What’s the rising fuel prices really costing you?
We all know what it’s like to suffer momentary shock when pulling into the local gas station to purchase that $50 quarter tank of gas these days. Around our house, the cost of gas has cost us much more than what we pay at the pump.
My husband has a V8 Dodge Ram Crew Cab that uses a LOT of gas. It stays parked the majority of the time and fortunately he only drives a 14 mile round trip to and from his part-time job.
I have a Chevy Blazer that’s a little better on gas, but still seems rather hoggish. Thankfully I work at home and neither of us have to drive too much. If the kids have activities going on at school, the school is only one mile away.
The Blazer is paid for, the truck is not. It’s not like there’s a market for either at this point. No one in their right minds would want to buy either one.
To cut our expenses, we have been forced to give up some of the “social” type activities we were used to. Now we go bowling as a family once a week and on a league.
I try very hard to cut down on the electric bill, but the kids just don’t seem to get it. I think they are beginning to think mom is just being neurotic to some degree.
When I look at the fixed bills we have, the only place I can cut expenses beyond entertainment is in the grocery bill. This means I HAVE to go to the grocery by myself. If I take anyone else with me, I always end up with FAR more than I bargained for.
At this point it costs well over $100 to fill up my husbands truck and near $80 to fill up my Blazer. We are putting in $20 here and $20 there in hopes the cost will go down.
We utilize Gas Buddy to find the lowest priced gas when it is time to get fuel and try to coordinate a specific errand that needs to be ran in close proximity.
What are some of the things you’re doing to combat the rising fuel prices?
Do you think prices will go down or if people are willing to pay $4.00 a gallon, do you see it staying close to that for a long period of time?
15 opinions for What’s the rising fuel prices really costing you?
Cyn Jefferson
May 14, 2008 at 12:08 am
We haven’t been doing much more than whining.
Part of that is because we have two 30+ mpg cars and relatively short commutes.
The price increases aren’t beating us up as much as they are other people. We definitely feel lucky for that, too.
Michael
May 14, 2008 at 10:28 am
I am lucky to live without a car, although I feel the difference in other costs of living. Fuel is just one thing, what really is bothering me is fast rise of prices for everything.
Chelsea FC-True Blue
May 14, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Hybrids are the way to go..
dawn
May 14, 2008 at 11:02 pm
try walking, busing, limiting toxins at the same time for the environment, try car pooling, and try parking the car for as long as possible.
jmurphee
May 15, 2008 at 3:26 am
Several months ago, I started taking an interest in alternative energies in the face of rising fuel costs. I started a few blogs to consolidate what I found:
http://aquygen.blogspot.com
http://bariumtitanate.blogspot.com
http://vertigro2day.blogspot.com
Check them out! BTW, found your blog via blog catalogue.
feefifoto
May 15, 2008 at 3:32 am
Not gas prices as much as general energy costs — I put the microwave on a surge protector so I can turn it off when it’s not being used. I don’t need the clock and I read that if you use your microwave less than seven minutes a day, it takes more energy just to run the clock.
chicago movers
May 15, 2008 at 6:51 am
Expect gas prices to go higher. Me and a couple of families here in our neighborhood agreed to carpool. Sometimes we even go to the grocery together! I’ve also resorted to commuting and walking. Great exercise too :)
Build a bear
May 15, 2008 at 7:18 am
for me it is simple : change your lifestyle :)
DanceWear
May 15, 2008 at 5:19 pm
My Camaro is not too bad on gas — however, the other day I had to borrow a truck to move things out of my dorm room. The gas tank was half way full and I filled it up.. And guess how much it was? Right at 100 bucks! I’m just thankful I don’t have to fill that truck up on a regular basis..
lift chairs
May 15, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I have been feeling the sting as well. I only drive my truck maybe once a week now because it is so bad on gas. I instead drive my other car which is a 4 cylinder. It is pretty good on gas and I have tried to cut out unnecessary driving. I carpool to work sometimes too.
James
May 15, 2008 at 7:42 pm
@ Michael, I agree with you 100%. I’m lucky enough to live in a large city where we have a public transit system that can take you all over the place (including the burbs) for very, very, very cheap. I haven’t had to buy gas in 4+ years.
What’s more important than rising fuel prices is how everything else is rising as well. Plus, the economy is doing really bad and that’s just adding salt to the wound.
Baseball Pick
May 15, 2008 at 10:28 pm
yea its nice dropping a benjamin everytime i have to fill up… time to start siphoning other peoples gas!
-Hanz
(just kidding =p)
Thrifty Karen
May 16, 2008 at 2:56 am
I’m trying to cut out driving as much as possible, but my daughter usually has 1-2 doctor’s appointments each week. That alone makes it hard to stay home. I actually have 2 of her appointments booked back to back tomorrow so that I’m not driving around so much.
Pole Buildings
May 16, 2008 at 3:31 am
We have a Chevy Lumina and a Honda Accord. The Accord’s tongue is hanging out we use it so much.
We do the same as you, minimize and organize to reduce trips and the like. I just hate filling up the tank now. It’s just nuts!
I don’t think things are going to get better any time soon. Wish they would. It’s crazy to me to try to resolve the problem by increasing fuel economy. The population, and the increasing number of cars on the road, seem to indicate that better mileage is a poor solution.
Its too bad the politicians have done nothing about this for decades.
Ernesto
May 17, 2008 at 8:53 am
High rising gas prices seem forever to stay with us. Well, hopefully not! Anyways, I do have to give up much like less troop to the cafe for some nice brewed coffee. And the shirt or two purchase a week which I have been doing for months to beef up my cabinet. Enough excessives already, just to lighten the burden of gas expenses of my finances.
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