How much are gas prices really affecting your everyday life?

Question

We all obviciously know gas prices are at historically high rate and all I hear when I watch tv is how much people have to cut other things out of their budgets to pay for gas. But when I drive by the malls and shopping centers on the weekends, they look as busy as ever. There also doesn't seem to be any less cars on the road on non business days. How bad is it really?

Answer 1

I see less cars on the roads in my area.

Restaurants seem emptier. I bought a gas saver car a year ago. In the past I'd just jump in the car when I needed something. Now, if I'm thinking of driving 6 miles round trip to the store for just one thing I usually won't.  If I only want a snack I'm more likely to go to the corner store since it's ultimately cheaper than driving.

Answer 2

My wife is working from home a lot more, that's for sure.

Answer 3

Subject: Fwd: FW: Tips for Buying Gas

I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in California we are also paying higher, up to $4.50 per gallon. But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon..

Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose , CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline. One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and premium grades. We have 34 -storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons.

Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role.

A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3)stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping.

All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some other liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.

Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.

DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS!

WHERE TO BUY USA GAS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON

Gas rationing in the 80's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even be good for us! The Saudis are boycotting American goods. We should return the favor.

An interesting thought is to boycott their GAS.

Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia . Just buy from gas companies that don't import their oil from the Saudis.

Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill-up the tank, I am sending my money to people who are trying to kill me, my family, and my friends.

I thought it might be interesting for you to know which oil companies are the best to buy gas from and which major companies import Middle Eastern oil.

These companies import Middle Eastern oil:

Shell.......................... 205,742,000 barrels

Chevron/Texaco.........144,332,000 barrels

Exxon /Mobil...............130,082,000 barrels

Maathon/Speedway...117,740,000 barrels

Amoco........................62,231,00... barrels

Citgo gas is from South America, from a Dictator who hates Americans. If you do the math at $30/barrel, these imports amount to over $18 BILLION! (oil is now $90 - $100 a barrel

Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:

Sunoco.................0 barrels

Conoco.................0 barrels

Sinclair.................0 barrels

BP/Phillips............0 barrels

Hess....................0 barrels

ARC0..................0 barrels

If you go to Sunoco.com, you will get a list of the station locations near you.

All of this information is available from the Department of Energy and each is

required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing.

But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of gas buyers. It's really simple to do.

Answer 4

The bigger question is how much will it affect your everyday life.  I figure

a) shortly taxes will increase to pay for the fuel used by DOT to maintain roads, police and fire departments.  (Especially those of us that need roads plowed in the winter)

b) utilities will increase, cable electric and phone companies will increase their rates to pay for the fuel used by the service vehicles.

c) with more and more independent truckers stop working due to cost of fuel, goods wont be delivered  as fast and cost more to deliver, thus increasing the price

Answer 5

not as bad since i stopped driving the big guzzler ! LOL but it would be nice since i have to drive an hour to get to work to get a little raise but i think that is for everyone lol !

Answer 6

Maybe a lot of folks are using credit cards at the mall LOL - Gas is definitely making a crunch in my budget.  We have 1 income in my house so it's hard to begin with.  

You're right though, just as many people are still out driving especially in commuter towns.  If we had more bike lanes and safer ways  (paved trails) to ride bikes or scooters on/mopeds, then I'd ride my bike, but it's too dangerous to ride on the highway with the other cars.

Answer 7

Hey.. The best site for your answer is www.BeatTheGas.com

I went there and couldn't believe all the tips and info they have.

Answer 8

Gas is a must....People will keep buying it. SUV's will be seen a lot less tho which is a good thing anyways.