Gas prices effect your lifestyle?

The gas topic has sprung up here from time to time, but Id like to depart from the complaining and politics and find out how the price of fuel has effected you and your daily life...if at all.

How have you made changes?
IE: Purchased more economical gasoline/deisel vehicle...
Convert to or start using bio-deisel?
Purchased a hybrid?
burn french fry grease?

Have you become more aware of your fuel use? What have you done to reduce your use/cost?

I have yet to make the switch, but I am considering trading my f-250 for a v-6 or maybe even a 4 cyl (add a supercharger for towing the boat)

I have a difficult time understanding how so many people buy/drive all the new big trucks out there, with the suspensions and oversized tires (which further reduces fuel economy, not to mention have a greater negative impact on our poor quality roads in the great NW)
I assume they need them for towing, but I only see towing packages on about 20% of the full size trucks and SUVs I observe.

So, whos changed thier driving habits, who hasnt, and ...why? (or why not?)

Cheers

[Just_learning]

I just see it as a cost of living increase. As far as travel goes, this summer I plan on including some friends in my plans to help split costs and create more memories.

[Ryan Pultz]

I plan on scouting a little less then I normaly would have rp

[foxer]

I drive the wifes car(4cyl) to work more instead of my truck. Gas will drop again. Gas was down to 1.89 earlier this year...It will go down again. I have been thinking about buy a motorcycle for the dry commutes though..

[Salty1]

This requires the "think drink". How about coffee with sugar and cream? Each of those commodities ALL cost more today, and it's only going to become more expensive as the cost of freight and associated surcharges get added in to the final cost. We often think of the wood or steel or "aluminum" required for what we need, but those who process or make what we need, or more importantly GROW our foods are also paying 140% more for over-priced diesel fuel now then 2 years ago. If you watch precious metal(IE:gold) prices, you'll see the trend of costs become clear as it's been rising slowly but steadily for over a year. Realistically, until the USA goes to better fuels, we're being stupid and offering ourselves as hostage to BIG OIL concerns. Add to those factors that China is well on their way to smoke belching industrialization which requires oil Oil and more OIL, and you can foresee the future.
So in answer to your question...
I'm getting VERY frugal and now call Cabela's and BassPro collect!
...let's do lunch.....didn't you say you were buying?

Tight Lines

[Pickles]

Lets just put it this way, The Yukon spend's most of its time in the driveway! The TDI beetle on the other hand is our main commuter!

[sinker]

We went for a few years driving beaters and last summer bought a brand new Altima.

Was looking forward to doing alot of day trips around the state in it but not so sure now. At least it will save the miles on the car. We went to Long Beach last month for the weekend. Drove 480 miles on one tank. Burned 16 gallons. So even if gas were $1 cheaper that entire weekend cost us an extra $16. Well worth it if you ask me.

We are leaving Sunday for Yellowstone though.

[Ryan Pultz]

we get about 30mpg in the Focus but still 30 bucks a tank hurts on a two tank weekend trip rp

[crabbait]

Well Doug, I saw this coming when we decided to start a war in the middle of the fuel farm. My diesel get 19mpg and tows the boat just fine.

[KKM]

Let me see now. If I go out and spend 30K to 40K to save $15.62 per week have I saved anything? That is the diff between 15 and 20 mpg for 15,000 miles per year. If you have the money to buy a new car or truck that gets 20mpg than $15.62 per week should not be any big deal.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

My plans haven't changed. We'll still go on all the fishing trips. I'm still going hunting for a couple weeks.

My Chevy 2500HD has the 8.1 liter engine. It gets 9-10 MPG, and while I could get 18-19 with a diesel I can't stand the smell or the noise that comes with them.

We're going fishing next weekend. Its 250 miles from home. I'll burn a tank of gas each way ($75x2) and probably 2 tanks in the boat ($150x2). So I'll spend $450 to go fishing,thats about $100 more than last years trip.

Sure the high price of gas sucks. I look at it this way,I could stay home and complain all weekend (while driving my wife crazy the whole time)or spend a little more to do what I love. Its a no brainer to me.

[traks44]

In the summer I only have to drive about 5 miles both ways to work and being a wildland firefighter I am always on call all summer so I cant leave town to do anything. My cummins get about 18 in town so I can drive forever on a tank. It pulls the horse trailer in the fall winter and spring and does alot of sitting during the summer where prices are usually highest. Since I have this summer downer of fuel usage. I drive like I normally do the rest of the year.

I know some may think I should ride a bike to work being so close but the chance of riding home from a fire after 10 or 11 at night very appealing.

[Herring Problem]

I restored a 1989 Dodge colt, 40 mpg, leave the diesel home.

