Is anyone feeling "the pinch"??

[alicia-w]

when you think about it, it's only $15 or so more for a tank than before. That doesnt break our budget. If you put it in perspective, a fancy schmancy coffee is $5 and that's what 10oz of coffee? If it costs $45 to fill a 15 GALLON tank, that's 42 cents an ounce for gas vs $2 an ounce for coffee. I'll cut back on Starbucks before I cut back on gas.

[gtalum]

Frankly, gas could go to $5 per gallon and it wouldn't pinch us much even though we both drive a long way to work. When you sit down and do the math, gasoline just isn't that big a part of the budget.

[Janice]

Well, if it goes up to $5 even tho we have a small car, we will definately feel the pinch. John drives 45 minutes to work each way. The tollway is car to car and often he is just sitting at times. He will not use the air conditioner in the car cause it takes a lot more gas. We are fine now, but it will make a tremendous difference.

[Pburgh]

To me it's just everything going UP. I really feel an increase with the gas prices but my water, electric, and even my lawn care has gone up. My wages have not up gone up!!!!!!! Which means I am in the RED.

[SouthFloridawx]

To me it's just everything going UP. I really feel an increase with the gas prices but my water, electric, and even my lawn care has gone up. My wages have not up gone up!!!!!!! Which means I am in the RED.

Exactly

[angelwing]

I drive round trip to work 90 miles...it was about 85 miles when I took the toll roads, but now I take the free way over to work, so the tolls I save on equals about 4 gallons of gas at $3.00/gal...either way I'm screwed

[cajungal]

My car gets excellent gas mileage. It cost me $22 yesterday to fill it. It will usually last me for 2 weeks until my next paycheck. I hate driving and do it only when I have to. I mostly only drive to and from work which is 9 miles away. If I need to run an errand, I try to do before or after work in town. I try to make as few trips as possible. I am not the type to run the roads.

[Windswept]

I've been skipping lunch. ( $5-$9 a day about covered the increase for us.)

[Janice]

That is too bad. I hope the gas prices go down soon.

[Stephanie]

To me it's just everything going UP. I really feel an increase with the gas prices but my water, electric, and even my lawn care has gone up. My wages have not up gone up!!!!!!! Which means I am in the RED.

That's me too and the reason why I started this thread.

[Janice]

Don't you think with summer vacation coming up for the kids and planned family vacations, the prices will go up even higher?

I cut back a long time ago, I do not go to the cleaners, only for Johns suits or blazers. He can were Dockers to work, I wash and iron them, cause he wears lab coats. Just that saves us a lot of money, no dry cleaning bills. If we go on vacation, etc. I will use it then too for dressy outfits, etc.

We don't eat out. We cook at home all the time. Every Friday, he brings something home like pizza, etc.

We are saving to get this house finished and we cannot do that by not cutting back.

We just changed the insurance policy on our car to liability only, that saved a ton. It is really old.

There are ways to cut back.

[george_r_1961]

Riding the bike to work is out the question for me - 50 miles one way. Our gas prices for home heating were between $300 and $400 per month.

I've always did some errands on the way home from work just so I wouldn't have to do it on the weekend. Pretty much, my car stays put on the weekends as well.

Stephanie just think of the exercise and fresh air you would get

[HurryKane]

Yeah, and think of how your coworkers would be wearing gas masks to protect themselves from the smell

[Stephanie]

Yeah, and think of how your coworkers would be wearing gas masks to protect themselves from the smell

HEY!!!


Janice - I wouldn't doubt that prices will get higher in the summer time with vacations and all. The thing I'd be interested in is to see if there's a noticeable cutback in spending during these months....

[Janice]

All I know is the stores here and the restuarants are packed. The tollways are always packed with cars. You go anywhere and there are people everywhere spending money. (lets say before the PR crisis, which should be back to normal tomorrow). Look at the airports, packed. People are spending money. Maybe they are cutting corners, but they are still spending. Maybe they are just spending money they don't have.

[Janice]

Hey, no one is complaining lately. Have you all budgeted the gas prices? We just find that if John stops before or after work and picks up everything, we save a lot. Then we don't have to go shopping on the weekends. Makes a big difference.