Gas prices keep going up, up, up. When will it end?
I had to fill up my car yesterday. I pulled into the local gas station and almost cried when I saw the price. $3.99 a gallon. It cost $50 to fill up my small SUV. What I wouldn’t give for an economy car right now.
I could have gone to the one other local station, which listed gas at $3.97 a gallon. Unfortunately, that price is only for customers with cash. The credit/debit card price is 14 cents higher a gallon. Apparently I’m not the only one who has come across this new trend. I’m not changing my habits and carrying cash just to appease the gas station. I just won’t buy gas there anymore.
I’m rebelling against the high gas prices by trying not to leave my small town. Sure, the grocery store is more expensive, but paying an extra dollar for a gallon of milk is still cheaper than the $4 in gas I pay to make an extra trip into Medford. Walking is my new method of transportation, now that the weather is nice. I’m giving myself one trip into Medford and one trip into Ashland a week. That’s it.
We’ve also decided to stay in-state for our upcoming vacation. Originally we thought about heading into Washington or California, but now heading to Bend, Oregon is sounding pretty good.
I know that somehow we’ll survive the high cost of gas, but it sure is hard coughing up the cash to fill the gas tank.
You tell me: What is the price of gas where you live? Have you made any changes to deal with the prices?
Photo by Andrew Baron.
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Wow, this DOES look strangely familiar. Coincidence?!?? I’m betting on telepathy.
My own changes haven’t come up yet. I’m deciding on whether it’s better to get a new job and get rid of the commute or just ride out (pun intended) the gas prices.
Just a note: The British gallon is 4.54 litres, the US gallon is 3.8 litres. Canada used the British gallon. That’s the reason for the confusion.
The British also use “Stone” (14 lbs 6 ounces) for weights.
But the foot (12 inches) is still the same.
Even Europeans, long accustomed to high gas prices, are starting to complain. Here in Madrid people with Vans are spending 80 euros a fill up. Insane!
The gas station I see everyday when I leave my house each morning is up to $3.89 for regular. Every morning I check to see what it has gone up to. Most of the stations in the area are now selling premium over $4.
Also here in The Netherlands, Europe, gas prices rising like crazy. I have double feelings about it.
One side of me tells me, this is a good sign, since oil is so expensive now, it forces everyone to find alternative resources or more efficient ways to burn fuel, which is okay for the environment.
On the other hand, my wallet is getting very angry, I can hear his stomach growling, since it’s getting emptier and emptier! :-)
What I pay, for a gallon? Consider yourself lucky:
about 8,37 dollars a gallon.
This is an interesting article from CNN. The price still hurts, for everyone though, but it also puts things in perspective.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/0.....tm?cnn=yes
Gas prices are killing me. It ONLY 3.89 here in Virginia at most stations and today I actually found it for 3.79. I also saw a station right by the interstate that was 3.99. If you are traveling it really pays to drive a little further off the highway.
Here in the UK it’s £1.17 a litre, and rising. That works out at about $10.50 per gallon. Glad I don’t have a car!
My car takes diesel, so I’ve been spending over $4 for a while now… currently in my town, Diesel is sitting at $4.89/gallon. The 50 mpg is a nice trade off, but I just had my first $30 tank this winter, and my last fillup was $55
Lynnae, just wanted to add something about the credit card fees for gas–you’re right, its not a big discount. However, the gas station owners normally pay the fees when the price is the same, not pass it on to their customers.
My fiance works at a car wash/gas station and they are barely staying afloat. Last week the owner was selling gas at $3.89 per gallon–at a $.20 per gallon LOSS over what he paid for it. They’re probably going to wind up closing, and my fiance will be without a job in a market where he took that job just to get by after he was laid off! When I spoke with the owner yesterday he said that gas has never been a money maker for them-when they were actually making any profit on the gas, it was enough to pay one part-time employees weekly wages. Now they’re sinking fast since they have to sell at a loss to stay competitive with the other gas stations in town (an Exxon and a Mobil). Both of those stations are owned by oil companies, so they have more leway with their pricing.
Its sad, really.
In the Netherlands we pay $ 9,06 per gallon for low grade gas at the moment (that is 40 % for the fuel, the rest is tax).
Hey, gas prices are finally starting to drop … you can leave your town now :)
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