Stopped going out to dinner as much.
Plan better ocean days for fishing,watch weather closer.

Fill the boat up in Philomath chevron when I head in to Newport.

[Keeper]

Currently own(as in no payments) a '94 F-150(14mpg), '04 F-150(15mpg) and a '92 22' Fleetwood RV(8-10mpg). It is more cost effective to keep what we own than go into debt for something gets good gas mileage.

Let's see what have we changed...We take the RV, spend the night and get multiple days of fishing. All errands are taken care of one day per week. The '94 isn't going to work every day(summer break). We skipped a couple of short fishing trips...if it was less than three hours on the water and took two hours of driving then we didn't go.

Ultimate sacrifice: Less boat snacks which is okay since we both need to lose a couple of pounds.

Life is too short to skip the things we truly love to do.

[bassin]

No they will have to go a bit higher before I change. 40K for a truck, 40K Bass Boat, and my 1st born for the NR. It's to late to think about saving anything.
Besides, Can't take it with ya.

[Okie]

Gas prices will eventually effect our national economy, inflation and almost everything will increase in price. So a recession is probably on it's way. This will have it's effect on everyone.

I always try to save on gas at any price. Other than that, it's business as always.

Good Luck;

[bassin]

I really could not agree with you more. It, will affect every thing. I see it in the cost of shipping and paper in my work already.

[uhmw]

I love it. I just expense it as a cost of doing business and rasie my prices accordingly, Thats why I drive a guzzler(its to tow my guzzling toys). As a matter of fact surging oil prices are causeing comoditys I buy to increase in value before I even have a chance to sell it. Ill buy the comodity low hold it and let the price creep up or jump as of late and make twice the margin Every time a customer wonders why hes paying so much more I ask him if hes been to a gas pump latly This ludacrist senerio will play out till everyone is broke, the bubble pops busineses quit expanding and demand for fule wanes. Then every one will be wondering where all the jobes are and worrying about how to afford food. its just a vicious cycle with some high highs and low lows and not much inbetween.

[fishnbus]

As the gas prices started climbing higher, I parked my 12 mpg vehicle and bought a $2,000 commuter car that is getting 33+ mpg. My daily commute is 44 miles round trip. We still do a weekend trip a month in the 12 mpg vehicle for our recreation. No other changes to our lifestyle.

[garyk]

I've already got 5 cords of wood in the shed as a hedge against higher energy costs this winter.

[Thumper]

Gas prices will eventually effect our national economy, inflation and almost everything will increase in price. So a recession is probably on it's way. This will have it's effect on everyone.

Fuel prices today are slightly under their all-time high reached in 1980. Gas goes up. Gas goes down. That's life.

http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/I..._Inflation.asp

Most Americans seem to understand this, which is why the economy keeps roaring along despite rising fuel costs. Only fishermen, with their fire-breathing tow rigs, seem to get really nervous. :shocked:

[finclipped]

Maybe I am just cheap, but I can't stand buying any more gas than I have to. We combine errands with work commute trips, more days tele-commuting, day trips to the coast for fishing will be reduced considerably, and I drive the Neon any time I can. Plans are in the works for parking the pickup indefinetly and having a commuter car. I usually drive south to Roseburg & Eugene for family get togethers several times a year. None so far this year.

[MacFish]

I haven't changed much.........yet. It's getting close though. Right now I'm content to carpool when possible and complain about the prices the rest of the time

[Tilla]

Uh, Thumper...just where is this roaring coming from?
Even Sigfield and Roy put away the cats. Or maybe you running in a lower gear!

[PapaHog]

I have not changed because of high fuel costs.

I was looking at a F-150 (2006) from Fishing Magician and Mr Kitchen Pass and the cost of fuel did come into my thinking. However that was not the deal breaker. I did not like the truck. It did not fit me well. Too big everywhere. Too tall, too long and too expensive. It was a beautiful truck, good ride, quite as a car, big V-8, XLT and a very nice ride.

I am still driving my focus and happy with it, I also have a Nissan pickup that gets me to the fishing hole just fine.

My life will be affected more in the grocery, hardware store and big box stores because of higher cost of items because of higher transportation costs than on the hi-way.

Guides will have to charge more and I will chip in more when fishing with friends with open seats but I will keep fishing. Me tinks - Me hopes

[fop]

I just feel much more safer driving my full sized Yukon XL down the road than driving a little car. So, if I have a head-on I might just thank the Lord that my rig was the bigger one.

Usually by this time of the year I would have gone south to the Columbia Sturgeon fishing 3-4 times(160 miles R/T) with just 1 buddy. This year it's only been once and not sure if I'll go again because of the fuel costs. Guess I need to find a few more fishing buddies to share the costs???

