Are high gas prices changing your spending or travel plans?
With gasoline prices hovering at $4 a gallon nationally, many Americans are making tough choices: scaling back summer vacations, driving less or ditching the car altogether, Associated Press reports.
An Associated Press-GfK poll shows the share of Americans who say increases in the price of gasoline will cause serious financial hardship in the next six months now tops 4 in 10.
Overall in the poll, 71 percent said rising prices will cause some hardship for them and their family, AP reports.
Some seniors are choosing a tank of gas over their prescriptions, AP writes.
Have high gas prices caused you to change your spending?
Have they made a joke of your New Year’s resolution to save more?
Are you cutting back plans for Memorial Day weekend or the summer?
How are you affected?
- Henry Unger, The Biz Beat
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
67 comments Add your comment
Destin Dawg
May 20th, 2011
6:21 am
take a drive to Carnival Cruise… entertainment.. gambling… LOTS of dining…. great bang for the buck…. just be careful not to break with bank with extra$ on your ” Sign and Sail ” card …. don’t buy drinks… book shore excursions thru the cruise line… just take a cab ride at the port…. Lots of FUN !!!
Ghost
May 20th, 2011
6:31 am
Nope. I worked hard in school and busted my butt in my career over the last 16 years, so gas prices are no biggie to me. Do I like paying $4/gal? No. But they’re not causing me to change any plans I’ve made.
Karl Marx
May 20th, 2011
6:45 am
Yes it did. I purchased a car which gets 40MPG. They can keep the gas and I’ll keep the money.
Shudow7071
May 20th, 2011
7:17 am
No shortage of gas here…just ask the wife
Homer
May 20th, 2011
7:36 am
The high price per gallon definitely makes me question whether or not I really need to make a trip in the car. I’m going to make one vacation trip in the car and that’s it. No joy riding to the mountains on the weekend or scenic Sunday drives. I bought a bicycle and will pass the time taking bike rides at the local greenway. I’ll go to the gym and the swimming pool instead of going on unnecessary trips in the car. That will be better for my health and my checking account.
biker1881
May 20th, 2011
7:42 am
The high price of gas sucks but at what price do we become slaves to our jobs and prisoners in our own homes? I rode into work on “Bike to Work” day today and it’s good to know that I can ditch my car on a minute’s notice.
If anything, I don’t do any lunch time erands anymore. Instead, I walk during my lunch break. That’s the only real change I have made. Other than that, it’s business as usual.
Iconoclast
May 20th, 2011
7:52 am
Spiraling fuel costs are making it such that it’s too expensive to drive my gas guzzler to the dealership to trade it in on something more efficient.
John
May 20th, 2011
8:05 am
$4 per gallon gas?? Heck, we as a nation have only ourselves to blame dating back to the first Tuesday in November 2008.
Mom in Villa Rica
May 20th, 2011
8:07 am
Not only has the price of gas affected our summer, but it’s affected our everyday lives and we own 2 (paid for) Saturns! We’re spending less on food and have cut out all entertainment. We gave up satellite TV. We make no unnecessary trips and have even given up church on Sunday night because of the distance to church. Our summer will be spent in our own backyard.
JB
May 20th, 2011
8:10 am
As a person who runs a business reliant in some respects on discretionary income (The Punchline Comedy Club), I hope that people looking for a break but reducing travel, will realize how much a break a visit to a comedy club is. On the other hand, on a week to week basis, all of the “extra” money that goes in to the gas tank can’t be spent other places.
native atlantan
May 20th, 2011
8:15 am
Im spending upwards of $100 per week to drive in greater Atl, and I can justify that, but I did postpone a trip out west to rent a motor home and see some national parks till later this year when hopefully the heat, and gas prices out west will be lower. Im also planning to head to south Fla in July, but cant find any of the dicsount seats I usually do each year on Airtran. I only have been seeing good rates for Tuesday & Wed flights, not Saturdays, and thats when I want to travel.
