Are high gas prices taking away your fun?

Question

I am married. Me and my husband both work full-time professional type jobs, but I am finding that we are stuck at home most of the time because the price of gas is so high and we can't afford to go places anymore. We aren't going on vacation this year because of gas prices and we stay broke because of gas prices. Is anyone else having this problem and if so what do you do for fun now? We have 3 children ages 9,11, and 14.

Answer 1

I'm in the UK too.

It has totally changed the way we work now.

I used to drive a fair way in my little 1,1L runabot to work everyday, and my partner worked at the town cinema in the evenings till 10pm. Child care wasn't needed as we worked at different times.

With increasing fuel prices - something had to go. First it meant her working closer to home, but her shifts changed, and we had to employ childcare.

This actually left us in debt about £40 per month. She was literally working for nothing, and I was paying £40 for the privalige!

So another change - My company had a round of reduncies, and I took it - as it was too far away anyway.

Now she works locally, I do the childcare, and we only need the car for shopping and emergencies.

Income is less, but I don't need the fuel now. We seem more financially stable - even on a lower income without the travel costs.

Any job that involves commuting to work is now under threat.

Fun is now limited to nature walks or just playing out in the streets for the kids.

Answer 2

Yes. Gas prices have affected my family outings as well.  We usually take yearly vacations, and take our kids school clothes shopping in bigger cities, but this year we can't.  And it's not just the gas prices, it's food too.  My grocery bills have become outrageous...and I'm not buying anything more than I did before.  Clothing has also gone up as well as our car insurance.

Like you, my husband and I both work very good jobs....but, the pay isn't getting any higher, just what we spend.  We are even have to take from our savings just to be able to afford the necessities.  We have two children, ages 13 and 11.  Both girls.  If you have girls, you know they require a lot more odds and ends than boys...I don't think I want to see what our back to school bill is when all is said and done.

Answer 3

well I don't do gas for fun

are you a sniffer?

Answer 4

Why can't you take public transportation? In my city the train goes straight to downtown/zoo/aquarium/all sorts of cool places. When events are going on, buses that go there advertise them on the sides.

Of course you can't vacation through bus (I heard Greyhound is horrible) but you can still go a lot of places.

I don't even have a car (no driver license yet). I take the bus everywhere. I now know a lot of places/addresses in my city that I would have never learned if I didn't take the bus. The only downside about bus is the waiting. Train is really fast, but will only take you to a train station, not  an actual place.

I see families with kids all the time on the train. It's usually the train heading to the zoo...

Answer 5

It is definitely affecting my life. I drove to work everyday before when gas was $2. It costs about $30 to fill up my tank and I only filled up every week and a half. Now I take the subway. Driving was so luxurious, the subway is just plain unpleasant.

Answer 6

We also have 3 children 10,7 and 4 and pretty much are doing the same thing you are...staying at home. My husband works and I stay home with the kids and last summer the kids and I went to a lot of places.  This year we bought a pool pass to the city pool and walk almost a mile there and back.  We also like to take them camping and this year we are taking our usually 4-5 camp trips down to 2 because of gas prices.  It really sucks because businesses and cities that rely on tourist $ are not getting as  much.  That is going to cause those cities to be able to provide less for their citizens and improve their cities less.  It really is a mess and the sad thing is I do not see a relief in sight.

Answer 7

This is so wrong I hope you've written to :  The BBC about it, the Government etc.,  It's not right to work for nothing.

I got so stressed about it that I ended up telling my employer I demand more respect, more positivity.

England is in crisis & it's as though the government do not care, oh except they do don't they.  They care about their 2nd homes!

Answer 8

Yep.

Answer 9

the sky high fuel price has significant impact on many things everyone and all industries are affected directly or indirectly.

but i'm afraid the price will continue to rise