How is the price of gas affecting your spending

[DutchBoy]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

Amen!

People think I'm crazy when I say this, but we've seen how messy things can get in the gasoline lines in my lifetime. We're not so far away from having food lines.

On the other hand,

The ranting about SUV's and trucks by the self-righteous gets so very old. You would know that the environmental impact of the average American's cheeseburger consumption surpasses that of the average SUV driver.

Thos of you who REALLY think that we are in a dire situation requiring immediate and drastic changes in our lifestyles to prevent impending disasters have no credibility, if you continue to partake in unnecessary luxury activities like watching television, movies, using internet, video games consumption of illicit drugs, adult beverages, tobacco, using air conditioning. All use resources for non-vital purposes. PLEASE, set an example for us all and show us how to behave to save ourselves from oblivion.

Now that's just crazy talk!

[jkwest]

Originally Posted by DutchBoy

Now that's just crazy talk!

AMEN!!!!

[JJ]

Originally Posted by DutchBoy

Now that's just crazy talk!

It's heresy! Blasphemy!

[Deadset]

I have a 93' integra, been getting 32 mpg for the last 10 years, it used to take $9-10 to fill up, now it's about $22-25. I use it for commuting, but I live out in the sticks, nearest big city is about 12 miles away, 60k people.

I use my silverado for hauling stuff, currently for my basement finishing. Yeah it sucks to fill it up, but I hardly drive it anymore.

There's not much we can do, accept pay whatever the price is, try not to worry about it.

[actionhank]

It doesn't affect me because I use the financial instruments available to minimize my risk to higher energy prices.

But for all the greenies (like me) who want to move away from fossil fuels and foreign oil, then high prices are a godsend as people will be pushed to innovate cheaper alternatives.

Now when are they coming out with that hydrogen powered 200 mph corvette? I will miss the sound of internal combustion engines though...

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by actionhank

It doesn't affect me because I use the financial instruments available to minimize my risk to higher energy prices.

But for all the greenies (like me) who want to move away from fossil fuels and foreign oil, then high prices are a godsend as people will be pushed to innovate cheaper alternatives.

Now when are they coming out with that hydrogen powered 200 mph corvette? I will miss the sound of internal combustion engines though...

Here, here. I told a couple of friends of mine that I want to see gas prices climb to at 10.00 per gallon. The vast majority of people are complacent. The only way things are going to change for the better is if enough of the population gets pissed off. We're not there yet but I believe we will get there.
Just remember something new and better always comes along to replace an existing thing and Oil is no exception. It will get replaced too.

[groovyone]

The sad thing to me is the push toward corn based Ethanol. It is soooo much less efficient than other biofuel alternatives, and NOT environmentally friendly. While it may reduce the use of fossil fuels in cars, it is a terrible way to do it. Brazil's sugar based ethanol is almost EIGHT TIMES more efficient to produce and process.

Not a hybrid fan either thanks to the batteries. They seem like a poor stop-gap solution.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by groovyone

The sad thing to me is the push toward corn based Ethanol. It is soooo much less efficient than other biofuel alternatives, and NOT environmentally friendly. While it may reduce the use of fossil fuels in cars, it is a terrible way to do it. Brazil's sugar based ethanol is almost EIGHT TIMES more efficient to produce and process.

I'm glad someone else feels the same way about Ethanol. I feel the exact same way. It's a very small short-term gain for a huge long-term loss. Whoever thinks ethanol is environmentally friendly obviously hasn't read the facts.

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

I'm glad someone else feels the same way about Ethanol. I feel the exact same way. It's a very small short-term gain for a huge long-term loss. Whoever thinks ethanol is environmentally friendly obviously hasn't read the facts.

Just one of so very many articles against it: Discover - Biofuel Farming

[NJ_RAMS_FAN]

gotta love jersey gas prices!!!! has gone up that much but hasn't affected by BD purchasing!!!

[EvolutionCherry]

I take the public transportation so gas prices, really not an issue. It's the price of bus passes and fares that are a killer since they went up from $3 to $5 for a day pass.

[Jim L]

A very little.

Although I could afford more, I am very content to just drive a small utilitarian vehicle that meets my needs. There are always other things to spend money on.

2 vehicles ago, I downsized from a truck to a mid-size car. Last time (2 years ago) I downsized again from a mid-size to a subcompact (Honda Fit).

It took some getting used to, but only because of my apprehension about the size of other cars that could hit me. Other than that, I really like getting 38 MPG (my real average). There is really nothing wrong with having a car this size because I normally drive with only 1 or 2 passangers. For carrying things (like a trip to CostCo) I've never run out of room. Ease of parking (finding marginal spaces at a full lot, or parking in a garage with another car and all the usual garage junk) is another big selling point.

I think gas prices will only go up from here, and that other things affected by energy prices (food, utilities, etc.) will go up too.

If you have the opportunity, save yourself some money and give a smaller car a try!

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by groovyone

The sad thing to me is the push toward corn based Ethanol. It is soooo much less efficient than other biofuel alternatives, and NOT environmentally friendly. While it may reduce the use of fossil fuels in cars, it is a terrible way to do it. Brazil's sugar based ethanol is almost EIGHT TIMES more efficient to produce and process.

Depending on which study you believe in, corn may even be a negative. Some studies show it takes more than one barrel of oil to produce one barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) from corn.

Many studies that show a net gain fail to take into account ALL the oil and energy expenditures. For example:

Manufacturing, distributing and applying the pesticides and fertilizers used to grow corn.
Transporting the corn to the distillery.
Transporting the ethanol to the gasoline refinery.

Oil -> pipeline -> Big ship -> Louisiana refinery. Ugly, evil oil. But very efficient.

But, the whole point of corn is a money making scheme. The environmental and security issues are secondary.

Originally Posted by groovyone

Not a hybrid fan either thanks to the batteries. They seem like a poor stop-gap solution.

For plug-in hybrids, for sure. Those will need better batteries. Although, there are automotive NiMH batteries that were developed for California electric cars that should be fine. But, the batteries for simple hybrids shouldn't be an issue.

Gary

[reider]

I work for Oil&Gas services company. So higher the oil prices go, the better financially I stand. To answer OP's question - it increases it.

Originally Posted by obiwopkenobi62

...
Just remember something new and better always comes along to replace an existing thing and Oil is no exception. It will get replaced too.

We will do everything in our power to prevent this from happening. Unless of course we own the new tech and it's more profitable then the Oil.

Sorry.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by reider

I work for Oil&Gas exploration services company. So higher the oil prices go, the better financially I stand. To answer OP's question - it increases it.



We will do everything in our power to prevent this from happening. Unless of course we own the new tech and it's more profitable then the Oil.

Sorry.

Yeah, you are right. You're not telling me anything I didn't already know. I am well aware of what the oil companies are doing. I always tell people the reason we don't have alternatives yet is because the oil companies haven't figured out how to gobble up that pie yet.
Maybe you guys have a plan to buy the sun and then you can charge us for that and keep making record profits.
Greedy bastards one and all.

[CGYBLU]

No negatives, lots of positives...

[mgonzo2u]

Its costing me more to go to the same places (and even some new places).

<ducks>

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by CGYBLU

No negatives, lots of positives...

???