Jason
May 20th, 2011
8:23 am
I do feel it for many people. I recognize that there are many out there that are doing everything that they can to get by. However, for most people, even $4 gas is affordable, its just that they’ve either got other priorites with their money, or they’ve mismanaged their money.
But fortunately, we’ve worked hard to avoid debt, pay down our house early, and make good choices with our money. We value family vacation over things like cable tv, smart phones, texting, nice furniture, brand new cars, etc. We haven’t had subscribed to any of those things in the seven years since we got out of college, and a lot of people have laughed at us. But, we’ll be going to the Caribbean this summer and won’t regret it knowing that when we get back we won’t have to worry about a mortgage since we paid the house off. And yes, I do consider us to be rich, but before you get too excited about how I don’t understand what real life is like, consider that we’ve done this on two salaries averaging out to around $40K and $60K. According to the census data, this puts us a little over the household median income average for the state, but we’re still squarely within the middle class.
My hope in sharing that is to give encouragement to those struggling with gas prices is that most of you can find relief if you set priorities, budet with those priorities in mind, and beleive that you can live comfortably if you make good decisions. You’ll be amazed at what a difference a few years without low priority conveniences can make in your stress level when it comes to finances.
Also, please don’t mistake this post. I’m not in favor of $4 gas, and I beleive that a lot of that cost is due to poor policies and ideologies implemented by our federal government. Also, I hope you don’t mistake my intent in this post. My purpose is to point out that it really is possible for most of us to live comfortably during this hard time IF we prioritize with our money instead of throwing our money at everything we desire.
native atlantan
May 20th, 2011
8:28 am
In keeping in mind what I said above about being able to spend $400 per week on gas to drive locally, even though I am able to do that, I know the extra dollars Im putting in my gas tank is taking away money I would be spending in other retailers, or services. That for me and all of us is an added tax that we are having to spend our discretionary income to maintain, and it is certainly having a negitive effect on our local economy and each of our wallets.
livinthegoodlife
May 20th, 2011
8:33 am
It is a fixed cost that I add into my budget…. WE all need gas I just adjust accordingly if need be. I have been lucky so far. I think if we start talking 5 and 6 bucks a gallon then Atlanta will start grinding to a hault…..
Spoiled
May 20th, 2011
8:33 am
Its making me have to vaca with the parents again…Eeeewwwww!
TnGelding
May 20th, 2011
8:43 am
Well, my profound thoughts disappeared into cyberspace. You lucked out!
Nianya Cambridge
May 20th, 2011
8:43 am
Only daycationing for us this summer and it will be closer to home then last year; we’re not going into debt to travel; the sooner this country cuts back on its gas use, the sooner prices will go down; supply and demand!
TnGelding
May 20th, 2011
8:44 am
Stay and see Georgia! Buy U.S. Bonds! Prices will go down when we eliminate the middlemen, i.e. the speculators.
BRENDA
May 20th, 2011
8:50 am
My husband and I are pretty comfortable, so the prices only cause “mild sticker shock” to us. I fill up my car twice a week @ $70 per tank. I do wonder how minimun wage and fast food workers are filling up their cars. I realize that the prices must go down soon, or other businesses are going to suffer. How can a place like Dave @ Busters survive these days? How long will malls last? No one will spend money when it costs a fortune just to get there.
Road Scholar
May 20th, 2011
8:51 am
John: Bless your heart! Even if McCain was elected , it wouldn’t be different. What energy efficiency legislation has a Repub introduced, backed, and passed? Voting against the removal of taxbreaks for big oil isn’t it. Oh, and get used to it on two fronts. The price will continue to fluctuate and stay high due to supply and demand. Also, with the current repubs committed to run, President Obama will probably be reelected! Whine on!
