How is the price of gas affecting your spending

[obiwopkenobi62]

Hi all,
Just wanted to throw this out there. How is the price of gas affecting your spending on say elctronics, blurays etc?
For me I just traded my conversion van and got a new Chevy Malibu. I was getting basically 13 miles to the gallon. I was spending approx 230.00 per month on gas and 50-100.00 on maint(Average). The average monthly cost was over 300.00 per month. Now I have a new car payment of roughly 249.00 and spending much less on gas. I am at the point where I am being frugal with everything I can be.
What are your thoughts?

[Marquoz]

Gas has yet to even make a blip on my caring. I'm spending maybe 120$ a month on it, and that's not enough for me to cut into my fun money. I have no monthly car note as I bought the car used with cash, I have yet to have anything other then standard maintenance (oil change, wipers, etc.) on my car.

All in all, I think it is more hyped up then anything, or affecting those that have cars that just have horrific gas mileage to begin with, and hate to say it, they got what they deserve for buying that kind of vehicle. Why would somebody buy a vehicle with like 10-15 mpg to begin with???

[jkwest]

Well....I have been saving up to buy a truck....needless to say, I am quite apprehensive about doing that now...

[jkwest]

Originally Posted by Marquoz

Gas has yet to even make a blip on my caring. I'm spending maybe 120$ a month on it, and that's not enough for me to cut into my fun money. I have no monthly car note as I bought the car used with cash, I have yet to have anything other then standard maintenance (oil change, wipers, etc.) on my car.

All in all, I think it is more hyped up then anything, or affecting those that have cars that just have horrific gas mileage to begin with, and hate to say it, they got what they deserve for buying that kind of vehicle. Why would somebody buy a vehicle with like 10-15 mpg to begin with???

right...because you can lug around yard stuff and trees in a Prius...lame...not everyone lives in an apartment or flat...

[hc666]

I never cared about the price until recently as it won't stop going up.

This will eventually hit my eletric lights/heating bill I assume which sucks. I do well so I will get by but I'm more worried about ppl barely getting by these days.

As you can imagine, I don't see alot of middle class peeps buying blu ray players when they are hanging on to their mortage, gas and now food which is also going up.

We are headed for a dangerous time. Hang on!

[DutchBoy]

I'm guessing it must be more costly for Amazon to ship my BDs to me...

[JJ]

I stopped driving my 02 Expedition. Ridiculous. It's been tarped and parked until I need it for a big trip or something. My 04 Galant gets me 350 miles a tank, $60 to fill it up on the 93 Octane stuff - but with prices on the verge of $4.00 - I dunno, so far I'm still budgeting myself extremely well, but it is hurting.

I would have political commentary, but - never mind.

[Beta Man]

I get 14-15 MPG but there are two things I don't do...

1) complain about the prices of gas

2) care


I did have the chance to pick up a used excursion really cheap from my Brother (12 MPG or so) and turned it down..... more due to the fact that it's too tall to fit into my garage

[groovyone]

My car gets about 12MPG local and 24MPG highway. I do drive it a little less locally, and take my 35MPG motorcycle or 15MPG Jeep instead. Why buy something that gets 12MPG? 2003 Cobra, mildly modified. Need I say more?

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by hc666

We are headed for a dangerous time. Hang on!

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.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by Marquoz

Gas has yet to even make a blip on my caring. I'm spending maybe 120$ a month on it, and that's not enough for me to cut into my fun money. I have no monthly car note as I bought the car used with cash, I have yet to have anything other then standard maintenance (oil change, wipers, etc.) on my car.

All in all, I think it is more hyped up then anything, or affecting those that have cars that just have horrific gas mileage to begin with, and hate to say it, they got what they deserve for buying that kind of vehicle. Why would somebody buy a vehicle with like 10-15 mpg to begin with???

I should have known I would see a statement like this.
When I bought the van gas was 1.85 per gallon. I bought it for travel and paid cash for it. No monthly payment. It was great for awhile, but that's why I traded it in because it was cheaper for me to get the new car. Gas price might not bother you now but give it time. It will affect everyone. Guaranteed.

[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!

[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...

[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.

[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