How have the huge spike in Gasoline and oil affected your life style?

Question

Obviously we all have realized the increase in gas prices which have many primary factors. Oil prices, Oil company profits, inflation, United States relationship over seas, refineries, fuel efficiency... etc... How have all of these impacted your life style

Answer 1

gas prices are high and im mexican so this sucks

Answer 2

It's making my long commute to my job no longer worth it. It's either emmigrate or get a hang-glider.

Answer 3

i am from south africa and our fuel price has gone up this week, the cost to fill up my car is zar 420.00 (usd55.00) which is alot of money if you dont earn alot. also we can see our instrest rates are going up and the foods prices have also increased.  so it has effected us

Answer 4

Not as much as the spike in 'green' taxes will.

Answer 5

I'm investing in oil ETF's and grain ETF's.  I'm one of those speculators who are buying oil and food who don't intend to use it, just hold the product to insure prices go up for my own profit.

I figure as long as I have to buy these items at inflated prices, I might as well get some of my money back.

Is anyone else investing in ETF's, or stocks like EOM?

Answer 6

I can't go to the mall as much....:(

Answer 7

Goose egg as far as fuel for our use is concerned.  Saw it coming several years ago.  I spend less on fuel now than I did before in spite of the increased price.

Retrofitted house, cut heating energy use by 2/3 at a cost of $8000.  Swapped old oil burner for new burner/heat pump.  Replaced windows and doors.  Repaired ductwork.  Super insulated attic.  Got increased comfort in house and central air to boot.

Previous annual fuel use for heating 600gal @ $2 = $1800 year.  Current use 200gal @ $4 = $800 + 4 months x $100 additional on electric (heat pump) = $1200 annual.

Purchased car that gets over 2x mileage of previous truck.  

Differental cost $0 (needed car anyway).  Old truck, 400 mile range, fill up at $2/gal = $50.  New 2003 Echo 400 mile range, fill up at $4/ gal= $44.

edit:

All that work and I could have just speculated on futures, jacked up the price for everyone else and walked away with my profits.  Ain't capitalism great?

Answer 8

It is pushing the US cloister to a deep depression.