Road Scholar
May 20th, 2011
8:58 am
I have intensified “chaining” my trips going to neighboring stores/places instead of a trip for each not only to save trips, but also time! We will go on one trip soon and another in the fall. Once we get there, we probably won’t move around much …just to relax! Last year we visited Maine in August and were in a different city for 6 out of 7 days. That was work!
the mic
May 20th, 2011
9:14 am
Yes, Obama has caused gasoline prices to soar and you notice he’s not conserving. This clown is definitely the worst president the US has ever had, by the time he leaves office, no one will be able to afford gas.
Concerned
May 20th, 2011
9:15 am
“President Obama will probably be reelected! Whine on!”
IF that happens you can expect our country to errode even further. I would much rather have Hillary back in the White House than Obama. His mere presence will continue our decline as a nation. I don’t think people are whining, the reality has set in deeply with most Americans that he is not good for our country’s future. He was voted into for office for “who” his is, not what is good for our country.
I agree that we would still face the same challenges regardless of who is in office, but the powers that be have no faith in Obama. You won’t see marked improvement until the folks that really run this country feel confident, and Obama is not that man.
Michael
May 20th, 2011
9:21 am
I blame George Bush.
Michael
May 20th, 2011
9:25 am
Why didn’t the repubs open up ANWAR for drilling between 2001 and 2007 when they had Congress and the Presidency? Because they didn’t want to. And they didn’t legislate abortion out of here either. What’s up with that? Are they lying/pandering to you? You decide.
N
May 20th, 2011
9:26 am
Jason,
Thanks for such a good post. It feels so good to be able to live on less and do what you have done.
Suni
May 20th, 2011
9:51 am
So far all the input I’ve read here doesn’t show anyone really suffering with higher gas prices. Which is pretty much a shock to me. So here is my perspective; I don’t make much money to begin with, even though I work hard and full time. I manage Every Penny I make to stretch just as far as it will go and then some. I resent statements like *People aren’t Managing their money well*, and that being pinned for the reason of so much loss in this Economy. Jobs are Few, Wages are Low, Taxes are High, people are out of Work, people are losing their Homes in Foreclosures…NOW lets raise Gas prices? Higher gas prices affect the prices of Everything! And result in higher costs for Everything! Not Only at the Gas Station! Food, Medicine, costs to go to work to make money to Live, just to mention a few. Raising prices on the People in this Country in this Horrible Economy, and then telling them to “Manage their money better, Eat less or Better, Drive less”, etc, is Not the answer to Recovery. While it may be the answer to supporting and maintaining a too large and inadequate overspending Government? I Believe Downsizing Government and implementing Controls over Government Spending is the fix to the problems. Not further penalizing the People whose money supports it!
How does higher Gas prices Affect me? At the Gas Pump I have to decide between the Gas I Need to get to work (no pleasure driving or trips included, forget driving to Church, or anywhere but Work) and what I will give up (food, medicine, laundry soap, what bill I can pay that week etc) in exchange for that. At the Grocery Store the higher gas prices food supplies pay are passed onto the Food and other necessary items on the shelves. Forcing me into buying what will last longer as opposed to what is Best and Healthier For Me to eat. I can forget Quality and Enjoyment of Life entirely. Trips to visit Family only a few hours away even. Vacations are a memory of the past. I’ve even invested in dollar packs of seeds to try to get enough to eat, and turned my whole yard into a vegetable garden. The way the Economy is NOW, I can keep struggling with higher prices and give up more and more necessities (food, medicine, medical care, All things I NEED), I can stay at Home when I’m not working, and I can continue to Hope & Pray things will get better, which is getting harder and harder to do….
livinthegoodlife
May 20th, 2011
9:51 am
OH god here we go. Fact is the US has 3% of the world oil reserves yet we as a country use 30% of the total oil in the world. SO, let’s do the math (I know Georiga it is hard for you sometimes thsi is the state that Newt is from) if we use 30% and at the MAX if we open every reserve, every off shore oil area can only drill out 3% (this would be over 20-30 years BTW) the gas price would, in essence, NEVER GO DOWN BECAUSE OF DRILL BABY DRILL!! If you don’t believe me just google ANWR debate..
