Gas Prices

[#1]

We all have had this conversation with people in our daily lives, but I haven't seen a thread about it on here.  So, how about those gas prices? lol.

Normally, gas prices in my hometown aren't as bad as other places.  Living in a small town has its perks.  However, it looks like summer prices are arriving early.  Lanndan said yesterday he paid 3.6-something per gallon of regular.  During the Fall, gas prices were dropping.  When I was coming home for the weekend last semester, it was almost $3.00 even.  Seeing that was like a welcome home sign lol.  When I went to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge last week, the prices were almost matched with the ones back home.  Last year, they were cheaper than home, which was beyond weird since it's a tourist place.

If the prices go to 4 or 5 bucks a gallon in the summer, I may not be gassing up my dirtbike as much as I would like.  My car comes first, but it gets great gas mileage.  I drive a 2001 Toyota Corolla.  It's used-squared lol.  My parents bought it used many moons ago, and when mom got the 2007 Camry, they passed the Corolla down to me as long as I kept my grades up and didn't get in trouble.  Thus, used-squared lol.  On one of the beach trips, we found out it got forty-some miles per gallon on the interstate, so I'm happy lol. 

Dad gets the best mileage of all because when it warms up he'll be on his motorcycle.  I'd say they'll increase in sales.

[#2]

Hi!  I just found this thread and can definitely relate....I'm pretty young (still in high school), and I can remember a time about 7 or 8 years ago when the "cheaper" gas station in my neighborhood was 1.89 a gallon.  It was extremely rare to see anything above 3 dollors a gallon for many years after that, but now it seems like a deal if it's under 4 dollars.  Especially in NYC and on the highways the prices are crazy now since it seems like there are very few places to fill up your car.  Let's all hope maybe it can just stay where it is for a little while...

[#3]

I'm pretty sure when I started driving 10 years ago, gas was under $2. A tank of gas would last me like 2 weeks!

Now it seems we buy gas every other day.

[#4]

Forbes has quite a few articles on the subject as of late.  Quite a few are worth reading. 

I remember passing through Alabama where gas was eighty-eight cents.  That was many years ago. 

If transportation around here was better, I would probably use it on the lazy days.  But since the weather has been nice, biking would not be a bad option for places within a mile or two. 

[#5]

@ran8: I love your biking idea. When I used to live in Western Mass, alot of people did that because we had LOTS of bike paths and Rails to Trails programs where old train tracks were turned into hiking and bike paths. That's a great place to invest tax $$$ thst would be better for the environmet\nt, create jobs, and reduce our dfependence on oil!

[#6]

I don't think the gas prices in my city are too terrible. It usually hangs around the $3-$3.50 range, although I've seen it under a few times within the last couple of months. It doesn't often reach $4+, so I'm thankful for that. I drive a 2002 Toyota Camry, the mileage isn't bad. It was also a hand-me-down car after my parents bought a Nissan Ultima. However, I do drive about 45 miles to work round trip and my weekly gas budget is usually around $60.

[#7]

I swear my next car will be ALL ELECTRIC!!!!!

[#8]

I got rid of my car when I moved to SF (sad -- I miss driving!) and I could easily get on a tangent / soapbox about US dependence on foreign oil, but I won't. I WILL say that it cost me around $7 for more than a half-tank of gas in the 1998 Honda Accord I had in high school (I should specify that this was also in 1998-1999, when I think gas was about .99/1.09 a gallon).

[#9]

I have a Prius, so I get pretty good gas mileage. GAs around here is $3.80 now. But I live 7 minutes away from where I work, so it's not so bad. What's bad is that we heat our house with oil..... so in the winter time our monthly heating bill is pretting close to what our mortgage is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[#10]

Gas is $3.85 where I live. If I stay close to where I live and don't do a lot of traveling, a full tank of gas can last me a month. However, I have a vacation coming up and wanted to take a couple day trips to nearby citites. The definition of "nearby" for me is roughly 80 miles. I have even more planned for my vacation in June. I don't want to know what gas prices will be then.

[#11]

I think we all need a laugh after reading about the gas prices.  You have probably seen these on the internet at some point.

Before you know it, Regular will cost a leg, Plus will cost your first born, and premium will be your soul lol.

[#12]

@kimmi: LOVE those pics! I saw one that said LOL for regular, OMG for plus and WTF for Premium. 

Seriously........

[#13]

@shyvicki - try to think of all the money you saved on gas throughout the year, that might make spending all of that gas money for day trips a little less painful. Maybe you can check out gas stations that you'll be near on the way to your destinations. If you can find the less expensive ones and plot your course accordingly maybe you can save a little that way. Whaddya think?

[#14]

Geez.. I didn't really pay attention to prices before but I think I have paid under $3 a gallon maybe once.. twice in my life? And it was usually someplace out of town that took me forever to get to,so by the time I got home it was time to fill up again..LOL 

Like Keely said, its around $4.50 here, I've seen some ridiculous spots right off the freeway entrances downtown where its about 4.75 or 4.80.. no thanks! I can't fill up my tank without spending about $40 or more. This is probably why I don't use my car much. So much easier to get around SF by foot or bus! But I do love to leave the city and get outside for a change of scenery. Maybe I should get a moped or Vespa.. I'd be a terror on the roads though! haha

[#15]

I remember when gas was 99 cents a gallon...those were the days...

[#16]

@makeupobsessed - I will never admit to actually sending this post. Someone obviously hijacked my account and posted this message.

I remember when my parents could only get gas on certain days of the week, it was based on the numbers in your license plate number. I just remember waiting in a long line at the gas station, with no air conditioning, of course. I was super-super little, like a toddler. Don't know what the price was though. Do you remember that?

[#17]

@kssweetheart - you're back in the early '70's when gas was rationed and you could buy it on even/odd days using your license plate numbers.  I remember it well, filled up my Gremlin's tank for less than five bucks.

[#18]

@anaa - oh my gosh! flashback! I knew someone who had an ancient Kermit green Gremlin in the late 80's, I never rode in it, noone wanted to, not even the guy who drove it!  Amazing that less than $5.00 could fill your tank, wow, crazy. What would $5.00 get you at say, Starbucks? How much was a coffee to go back then?

[#19]

Hi Kimmi1115 - OMG!!! You absolutely read my mind! I was just going to start a new thread about this myself. My other big question is - does anyone else get charged more per gallon of gas when they use their credit card? I'm in NY and my sister just mentioned it in passing, I'll have to find out more specifics from her tonight. Has anyone else heard of this? I was pretty surprised.

[#20]

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kssweetheart wrote:

Hi Kimmi1115 - OMG!!! You absolutely read my mind! I was just going to start a new thread about this myself. My other big question is - does anyone else get charged more per gallon of gas when they use their credit card? I'm in NY and my sister just mentioned it in passing, I'll have to find out more specifics from her tonight. Has anyone else heard of this? I was pretty surprised.

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A lot of gas stations do charge less if you pay with cash or debit vs. credit. It costs them more to process credit transactions, but at least they pass on the savings when they get them...I guess. I can remember gas being 87 cents when I first started driving. I never even thought twice about giving friends rides, road trips...I never thought about buying gas because it was such a minuscule expense. Oh, those were the days!

[#21]

kssweetheart, I think only some states charge different prices for cash vs credit card. I've never seen it in major metropolitan areas, and the signs at the station would tell you! 

ii can't handle gas prices, ugh. its about $4 here, over $4 in chicago, occasionally it was $3.99 this week. yuckkkk