Yes Gas Prices Are Going Higher And Higher…The Real Question Is, What Are You Doing About It?
I can still close my eyes and remember going with my mom to a gas station to raise money for charity. It was the late 70’s and she and a few friends were pumping gas and having the gas station donate so much money for every gallon pumped. Even though this was many, many years ago, I can still recall the price of gas which was less than $0.75 per gallon. Today the price of gas is over four times that! Probably at this point, words and phrases like ridiculous, crazy, out of control and "when will the prices stop going up?" are entering your mind. I do wish I could answer that question for you, but since I am not a politician, futurist or CEO of an oil company I have no clue!
As I type away and read this posting, the price of gas is getting very close to $4.00 per gallon–certainly a lot of money. I noticed a recent charge on our credit card that seemed out of whack. The charge was $101.35 at a Texaco station. When I stopped and thought about it, if you have an SUV and fill up a 20+ gallon tank and get a few snacks for the kids, guess what? Your charge will be over $100.00!
What are you doing about it?
- Are you not going out to eat as often?
- Are you going to different restaurants that are closer to your home?
- Have you changed your summer vacation plans?
- Have you changed your dry cleaner because it is 2 miles closer?
- Are you traveling a few miles to save $0.10 gallon on gas?
I am not doing much about it, but that will probably change real soon.
What about you?
June 30th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I do try to consolidate my errands, but that is about it. I am lucky enough that my commute to work is only 5 miles, so i don’t have to fill up too often. I did hear a statistic the other day that really surprised me. Americans have driven 50 billion less miles this year due to the rise in gas prices. 50 BILLION!
Even though gas prices are horrible, it is great to see that Americans are changing their ways. The less we drive, the less pollution we produce.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Well, as we all know, living in NYC means many things (smaller spaces, more people), but my favorite thing that it means is that I don’t own a car. I commute to work on the subway and walk a lot.
One thing I am doing differently is that when I rent a car to leave the city (for work or personal reasons), I am requesting a mid-size car instead of a full-size car. I am loyal to Hertz and that’s the smallest size car they have their GPS system in. In the past, if they were out of the smaller cars they would upgrade you to the larger ones, but I’m listening to others at the rental counter and we’re not happy when the smaller cars are unavailable. They’re giving out vouchers to cover the difference in gas costs.
We’re going upstate for the 4th of July and I have reserved a Prius (although they don’t offer the GPS in them - yet). For a 3 hour drive, I don’t want a gas guzzler.
I have noticed that much of the food that we buy has gone up in price though.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:25 am
I haven’t had to do much to my routine, being based in New York I depend heavily on public transportation for the most part. I did find it interesting however today while reading the Metro that AAA in conjunction with Connecticut State Police have issued an official warning against “hypermiling” which is a series of techniques used to boost mileage such as turning off engines when coasting downhill, rolling through stop signs, over inflating tires to decrease rolling resistance against pavement and tailgating big rigs to cut down wind resistance and be pulled along with the rig’s “wind wake”. They report that people who use these techniques to the extreme are getting anywhere from 70 - 90 mpg………..
I personally find these to be extreme measure but sadly I believe if gas continues to rise people will be more willing to risk their safety as well as other motorist to achieve this type of gas mileage.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Stephenie,
50 billion miles less! Wow. I hadn’t heard that, I know that auto sales are way down - the auto industry is projecting only 13.8 million cars sold when every year they see around 17 million - thats a big difference. Maybe it will help me this year since I will be getting a new car.
Thanks Stephenie - good comments.
Merrill
June 30th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Khary,
I have never heard of “hypermiling” seems very dangerous. I will need to read more about it.
Thanks for educating me a little bit.
Merrill
June 30th, 2008 at 11:15 am
The increase actually has caused me to ’slow down’. Have you noticed that when you get your car maintenance done now (oil changes, etc), the techs are absolutely telling you how to increase your mileage; right air pressure, air filter, mpg, etc? I won’t tell you what I was driving, but it’s now pretty much 65-70 which has increased the mileage that I get.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I started carpooling…really helps. I also started paying more attention to the way I drive. After reading an article on MSN, I try to slow down and avoid accelerating too fast at stop lights and stop signs. There are many articles out there with tips on how to save on gas by changing the way you drive and maintaining your vehicle. Here are a few:
https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_utils/McStaticPages?key=advice_save_gas
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/save-gas-47031702?src=rss
June 30th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I hate to date myself, but I remember my father driving about 7 miles out of his way in order to tank up on $0.19 per gallon instead of paying the going rate of $0.23 a gallon.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I am going to vote.
And start checking out prices on hybrids.
I hear that GM is coming out with a low priced hybrid next year.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Elizabeth,
Thanks for sharing your comments and the links to the websites.
Merrill
June 30th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Ed,
I would do that all day long now - those were the days.
Merrill
June 30th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
My wife and I recently relocated to Chicago and we ended up purchasing a house less than 5 miles away from my work. Originally we looked at cheaper places 15-20 miles out but after considering the price of gas, it was well worth the extra $$$$. Also, I purchased a Smart car and while most friends tell me they did not expect that out of me, I really love it. Finally, we were looking to upgrade to a new vehicle for my wife but found luxury car dealers were playing too hard. Going with a much cheaper and more efficient economy car.