Find Me - I Dare Ya
May 20th, 2011
10:16 am
It’s business and recreation as usual here.
MARTA Rida
May 20th, 2011
10:22 am
Nope, my wife and I have been riding MARTA and walking to work since arriving in Atlanta a year ago. Haven’t noticed the rise in gas and it doesn’t effect us except the price of products rising. Looking at buying a house in Kirkwood so we can be close to MARTA, shopping, and nightlife. Feel bad for all those idiots living in the suburbs that are forced to drive a car for every errand. Its nice living in a walkable neighborhood where we can enjoy this beautiful city!
Me
May 20th, 2011
10:35 am
I know that given our economy right now, even $4 is a lot for many. This is a good time to start thinking of alternative transportation such as carpooling, scooters, bicycles, the train, and yes, your feet. Gas in other countries costs well over $4 a gallon. We have enjoyed lower prices until now. It’s unfortunate that our gas prices are rising to meet the world market price at this time. I hate that it is affecting those who can barely afford it the most…
Carla
May 20th, 2011
11:07 am
I guess everyone having problems with gas prices are doing what we had to last year..cut our cable/internet service in order to manage with the rising prices of everything! Last year I could buy my bologna for $1..which will make 10 sandwiches. The Cheese was $1.60 maybe….bread always around $.75. Now, the bologna is $1.7, the bread is $1.50 and the cheese is $2.45…and it costs me more money to get to the store. And that is just a sample of a poor persons real, actuall thought process and budget with food. You tell me..how do I feed my family lunch cheaper than a gosh darn Bologna and cheese sandwhich? And, My van is over 15 years old..no I cannot afford to replace her..I’m just glad she runs. But it takes gas, so yes we think about every trip we make in our van right now because of gas prices. My Stepdaughter’s mother and us are in the same boat and the gas prices have affected the custody weekends several times on both ends because of no gas money for the travel back and forth. My husband is a plumber and his bosses gass prices have gotten so high that he is now loosing one day of work per week. Which, puts us even further in the hole. We have no car payments and no credit cards..we are just trying to live week to week and now the one extravegance we allow ourselves…cable/internet…will probably have to be cut again next week. Yeah, the gas prices are affecting our travel plans this year. And today. And tomorrow. And when I go to the grocery store..they are gonna hit me hard there too. Thanks government.
Phooey!
May 20th, 2011
11:27 am
Immanentize the Eschaton! (Those of you who attended public school may need to Goggle it.)
Road Scholar
May 20th, 2011
11:32 am
livingthegoodlife: Right on! And the conservatives think that increasing US oil production means that the oil companies will only sell the “new” oil to the US…at bargain prices! Methinks they will sell it to whoever pays the most!
Carls has a good point. Inflation, esp on food and comodities, has just started to increase!
Monglorp
May 20th, 2011
11:37 am
Just as soon as the Republicans took over the House again gas prices started going up again.
Dan Plainview
May 20th, 2011
11:51 am
“Have high gas prices caused you to change your spending?”
Yeah, I spend more. Been buying oil company shares for 25 years years, now I live on the dividends and cap gains. Every time they raise gasoline prices it’s more cash in my pocket. I love capitalism.
Carla
May 20th, 2011
12:14 pm
Ok, lots of misspellings but I was wound up. Just because I had to say it…I do spend a good portion of my grocery budget on Fresh/frozen fruit and veg…But some weeks we got to have a bologna sand or a hot dog to go with all that. And EVERYTHING that went up when gas prices rose last time, never went back down. And NOW it is going up again because of gas prices. When we get paid, we pay the bills that have to be paid first..then the essentials..have to have gas each week…have to have food. But at the end of the day when you have a budget of $60 for feeding three people, three meals, snacks and beverages for seven days…well, I dare you to do it without some bologna or hotdogs in your shopping cart.
Yes, I have mother’s guilt. I hate serving that preprocessed crap to my kid. But I’m at a loss. This has gone on for too darn long. I’d rather it be hotdogs than an empty belly I guess. Oh, not on government anything. Just trying to get by. We did also start a garden last weekend. Hope my dogs don’t destroy it.
