How are you coping with the rising price of fuel?
It doesn’t affect me as much as many others due to the fact that I cycle a lot but it’s still biting hard. My cycling habit means that we can be a one car family. There’s no way that we could afford to buy, license and insure a second car, let alone put petrol in one. It’s tough enough with one car.
I remember about the time that I got my driver’s license, around 25 years ago, everyone was getting out of 6 and 8 cylinder cars and into 4 cylinder models. There was a fuel crisis, petrol prices had just started to jump up and you could buy a used 6 cylinder car for next to nothing because no one wanted them.
Since then the panic died down and now a lot of people have gravitated to big four wheel drives. It must be hurting a lot of hip pockets to have to fill up the larger vehicles.
Our western lifestyle has been built up around the car over many years so it’s pretty tough being faced with seemingly never ending price rises. Our cities have been built with cars in mind and the thought that we might have to start changing the way we live is hard to handle.
Welfare agencies are already seeing people who are using their food budget to put a few dollars in the tank.
How are the price rises effecting you and your family? Are you driving less? Have you stopped going places because you can’t afford to fill your tank?
Have you been forced to take up car pooling, public transport, walking or cycling? Have you discovered anything that is helping you face the prices at the pump?
Posted by Rodney Olsen
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I know we’ll be cutting back on things like going out to dinner, or to the movies due to the cost of gas. Luckily, I traded in my SUV for a Honda Civic Hybrid about a year ago, so I can go about 500 miles before I need to fill up. It still bites into the budge though.
Luckily it’s just me that I have to drive around, even then I still do around 300kms a week. Usually it just means a quiet night in, instead of going out…I’m trying not to spend more on petrol, just drive less and smarter.
Although…my friend just purchased a vespa, so she’s laughing! (Mind you, she bought a handbag and leather jacket in green, to match the vespa 🙂 )
i wonder if we will ever see an end to the rises?
i am glad that there is fuelwatch, so at least i can fill up on the least expensive day. btw, our cheapest petrol day in perth is Monday.
i am also glad i dont hv to drive to work.
and i thank God i dont have my previous car which only takes Premium petrol anymore! (R.I.P)
One benefit of global warming is that the weather will remain hotter longer (which means we can use our bikes more).
(pause)
Okay, that’s the most idiotic thing I’ve said this week.
“Okay, that’s the most idiotic thing I’ve said this week.”
… and yet very funny. 🙂
it might take a little while for the reality of it to catch up with us
I drive a small car – Suzuki Ignis – and it’s brilliant for minimising fuel use, but now I drive in city traffic, instead of on the open road, so fuel consumption goes up accordingly
what will we cut out?
no idea!
we already live on the minimal amount we can each month packed lunches to work, homemade food rather than convenience, communicate via email not STD or ISD phone calls, bulk of wardrobe from opshops – so not sure where else we can cut back
aaaghh!
So far I haven’t seen a huge effect, but that’s mostly because we are pretty comfortable budget-wise right now… and I haven’t had to fill my tank since the gas prices jumped over $3 a gallon after Hurricane Katrina. That changes tomorrow morning. *sigh*
If prices continue to rise, I expect Hubby and I will start to carpool since our offices are only about 4 miles apart (he just likes to leave for work a lot later than I do, which is why we don’t normally do so).
Fuel prices haven’t affected me at all. In fact, given the inevitability of this with increasing global consumption through the industrialisation of countries such as China, I’m wondering what all the fuss is about.
Surely we all knew this was coming 15 years ago. The question is, what were people doing about it?
at this stage, i haven’t noticed a huge difference, but i’m sure it will catch on soon 🙁
i guess everyone is feeling the pinch! i just finished my season at the park (which was a 90km return trip, atleast 4 times a week) … so i guess i will be driving less … here in our area of CA, the gas is $1.15 a litre (CA $$ of course) …. i guess i should put air in my bike tires! ha!
There are an awful lot of used SUVs for sales around here. I also hear Hummer is now making a Hummer lite. A smaller more fuel efficient version.
Take Care
Michael
I appreciate the excuse to wear shorts to work and ride my motrocycle more. (50-60 mpg)
I had no idea that the fuel prices were going up all over.
For sale
Jeep Cherokee Classic 1997. This black beast (with a 4ltr, 6 cylinder petrol engine) will pass anything on the road….except a petrol station.
Any takers? 🙁