. Other than the major oil producing nations, we still have the lowest gas prices in the world. Europeans just laugh at us complaining. In England, the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular is about $8.60.
And we've made clean air a higher priority than great fuel economy. Something like 80% of the car sold in Europe are diesels. Cars that would never pass our smog requirements.

 

[luvsJack]

We have no option but to pay what it costs. Dh drives a 18-wheeler (diesel prices !!) and doesn't drive his personal truck at all. I am 10 minutes from work (with no public transportation available) and dd's school is on the way so nothing that can really be cut there.

I am lucky though, the college I work for is going to a 4 day work week at least for the summer so that cuts down one day of driving.

 

[SaraJayne]

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.

In our state (WI), we have some of the highest fuel taxes in the country.

31%, as well as an additional 5% per gallon.

 

[disney1990]

Just wait - in the next couple weeks the oil companies will be releasing their profits for the last quarter -- don't have a heart attack when you see how much money they have made!

 

[monarchsfan16]

I don't have a choice. I commute nearly 80 miles a day for school, plus about 15 miles a day on the weekends for work. There's no public transportation in this area, and even errands are not within walking distance. I drive an Explorer with over 165,000 miles on it. I'm spending between $300 and $400 a month on gas. But it's cheaper than moving closer to school (I'm living with my parents, for free), or getting a newer car. Once I land a post-graduation job, the car shopping will begin, because mine needs replacing soon, but now's not the time for me to take on a car payment in addition to a large gas bill. And even when I get a new car I will still drive an SUV. I have to travel places in the winter that cars, even with snow tires, can't reach. And yes, I've tested that theory.

Fortunately when the semester ends in May, I'll just be doing clinicals, closer to home. My commute will be about half what it is now. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, although I'm sure the gas bill will still be higher than I'd like, because the price will keep rising.

 

[Kath2003]

Don't you really mean "taxpayer funded" services?

Well since the state can't create money out of fresh air (well they can, but look where that wound up...) it's obviously coming from taxpayers - although given that there is sales tax on almost everything, it's not just working people that pay tax...

 

[Bilberry]

We're getting close to the price of gas when the 2008 economic downturn occurred. Not sure if a similar tail spin will happen again, but wouldn't be surprised.

"Report: More States Expected to Pay $4 Per Gallon for Gas Soon"

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/17/report-states-paying-4-gallon-gas-number-soon/?test=latestnews

From the article:

According to MyFoxNY.com, the $4 mark brings back memories of the summer of 2008, when oil rose to $147 per barrel and gas prices topped out at $4.11 per gallon before the economy went into a tailspin.
The rapid increase at the pump follows a parallel rise in oil. Since Labor Day, oil has risen 48 percent and U.S. gas prices have gone up 42 percent, the station reports.

 

[SaraJayne]

We're getting close to the price of gas when the 2008 economic downturn occurred. Not sure if a similar tail spin will happen again, but wouldn't be surprised.

"Report: More States Expected to Pay $4 Per Gallon for Gas Soon"

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/17/report-states-paying-4-gallon-gas-number-soon/?test=latestnews

From the article:

And oil companies profits have gone up and up and up and up and up...

 

[hopemax]

There is no price that would cause us to change our habits. Mainly, because for DH and my entire "vehicle owning" life we have had one car between us. It stays home, he takes the bus to work, or on occasion drives the 3 miles to the Park & Ride. We've picked our residences by proximity to transportation or DH's job. Currently, we only fill up once a month, and on occasion twice. We drive a Honda Civic, so we good gas mileage. We calculate it when we fill up, when we notice it dips, we take the car in for service to get filters changed, and whatnot. So if gas were to double, we'd still be averaging less than $100 a month.

You can blame some of the increase on the oil companies, some on the government. But the world has changed. Over the last 50 years, the population has exploded (3 billion to approaching 7), and with Asia modernizing as fast as it is now (China, India, South Korea) what did we think was going to happen to demand and prices? And that goes for more than just oil.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I think millions of people have already moved towards transitioning and drastically changed their ways of life. Its just not going to be as readily apparent here because Disney's standard demographic is more likely upper middle class with enough disposable income to absorb the swings in fuel costs. If you can afford thousands to spend on vacation time you are not on the lowest tier and are not going to be among the hardest hit financially.

Right now we are looking to buy another vehicle and while the cost of gas is a nagging concern it really isn't enough to push me over the edge in one direction or another.

 

[laurie31]

Yep, us, too. There is no public transportation, so we will have to purchase gas, no matter the price. That just means other things will be cut back drastically.

Oh, and right now, I'm spending WAY more than $80 a month in gas!

We are spending $80 MORE, not $80 total. We were spending about $140, now it's $220. Both our cars get good mileage (close to 30mph) and I already clustered errands and such, just to save time as well as gas.

I notice that everyone so far has avoided answering Dan Draper's question... at what price would you cut your purchases of gas and make real changes in the way you drive. Wonder if it's because we're scared!
.

For work, there IS no magic number. Even if gas was $10/gallon, we have to get to work. I commute 36 miles round trip, and DH commutes 60. Moving closer to his job would put us farther from mine, so moving is a no-win deal.

However, I think, as a pp said, that the kids' extracurricular stuff would eventually start to go. I actually spend 7 hours a week driving them to their "stuff." Those things could find themselves "on the chopping block" so to speak, if gas prices got to $10/gallon. At that price, we would also be cutting our girls' clothing budget and our food budget to use the money for gas. So yeah, rob Peter to pay Paul. We'd still buy the basics, but cut back on dining out and buying the expensive cheeses I love at Whole Foods.

So I guess $10/gallon is the answer to the OP's question for us.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I'm looking to work closer to home. Don't know if it's an option, but we do have an office much closer than where I'm currently working. But there's a huge change in personalities of people in the 2 offices.

 

[golfgal]

There is a story in our local paper saying that Washington DC and 6 states are reporting gas prices over $4/gallon now. We were at $3.80 yesterday.

I saw that California pays $.66/gallon in various gas taxes. YIKES. I remember paying $.66/gallon for gas (and less than that too).

 

[Mandychelle79]

It depends on where I find a job after graduation. If I have to drive into the city I will have to purchase a smaller 4x4 or AWD, to do our everyday driving in, and park the Expedition and save it for hauling the boat or when we need the extra seats. If I continue to work where I am at, I wont have to do that as my commute is less then 20 miles a day. Once Im done with school my mileage will go way down. 2 more weeks.