Mary
May 20th, 2011
12:16 pm
I have not changed my travel plans. What I have changed is weekend errands. I now try to do most of them on the way home from work, and usually stay very close to home on the weekends. I’m 5 minutes to Buford Dam and there’s plenty of places at the lake that are free…..Numerous parks are close by if I want to take the dogs out…..and there’s always something to do in the yard. I’ll be planting veggies this weekend, purchased at the Suwanee Farmer’s Market…..
I plan on driving down to PCB with the family in July. We have already rented a condo and I’m looking forward to a week of relaxation with my entire family!!!!
JJ
May 20th, 2011
12:38 pm
@Carla – I hit Publix on my way to work on Mondays, and get a loaf of bakery fresh bread, a pack of Oscar Myer Ham, some Publix swiss cheese slices, some fruit and a bag of salad – average about $16/week for my lunches.
I have one child, home from college. I cook dinner every night. Friday nights are “Clean out the refriegerator” and we eat all the leftovers. On Sundays, we grill out with the neighbors. We cook enough food to last 2-3 days. This works great for my daughter, as she can throw something in the microwave for lunch……
I spend about $75/week on groceries for two of us, two large dogs and two cats…..
Carla
May 20th, 2011
12:53 pm
JJ..thanks..yes we do the same thing..Friday is “leftover day” pretty much a buffet of what is left over from the week (as long as it’s safe of course). My mom laughs cause with addins I can make a box of mac and cheese last three meals. I’m not trying to say that we are pitiful..it’s just that we have had to make adjustments when the gas prices go up. But, I was born to poor parents..I know how to stretch a buck. Just sometimes that buck just cannot stretch to cover everything. So, we do our best!
WGD
May 20th, 2011
1:17 pm
No impact here — We certainly don’t like paying $4 per gallon for gaoline but it won’t make any difference in any regard. We will still travel as planned; for both daily trips and vacations. For us, there is no reason for the price of gas to alter anything.
Bobby
May 20th, 2011
1:31 pm
I visit Oklahoma City each year to run a race and visit family. I’ve always flown in the past. This year I’m driving the 13 hours each way (leaving on Wednesday, returning Monday) rather than fly because even with the gas prices it’s over $200.00 less than airfare to OKC. At least I won’t be groped by some TSA agent at the gate and I can choose my own “food for purchase” along the route.
Don Nelson
May 20th, 2011
2:05 pm
Cut my business driving to 2 days per week, spend more time on internet communicating, any savings on gas has gone to my waistline. Staying physically active is challenge right now.
Scott
May 20th, 2011
2:37 pm
Will likely skip the bigger vacation and do some “smaller” things somewhat local like Stone Mountain, Calloway Gardens, Chattanooga, etc.
Art Thomas
May 20th, 2011
2:55 pm
We have reduced from 2 cars to one , monitor gas usage and mileage/ keep van tuned up (paid off in 2008 and use for 2 jobs plus our weekend business.)
When we travel via car in southeast we get rental cars especially if involve 1000 miles or more economical plus business deductible
We try to multitask when out so never just get in van and drive. My habits have changed from enjoying car to only use a necessity. I walk in neighborhood , when at work and incorporate my feet whenever possible!
Joseph
May 20th, 2011
3:16 pm
I just went from a 30mpg car to a 22mpg car, so apparently not
Destin Dawg
May 20th, 2011
4:51 pm
plan your trips, ride MARTA if you can, wake or ride a bike.. and PLEASE car pool.. when in ATL.. my wife and I can run 75 mph.. in HOV lane.. what’s up with that ???
Destin Dawg
May 20th, 2011
4:53 pm
walk
Rapture
May 20th, 2011
5:34 pm
Well the good news is if you haven’t already filled up you don’t need to now. I just heard the world is ending @ 6pm tomorrow. Take that, Big Oil!