I do belong to an automotive group here in Chicago and have noticed that our members are either not coming to the monthly gatherings or purchasing additional cars for daily driving and leaving their gas guzzlers for those special occasions.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:36 pm
driving 55 really does help! it’s amazing - according to my vehicle’s “trip meter” I can get about 5 more miles per gallon - that adds up!!
i just got an amazing deal on an suv - so yes merrill - the higher gas prices will work in your favor unless you’re looking for a hybrid
we tried to offset our carbon footprint a little after the suv purchase by planting 50 trees.
great topic merrill.
thanks,
kath
July 1st, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I chat with the fellow who pumps gas at the station I frequent (in New Jersey there is no self-serve), and he tells me he has people coming in asking for two dollars worth of gas, three dollars, whatever - paying in change, then coming back the next day for a reprise. He speculates coins are being ferreted out of couches, from under beds – whatever. We do have a basic disagreement. His theory is that the amount of change to be found in the odd nooks and crannies of a living space has to be finite, but my counter-argument is that just as a dryer can consume an infinite number of socks, a dwelling place can produce an infinite amount of nickels, dimes and pennies if one has the patience and persistence to look.
Regardless, apparently some of these “gallon a day” people drive nice cars. My theory is that while housing prices escalated, a lot of people were living beyond their means by writing checks out of their home equity loans. I get the feeling a lot of those wells are tapped out. In my neck of the woods, “For Sale” signs are competing with trees for space, and a lot of those signs look weathered. Just a few years ago I was living in a three story Victorian, and in the dead of winter my heating bills would be close to a thousand a month. Every time I drive by that old house, I look to see if the current owners have begun demolition so they can erect teepees before the snow falls.
My business had already been beaten bloody by global outsourcing before petrol costs went through the roof. I have employees who are staying home once a week working over the internet precisely so they can save a day’s commute. A few years ago I thought people who drove hummers were obnoxious. Now I just feel sorry for them. Even the rich don’t stand out on their lawns and burn piles of cash. Do they?
I hear a lot of speculation about conspiracy, price rigging, old-boy-networks and so forth. If any of that is true, I don’t suppose the U.S. automobile companies were privy to the secret plan. I drive by auto dealerships with lots full of pick-up trucks, and see a junk pile. Think you’re good at sales? Try selling someone a vehicle that’s going to cost them $100 a week to drive. Watch your local K-Mart. My guess is the Chinese will be importing shrink-wrapped fuel-efficient cars for less than $6000 within a year. Just put it on your Visa – its spit in the ocean at this point anyway. Sure the rear bumper is going to fall off. But you’re not going to care - not when you’re getting sixty miles to a gallon.
The only plausible explanation aside from rank stupidity I can think of which would explain why U.S. auto companies have continued to manufacture and ship gas guzzlers is willful desire to go completely bankrupt and break the unions. But I suppose there is stupidity enough to go around. I mean, haven’t we as a nation recognized this “petroleum dependency problem” at least since Jimmy Carter was in office? Of course, we have been busy all these years, what with all these cable channels, “Sex in the City” reruns, primping at the gym, and so forth. It’s just not reasonable to expect citizens in a democracy to actually concern them-selves with public policy when there is so much to do - but don’t try broaching such subjects with anyone you don’t know really well. Nothing is more tedious to polite society than relevance. Better to level Alaska and suck out every drop we can get than to disturb a poor soul engrossed in operating their channel changer. Just get the bull-dozers up there in the tundra and go for it!
What am I doing? The annual beach trip with my son is ditched. I joined the municipal pool which is lovely, three blocks away, and cost me $120 for two for the season. Ice cream is a dollar a pop, and with any luck, by fall I’ll be fat. If I’m fat and poor, I won’t have to worry about anybody asking me on a date. Another savings…
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:42 am
I have a long commute (approx 70 miles) - And being in Canada - our gasoline prices are higher than the US (we passed 4 dollars per gallon long ago!)
My biggest change was selling my 6 Cyl car for a smaller 4 Cyl.
I enjoy driving - so I have no interest in the hypermiling idea - it was simply that the larger engine was costing about $150.00 per week in gas - the smaller is about $70.00
July 7th, 2008 at 10:35 am
As a follow up…
We went to Saratoga Springs this weekend with another couple and I rented a Toyota Prius from Hertz. We drove almost 550 miles (detoured to Long Island the night before we left), and only paid $46 in gas, averaging roughly 48 mpg.
My question - why isn’t every car made with this technology? The prices would come down quickly with the greater economies of scale.
Now, I’m very loyal to Hertz as I love my frequent renter points, among other benefits, but they do not offer these cars with the GPS systems. If they did, I’d rent them every time I had to road trip for client meetings. I hope they make this change soon.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:41 am
With the cost of home heating oil rising, my husband and I decided to purchase a pellet stove for the fireplace in our living room and, together with the wood-burning fireplace with an insert, to heat our entire home this winter without oil. We’ll keep you posted on how it all works out!
Like everyone else, we are looking for ways to be more energy efficient (turning out lights, combining trips to the store, etc.) and “green” in our life style.
Cheers,
Karen
July 7th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Hi Merrill,
Great topic! Yes, I too recall when gas was in the 70’s!!!!
What I’ve changed, other than noticing how quiet the Prius is when it pulls away, is I stack my tasks so that I have no less than 2-3 things to do, every time I drive off. Yes, I have picked a closer dry cleaner and I do drive out of my way to get less expensive gas. In my PA area, the gas at the lowest end is $4.09 (3 miles out of my way) and at the higher end (right around the corner from my condo) it’s $4.49. needless to say….. I drive three miles but the station is also on my way to row on the river, so I do two things!!
Like many others I find that I stick closer to 55 than 70 (the car does want to go 70…) and I also get gas on Tuesday or Wed. as the one station let me know, they actually lower their rates mid week raised it on the weekends, especially on long weekends!
Thank you again,
Merrill
July 9th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I bought a Vespa and use it for work (70 mpg). It is a life saver! However, I can not really use it for errands or with the family. I recently read about hypermiling. So, I’m trying out some of the suggestions. One of the things I’ve been guilty of is pulling away from lights really fast. It’s recommended to keep the RPMs below 2,000 to save on gas. We’ll see.