And the 31 foot motorhome (9-10 MPG) is sitting for now.

fop

[crabbait]

Most Americans seem to understand this, which is why the economy keeps roaring along despite rising fuel costs.

We have been fueling that "roar" with debt at the tune of over 3 billion dollars a day. Japan, the Saudis, even China will not continue to loan at that rate forever.

The major airlines just announced the second major ticket price bump in a month. I think I just heard a sputter....

[Pete]

I drive a rig that averages about 12 mpg. That hurts with my long commute to work. But I also have a boat I like to drag around, so getting rid of it isn't an option. The immediate reaction is "Get a commuter car". So I sat down and figured out how much I'd save if I got something like a VW Jetta diesel, which gets an advertised 49 mpg. I'd sure buy a lot less fuel for my commute. At current prices I'd realize fuel savings of $157/month after additional insurance and assuming $50 a month average maintenance. So what does that buy? I could pick up a 2002 Jetta for about $12,000. That would take 6+ years to get to the break-even point. That hardly seems worth it.

[JustCallMeDave]

Sounds like you guys with big boats either need to start rowing them or go back to waders.

[Spoiled Daddy]

I have pretty much parked the hemi powered truck and we are taking the family van everywhere we go. Let's see... 26 MPG vs 12 MPG. It only makes sense.

the Spoiled Daddy

Sounds like you guys with big boats either need to start rowing them or go back to waders.

Woe is me.

[Norski]

Last weekend I went 300 miles and I burned 1/2 tank in my 4x4 Nissan, I got fuel in Bend 21.00 and on the trip back 23.00 so for 44.00 I think the truck well be with me for some time, it's old, but I can depend on it. On the other hand the Subaru wgn, at 31 mpg, we well do what ever we want to do or go.

[saltair]

Averaging 50mpg with my Jetta TDI. Makes a great commuter. Keep the truck parked unless I need to haul something. Diesel is $3.35 at the pump. Have always used Premium in the boat, am giving it some second thoughts now. Can anyone offer any comments?

[SeanD]

It is amazing that people complain about the price at the pump, so they go buy a new rig to save 50% in fuel costs. Doesnt make any sense. I recently bought a new tacoma and its gets pretty good fuel milage, about 4 mpg better than my deisel. But I didnt buy it for that reason, the difference in fuel costs doesnt even pay for my insurance.

So no, the price of fuel has not affected me very much. I still drive a ton of miles to fish and hunt. And I would even if it went to $5/gal.

I have a difficult time understanding how so many people buy/drive all the new big trucks out there, with the suspensions and oversized tires (which further reduces fuel economy, not to mention have a greater negative impact on our poor quality roads in the great NW)

Well, that not really true. A lot of the deisel rigs get the same or nearly the same milage after a lift and tires as they did stock. And big tires on a pickup or SUV have basicly zero effect on the quality of our roads since virtually all road wear is from trucks (not pickups or suvs, but the 80000 gvwr kind).

[skybuster]

My girlfriend and I were driving up Marine drive tonight and I made the comment that gas prices weren't affecting boating much. There were A LOT OF BOATS just racing around and burning fuel out there today. I noticed that most of the boat ramps that I passed were pretty much at capacity as far as parking goes as well.

Gas must not be high enough yet, as the american public still seems to be soaking it up.

[8-guage]

The prices haven't affected our budget ...YET.
Still, we have decided to start biking more and we've already lost 11lbs total! Grocery shopping is now done 50% of the time on our bikes because we have the dorky baskets attached.
I also have been driving my wifes beat up 86 Honda Accord instead of the minivan which saves about 35% on fuel costs.
I also keep the vehicles tuned up more than before.
Haven't taken the boat out and that is due to no time.
After this weekends heat, I think I will find some time for the boat next weekend!
Interesting post!

[roguesteelheader]

We parked the new 1 ton Dodge diesel and drive the Expedition very little. I ride my Suzuki almost everywhere it gets 60 miles to the gallon and my wife drives the Jeep 6 cylinder but we cut way back on all fuel use. The boat has only been out once this summer and its a drift boat. We stay at home a lot more. No vacation trip this year. I will not give in to the oil company mafia. Pete

[Hammer Down]

Wife and I bought a TDI beetle. 45+ miles per gallon, and we carpool to/from work.

The really ugly part to this whole story is this. As we (america in general) use less fuel, the price will rise. Law of supply and demand. More demand, cost down, less demand cost up. However, proportionately it is about where it has always been as a percent of total income.