MarkD
May 21st, 2011
8:19 am
Don’t overdo the hysteria — particularly when it comes to that summer vacation. I calculated that for our 1700 mile, 1 week trip gas was less than 20% of expected cost. I used the vacation calculator in the cars section of http://www.yourmoneypage.com
marcus
May 21st, 2011
9:15 am
Some thoughts
We live in town 4 miles away from work and school, when we do drive I have 250cc scooter (75mpg) and the wife drives a Prius, we bought used for like 12k. Yes I could afford to drive a M3 or Land Rover like some of my neighbors, but why? Instead we pay for school outright and take extended vacations.
Ga Dawg
May 21st, 2011
9:19 am
@ JASON -
Wonderful, uplifting post! You sound like a humble man too. That in itself i impressive, especially for your seemingly younger age. Kudos to you (although it is obvious that your post is not about receiving accolades) for being a thoughtful, intentional leader of your home and family. We just crossed our 20 year anniversary and while we haven’t had blunders and have made good decisions financially, I can say we weren’t as intentional as you. Hope your summer is full of blessings as I’m sure it will be
marcus
May 21st, 2011
9:28 am
Also things like cutting cable (our kid’s grades went up when we did this), cutting the phone land line, reducing mobile phone use, using skype instead, eating out only once a week, and taking lunch to work (wife lost a few pounds doing this). These small steps wont make me part of the billionaires club any time soon, what they do is free up money for stuff we really want to do, not just in the habit of doing.
marcus
May 21st, 2011
9:29 am
Thanks Jason, best wishes to you and yours!
DrB
May 21st, 2011
6:20 pm
Spouse works from home, my commute is modest, we live well beneath our means. The gas price is not stopping us from taking a multweek family camping trip traveling the western US in a VW van.
Matt M
May 22nd, 2011
2:15 am
Average annual miles: 15,000
Average MPG: 24
Annual Gas @ $2.25 = $1406.25
Annual Gas @ $3.85 = $2406.25
==========================
Annual Difference: $1000; That’s $83/month.
If you’re having to modify your budget for a little over $20/week, you need to blame poor career choices and/or your lack of job skills, nothing else. Think I am wrong? How much do you pay weekly for your TV? Your iPhone? Stop your whining and realize you have never had cash to spend.
Steve
May 22nd, 2011
6:43 am
Yes, gas prices are influencing our summer plans. Instead of our usual Florida trip, we’ll be heading to Lake Lanier. Always wanted to do it, and it’s good for the local economy.
Carla
May 22nd, 2011
10:09 am
Ok Matt M..while you are playing the gas numbers game and blaming…did you also adjust for the price change in ALL other products? Mainly food prices? And STOPPPPP Judging and looking down on the poor. There are a million stories in this city. Everyone has one to tell. Some people like money more than other people. We live on one income. Why? Because when it came down to it I decided to stay home and raise my son instead of having a nice car and purses and shoes and all the stuff YOU probably work for. Yes, we struggle. We also do it on our own and don’t ask for help. And I’m not asking for sympathy or bemoning the fact that we struggle some…especially here lately. But it is arogent to even assume anything about my life or my life chioces. We HAVE cut all our extra services when need be. We only have basic everything. So yeah, the budget we had in mind when my child was born years ago looks much different today and high gas prices can be blamed for part of that.
karen
May 22nd, 2011
10:35 am
Forget the traveling. Unfortunately, we have to decide between gas to get to work or food for the week. Luckily we share costs with parents, but it is still hard. It will probably be a soup week just to be able to go to work.
Carla
May 22nd, 2011
10:51 am
@Karen…I feel your pain. Best of luck to you. We have a bunch of soup nights around here too….with leftovers usually the next night. We have started buying in bulk and splitting it with our in-laws..it doesn’t save a whole lot but right now every penny helps. We also make a bunch of cheap, one pot meals and share and freeze so it doesn’t get so old.
