Gas Prices rising. What will you do?

[CyberGuy]

This is really hurtin me at work. The company only reimburses .30 a mile after we get to our first customer. I know, at least it's something. But I can go through 2+ tanks of gas a week depending on where I have to go.

It is going to get worse. Gas prices will hit $4 a gallon by mid summer when gas demand is at its height. If we have a refinery go out for any reason or a war in Iran or Venezuela then it will hit $5 a gallon easily.

[Pearly]

My young wife works at a SDA Conf. office. We live 22 miles from the office and so far we can keep the cost of gas down to 8 gallons a week. We are praising the Lord for that bit of info!! We have a vehicle that make close to 30mpg around town and 37 MPG on trips.

By May the cost of gas we are told will be $4.00 a gallon. Today I paid $3.09 a gallon. Humorously, I say that the decision we need to make is "Do we need a gallon of gas or a gallon of milk worse?"!!

pearly

[CyberGuy]

The price of gas hit $3.499 a gallon today in Riverside California. That is the cheaper 87 octane fuel. That is up .10 cents from last week. I suggest everyone fill up every week as the price of gas is rising steeply now. At this rate it will surpass $4 a gallon by June.

[David Koot]

Diesel is 4.10 now in this area.

[CyberGuy]

Diesel is $4 a gallon in Riverside. I read nationwide it runs over $4 everywhere on average. Trains trucks all run on diesel. Higher Diesel costs means higher food costs as well. Expect inflation to reach 5 percent or more this year.

[CyberGuy]

This is really hurtin me at work. The company only reimburses .30 a mile after we get to our first customer. I know, at least it's something. But I can go through 2+ tanks of gas a week depending on where I have to go.

The company I currently work for pays me .41 cents a mile. 60 percent of that is eaten up by fuel costs when I drive to give tech support for our customers. I expect they will up that to close to .50 cents a mile of fuel costs go up to $4 a gallon and more.

[alisha]

Gas is almost 4 dollars on Maui. It's terrible!

[CyberGuy]

Gas prices have always been 40 cents a gallon more than the mainland in Hawaii. I go to Honolulu Ohau every few years and I suffer from sticker shock on the price of gas there.

I do not know how it is in Maui but in Ohuu they have an excellent mass transit system. You can get a bus to anywhere on the island.

At least on the islands you do not have far to go. You can travel around the whole island in two hours.

[CyberGuy]

Gas prices are expected to jump another 30 to 40 cents within the next four weeks. Food prices are expected to jump 15 to 20 percent as well by July.

Two years ago I bought a bread maker. You can buy them from Walmart. You put in the yeast and water and turn it on and wait until the yeast rises in the warm water. Then you put in the flour and salt and other ingrediates and the bread maching mixes it and bakes it. You just walk away and two hours later the whole house smells of baked bread. Less than a dollar a loaf.

Folks it is time to start baking our own bread this way for prices are going up 10 to 20 percent for all food this year.

[CyberGuy]

Another thing you can do is to buy a crock pot from Walmart. I bought one gallon size crock pot for $15.

Then you can buy a small sack of dried beans for under $2 and make sure you spread it out on the table and sort out any small pebbles that may be in it. Then you wash it and put it in the crock pot. Put three cups of water for every cup of beans. Then you can cook up a bunch of beans. Put salt and celery onions and carrots and potatoes and season to taste and you have a healthy broth that is quit tasty and filling all for under $5 to $7 for a gallon of broth.

We need to get away from pre prepared foods and start cooking from scratch to save money.

[Neil D]

We need to get away from pre prepared foods and start cooking from scratch to save money.

why? It's only money.....

[CyberGuy]

Because unfortunately most of us do not have an unlimited supply of that green stuff.

[Neil D]

Because unfortunately most of us do not have an unlimited supply of that green stuff.

so? I repeat, it's only money...you ain't gonna take it with you when you die...