I will say though that this kid has reached a point where enough is enough. I grew up with big cars and still own a jeep that is used regularly. But (for me anyways) I just can't justify it anymore. I have gotten to the point where I don't need it anymore. I just get by with less. Less car, less stuff, less space. Sooner or later you have to ask yourself. Is it the stuff or the experience?

In all honesty, I would rather do without, then to provide some fatcat oil executive with any more. Don't mind cutting off my nose to spite that face.

[Bait Bucket]

If I would have seen these prices coming, I would have never retired. Your damn right it has changed by life style.

[gottafish]

Well If you see a big 250 lb mountianman looking guy rideing a white mountain bike from troutdale to( max ride in between) hillsborugh say Hi I'll say hi back. LOL

[jvp]

The gas topic has sprung up here from time to time, but Id like to depart from the complaining and politics and find out how the price of fuel has effected you and your daily life...if at all.Cheers

I like the no politic part and no complaining was also high on my list.

:lurk:

I went diesel truck for towing mileage and the most painful thing my wife drives my truck I have the car.

[baltz526]

last months fuel bill speaks for it's self: $449.77 i went fishing, zero times. i went hunting zero times. and my gas hog truck was parked all month.

[Chrome Bumper]

Law of supply and demand. More demand, cost down, less demand cost up.

Um that is not the law of supply and demand Hammerdown.

Are you trying for economy of scale?

Supply and demand:
As demand goes up, price goes up.

As supply goes up, price goes down.

Economy of scale:
Unit price goes down with increased production due to buying supplies in large volumes and also decreased unit labor costs when doing large volumes.

[Chrome Bumper]

No, not wanting tho send money to oil sheks has though.

[WheresMyBobber]

I've postponed the replacement of my 1994 Nissan pickup until there are more choices for pickups with better fuel economy. We also bought a 2006 Subaru Outback to replace my wife's car, and just got a solid 29.5 mpg on a long road trip (city and highway), even with air conditioning on when needed. Not great, but pretty darn good.

We also walk to Freddies (about 1 mile round trip) more often, small savings, but it adds up and is good excercise. Since we're also within walking distance to GI Joes, the hardware store and the video rental store, we also walk to those places instead of walking. Again, more exercise, less fuel used.

We also combine more vehicle trips whenever possible, it all adds up. Gas prices may have some dips in the short term, but anybody who thinks we'll see less than $2.00 again is dreaming. Time for Americans to wake up and realize the country we live in (based on fossil fuels) is changing forever. What we're seeing now is only the start of what is to come. I pity the people who spend major $$ for gas guzzling vehicles, not because of what they spend for vehicle payments and gas, but for their lack of financial priorities. Vehicle prices and gas mileage need to become a vital part of our long term financial planning and goals. Why go into major debt only to lose money on resale, and to spend more money on gas? The choice is yours (ours).

Didn't mean to rant, just my two cents. :smile:

[WheresMyBobber]

Thumper, I know you're smart enough to know that high fuel prices will certainly have a major impact on inflation. It's already started, and will certainly increase over the next few years. The economy may be "roaring" in some folks minds, but just watch the numbers over the next few quarters. Invest wisely and you can help yourself offset the impact. But again, I'm sure you're aware of that. But I think the "roaring" economy in the US is already slowing, but is truly roaring in other places. IMO investing in the Canada ETF would be a good move right about now. But I'm not a financial advisor, I just play one in my own mind. :tongue:

[Thumper]

Thumper, I know you're smart enough to know that high fuel prices will certainly have a major impact on inflation.

Maybe, at some time. Current inflation is 3.5% annually vs. 3.4% in 2000. Pretty stable.

According to the Dept. of Labor:

Real GDP grew at an annual rate of 5.3% for the first quarter of this year. This follows economic growth of 3.5% in 2005 – the fastest rate of any major industrialized nation.

Productivity increased at an annual rate of 3.7% in the first quarter of 2006.

Real hourly compensation rose at 3.2% annual rate in the first quarter.

Personal income increased at an annual rate of 6.7% in April. Since January of 2001, real after-tax income has risen by 12.9%. Taxes are down, income is up.

Real consumer spending increased at an annual rate of 5.2%in the first quarter of 2006.

Employment increased in 47 states over the past 12 months. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 41 states.

Industrial production increased 4.7% over the past 12 months. Manufacturing production has increased by 5.5% during the same period.

That is a roaring economy, by any standard.

[lost_sailor]

My life hasn't changed much, except for being MORE broke ...

[jvp]

OK last time I explain this. inflation is the dept of labor statistics MINUS gas/fuel and food. If they added these 2 then inflation would be well in the double digits.


Other than that I still go on vactions w/rv as much as I used to BUT I have cut out most of my joy riding and I also combine many more trip together around town.