And to those of you out there who never thought of $20 as a lot of money…well I’m real happy for you. In our real world, right here in America, $20 can be the difference between full and just full enough not to be hungry. $20 can be the difference in ..do I buy this fresh piece of fruit..or for the same price do I go buy a jar of applesauce..or even worse..junk food is always cheaper. A whole bag of chips can be cheaper than two pieces of fruit. If you have to feed a family for a week…do you spend that money on a snack to last one day..or do you buy what will streatch the week. Cause it’s kinda funny…there are a lot of things we can do without as people…but darn it…our bodies just insist that we feed them.
The 'Single Income' Family
May 22nd, 2011
11:45 am
As a ‘64′ year old, single-income wage earner family, nearing retirement age, my wife and I have already adjusted our automobile use when prices went over $3.50 a gallon…..No vacations anymore for us, only ‘STAY-cations’. No leisurely drives to the mountains anymore, unless its work related, and only well-planned visits with family and friends anymore. In fact, I get ‘nauseaus’ every time I fill-up, even though we both drive gas-mileage sensible vehicles. To us, its a national tragedy that we as a nation are “held hostage” (so-to-speak) by OPEC! Energy independence could have already been accomplished by now, if we had Senators and Congressmen with some spine, who were’nt beholden to ‘BIG_OIL’ for their campaign contributions! It seems to us that our political leaders are more interested in RE-election than in doing what’s right for the American People! To say that we’re both disgusted is an understatement!
Erica
May 22nd, 2011
12:26 pm
We’ve changed our plans for both Memorial day and the summer. We were considering going to my father’s over Memorial day (about a 3 hour drive), but opted to stay home. We’ve got a 2 week beach trip planned for the summer (1 week with my mother’s family and 1 with my father’s). A different set of people are going on the 2nd trip than the 1st, requiring we bring two cars for the 2nd trip, but not the 1st. We were going to bring both cars on the 1st trip and drive from there to the 2nd trip, stopping to visit family on the day in between the two trips, but we’ve decided to come back home for a night to pick up the 2nd car, rather than take it on an extra drive just for the convenience of not coming back home in between. We did the math and it saves about $400 to take the car with better gas mileage on the 1st trip, drive it back, and pick up the 2nd car for the 2nd trip.
Luckily we’re both well employed and have decent savings, so adjusting our family’s plans isn’t a necessity like it is for so many people, but it’s not about whether we can afford to pay $4+ a gallon or not. It’s about whether it’s worth spending that money when we don’t need or have to, and we could save it. We carefully balanced our options between our vacation plans and the cost of gas and decided to cut back our travel plans while gas prices stay so high. We decided to stick to the original budget we set for summer vacations and trips, which means cutting back due to high gas prices.
TnGelding
May 22nd, 2011
7:25 pm
The ‘Single Income’ Family
May 22nd, 2011
11:45 am
OPEC doesn’t control the price of oil.
al.com
May 22nd, 2011
11:21 pm
Remember when the fools that voted for obama thought they were going to get free gas. Surprise no hope and no chance with this loser as president.
al.com
May 22nd, 2011
11:37 pm
What do you expect when you have a president that will not let us drill for oil. We have more resources than the mid east yet the left wing dems will not let us drill. Why are we surprised when oil goes up?
A.S.Mathew
May 23rd, 2011
12:41 pm
If everybody had regular job and overtime, the $ 4.00 gas price might not
have created much stress or confusion. But, since the economy is in a
serious meltdown, majority of the people are too cautious before
driving for anything. By watching the empty roads, it is a very clear
signal that more people are highly concerned with the gas price and
less people are less concerned with the high gas price.
aquaticintrospe
May 26th, 2011
2:37 pm
I paid $32.67 for a XBOX 360 and my mom got a 17 inch Toshiba laptop for $94.83 being delivered to our house tomorrow by FedEX. I will never again pay expensive retail prices at stores. I even sold a 46 inch HDTV to my boss for $650 and it only cost me $52.78 to get. Here is the website we using to get all this stuff, http://BidsWork.com