[Amelia]

Personally I would love to get away from pre-prepared foods. Actually I love simple foods and do not care much for vast variety. Chili, soup, salad, a roll. I'm happy.

[David Koot]

so? I repeat, it's only money...you ain't gonna take it with you when you die...

Hmmm . . . Sounds like Daddy Warbucks. Easy come, easy go. Money burns a hole in the pocket. Hey, I know guys like that down here. They get their monthly SSI check, live high for a week, and then it is GONE! Back to bumming cigarettes and so on.

Dave

[Neil D]

They get their monthly SSI check, live high for a week, and then it is GONE! Back to bumming cigarettes and so on.

Dave

So, you got a virtual Chesterfields for this Respiratory Therapist?

[David Koot]

I got a better solution. Take charge of your financial future. Change the easy come-easy go spending habits. Save, save, save. Then there will be no need for Chesterfields. And by the way, CUT UP those credit cards. Instead, keep several thousand on hand to cover those emergencies.

Sincerely,

Your friendly local financial health guru

[Denise]

Quote:

Folks it is time to start baking our own bread this way for prices are going up 10 to 20 percent for all food this year.

Yes, I already make my own bread, have been for a while...but, I do it the old fashioned way....knead it by hand...I enjoy it...I have a breadmaker, but don't like it, used it once or twice, and no more. It's just sitting in my cabinet....all lonely....anyways, I also buy my own grains and make flour out of it..the bread taste so so good when flour is freshly made. And, Yes, a crock pot is a great idea! I have one of those too, and unlike my breadmaker, I use it pretty much. :)

[Denise]

Quote:

And by the way, CUT UP those credit cards.

Yes, good advice David! I dislike credit cards very much....

[Gerr]

I got a better solution. Take charge of your financial future. Change the easy come-easy go spending habits. Save, save, save. Then there will be no need for Chesterfields. And by the way, CUT UP those credit cards. Instead, keep several thousand on hand to cover those emergencies.

Sincerely,

Your friendly local financial health guru

Don't be too hard on those credit cards. If you pay it off in full every month, they are fine. It's when you fall behind that those 15 & 20% highway robbery interest rates that kick in PLUS the penalties! I have credit cards that get me 1 air mile for every $1 I charge to it. I've flown "free" a few times by these accumulated air miles. But I would agree that it takes a lot of self-discipline to use credit cards.

Gerry

[Neil D]

I got a better solution. Take charge of your financial future. [snip] Instead, keep several thousand on hand to cover those emergencies.

Sincerely,

Your friendly local financial health guru

Kinda hard when most of it goes to the petrolium barons....

Anyways, not to divulge my current financial situation, but here is an icon that is adequate...kinda wished it had pockets

[David Koot]

Hey, but you are in a lucrative line of work. RT's rake it in, so I hear. How 'bout the rest of us? BTW whaddya think of 'sharing the wealth?'

[Neil D]

Hey, but you are in a lucrative line of work. RT's rake it in, so I hear. How 'bout the rest of us? BTW whaddya think of 'sharing the wealth?'

*cough, cough* "Lucrative"???? What is it that you are smokin' again, David???? Besides, I don't care that you are breathing in the oil fumes from your tailpipe, but I gotta tell ya, it is definately affecting your memory regarding RTs.......

[Amelia]

I believe there are plenty people here who make more and less than the living wage. Everyone is entitled to complain about rising costs. But I will draw the line at the mega ubber rich complaining about the cost of houses, cars, shoes and clothing. After all, a person who can spend 500+ on a pair of shoes shouldn't freak about bread going up .50

[David Koot]

it is definately affecting your memory regarding RTs.......

Well, it seems like the 'median salary' has gone up since I checked into it way back when. Looks like purty good money now. Hey, RT's make more than preachers do! Money, money, money. No wonder you can say, 'It's only money.' Lemme tell you about a good nonprofit you could make a real difference for. Don't spend, contribute. :