Another fuel increase

**della92** · 03-06-2008, 02:41 PM

On the way to drop my daughter off at school this morning, I noticed that diesel has went up from 3.56 last week to 3.65 per gallon. I went back that way 2-1/2 hours later (to pickup sick child) and diesel is up 4 more cents to 3.69 and that is the cheapest place in my area to get diesel. Gas was still 3.17.

Looks like prices on everything will continue to rise as these fuel prices do. I have a long time family friend that runs a timber business. He purchases/leases tracts of land and resells the timber. It has been a small family business for 50 plus years. Now, the pulp wood that he sells to the paper mills is bringing in way less money than it used to and on top of that the fuel cost to haul it is taking away any profit left. He is struggling.

I had heard news reports that fuel will be 4.00 by spring/early summer. I was skeptical, I have heard that the last couple of years. But this time, I am not skeptical at all, I think it just may be a reality this time, especiallly since it has jumped .52 cent in the last month.

**mombottoo** · 03-06-2008, 02:49 PM

The gas prices yo-yoing all the time irritate me to no end!!! Tuesday gas was $3.05, by late afternoon it was up to $3.18...luckily a station near me hadn't hiked their prices and I was still able to get in under the wire at $3.05.

I haven't been anywhere near a station since Tuesday, so I have no idea what the prices are like today.

**lori17048** · 03-06-2008, 03:56 PM

My DH is a truck driver (owner operator) and diesel is 3.999 in central PA.

**Missourimom** · 03-06-2008, 05:18 PM

I was able to gas up yesterday for $2.87, this morning it went up to $2.99 for regular.

**M55FF** · 03-06-2008, 06:24 PM

I dont know about anyone else, but I'm driving WAY LESS.
In the summer, when its time to mow.. I may even get a goat.

teach them greedy gas price gougers
what I think of them.

**JanieD** · 03-07-2008, 01:18 PM

Thinking twice about errands/trips & cutting where I can has become second nature. Seems everyone would start limiting their driving with these gas prices. Wonder how many businesses (trucking/delivery, logging, etc) will survive these fuel increases? Will/can they pass the cost along to the customer? Seems part of the grocery increase is a result of this.

I really don't see these gas prices as temporary, but think many do. Haven't notice others discussing or limiting their driving. I have a limited group (coworkers/friends/family) to base this on. Are you seeing people in general cutting back?

**della92** · 03-07-2008, 01:41 PM

I have definately limited my driving. I live about 20 miles from work (one way). I do my shopping when during the work week when I am already in town. I don't go anywhere on weekends. (as an added benefit, staying home helps keep my spending in check) Right now the only unnessary driving, is taking my daughter (5 yr old) to school in the mornings, an added 15 miles daily. There is a bus for her to ride, but she would be the first one on the bus, at 6:30 am, school starts at 8:00 am. We dont get up until 6:45 am. So, I will continue this for as long as the budget can.

My friends and family seem to be limiting their driving too, at least in the to the extent of combining chores/errands.

**goat21** · 03-07-2008, 01:41 PM

I think I've cut back as much as I can.

Twice a week, I have to go into the big "city" (population: 15,000) to have therapy on my hand. Since it was an on-the-job injury, Labor and Industries reimburses me for me gas back and forth for these appointments and also when I have to go to Seattle (240 mile round trip) to see the surgeon or to have more surgery. Unfortunately, I have to pay it out of my pocket first and then they reimburse me. It sometimes takes six weeks, though, to get that check.

While I'm town, and since most of my gas is eventually paid for for me to be there, I go the couple of extra miles to Goodwill, the bread outlet, etc.

And just so no one thinks L and I is paying for my gas to go to these extra places, that is not (and home) and that is all they pay for. Any of the other places I go to is extra miles and on my dime, so to speak.

The closest store to my house is twelve miles away and it's a convenience store. Believe me, if we run out of anything, we don't "run to the store."

When I got my income tax refund, I bought a little truck ($800.00), which gets 22 mpg on the freeway. I know that doesn't sound all that great to some but it is a definite improvement over my four-wheel-drive, which gets only 14 mpg. Unfortunately, I can no longer drive my little beater Mustang, which gets around 28 mpg, because it's a stick shift and I can only drive automatics now. That's a permanent situation, too.

And the gas prices are definitely affecting what we are paying for in the way of food and everything else. And when people are putting a good chunk of their paychecks into their gas tanks just so they can get back and forth to work, that's less going into things like house payments, which mean more foreclosures.

Aaagh!! I hate it!

Janis

**mom2matty** · 03-07-2008, 01:44 PM

We are at $3.36/gallon today......cheapest station. I have seen it for $3.40 and up at some of the higher priced stations!!

**goat21** · 03-07-2008, 01:47 PM

I haven't been to town since Wednesday and the cheapest place I could find (Safeway), was $3.36.

Let's see....that was 48 hours ago. Probably $3.46 (or more) today.

Somebody, please, make it stop.

Janis

**mombottoo** · 03-07-2008, 06:57 PM

Regular unleaded is up to $3.39 a gallon

from just $3.16 yesterday!!! To think it was just $3.05 on Tuesday!

**goat21** · 03-07-2008, 07:04 PM

$3.59 today at the one and only station in the little community twelve miles to the east of me. It's usually a little lower in the larger towns 25 miles northeast of me....but not much.

Ouch.

Janis

**mmy2grls** · 03-07-2008, 08:54 PM

Our gas went up to 3.34

**Marie78** · 03-07-2008, 09:05 PM

I have cut my driving back too. Part of it is weather related, but for the last few months I have been visiting my mom 1 or 2 times a month instead of every week. The two hour round trip commute really eats up gasoline. I also make sure any errands that need to be run are done after work on my way home or grouped together in one trip on the weekend. This has thankfully allowed me to get to and from work each week on only $20-$25 a week, no matter what gas prices are doing.