Inflation, it's taking a toll and I'm not spending.

[Darin]

With fuel and food, prices alone. I've certainly cut back on spending and driving. We don't go anywhere unless we need to. We don't buy anything unless we need it. "Disposable income" is a thing of the past. And I'm just one person, and I make pretty good money. The average $35K/yr earner is getting killed out there. So with people not spending as much, and prices going up through the darn roof......it's a scary time to alive.

Have you adjusted your spending and driving habits recently?

[CosmicDebris]

My wife could find a bargin where one is not to be found. She should run the federal budget. She does wonders with ours. As far as driving habits go we really havn't changed. I normally drive a 90 RamCharger but drive our spare truck as the heater core in my truck is leaking and I don't feel like fixing it yet. Our spare gets much better MPG than my guzzler but I like my guzzler much better.

[taracatac]

I was laid off last week, so there is zero spending money now. I just hope to find a job before my severence runs out in 5 weeeks.

[jemaholic]

The government has FAILED to realize that the single biggest reason we are in a recession is because of GAS PRICES.

All extra cash we used to have for guitars and going out for dinner and stuff is now going in our gas tanks. This affects EVERYONE.

I am not making this a political thread - but it is the truth. High gas prices have removed all the 'expendable income' we used to have.

-jemaholic

[Darin]

absolutely agreed

[speedy mcfeely]

Yeah my Hemi loves gas. I love the gas pedal. My wallet hates the both of us.

[DavyH]

Inflation + deteriorating exchange rate = not too many guitars this year.

Beginning of last year it was around 6 Rand to the $; currently it's just gone past 8 Rand. Not to worry, it's over 15 Rand to the Pound.

Petrol still cheaper than anywhere in Europe, but starting to catch up.

Luckily the diet - or is that eating plan? - doesn't allow the stuff I enjoy so much, which coincidentally is expensive.

[Gurj]

Out of interest, how much are paying for petrol over there in the US?

Here in the UK it's a joke, around £5 ($10) per gallon! Costs around £70 to fill my car up with diesel nowadays.

[EL-CeeDee]

Same here,... around $10,= per gallon...

[Wolfram]

$1.30 - $1.40 Australian dollars to the litre.

I see bad times ahead for the spending habits of the free world.

- Wolfram

[JJEMMER777]

Originally Posted by Darin

Have you adjusted your spending and driving habits recently?

Spending habits, no. GAS, guitars, GAS, amps, GAS guitars

Ironically, speaking of gas (the petol kind) I have adjusted my driving habits. I used to go on many road trips around this region. Say for example, I like to go down to Taos New Mexico to visit my friends and camp/hike/drink beer/etc. From Denver just approx 3 years ago it cost me roughly $ 80 - $ 100 in feul for the round trip. (Ford Ranger V6) Now it costs me at least $ 350 - $ 400 for the trip. I don't visit my friends quite as much nowadays and going out for the leisurely Sunday drive is becoming a thing of the past which is a drag because I really enjoy going out for drives in the Mountains.

Originally Posted by Gurj

Out of interest, how much are paying for petrol over there in the US?

Here in the UK it's a joke, around £5 ($10) per gallon! Costs around £70 to fill my car up with diesel nowadays.

Yeah, you Birts have been getting the "petrol Shaft" for ages now. I couldn't believe the prices of petrol over there as even 7 years ago it was $ 10.00 The family I visit in Breden have LP conversions in their vehicles and they can click back and forth from Petrol to LP. But from what I'm hearing, the cost of LP in the last couple years has sky-rocketed as well. Fuel around these parts averages about $ 3.00 per gallon so I suppose we have it easy compared to you guys.

Just a (rules) reminder folks. Please keep the governments/politics, etc out of this thread because obviously it could easily go that direction. Lets just keep it to the price range and adjusted spending/driving habits rather than going to the reason for such adjustments

[CosmicDebris]

Originally Posted by jemaholic

The government has FAILED to realize that the single biggest reason we are in a recession is because of GAS PRICES.

-jemaholic

Thank the Tree Hugging Hippies for that. Ethanol was such a grand idea.

[Gary Qwa]

Gas price...

We've got the same problem:
- 95okt. is 2,15$/l.
- 98okt. is 2,3$/l.

Cheap, eyh..?

[JJEMMER777]

You've jinxed us Darin


Gas prices hit record, will keep climbing for now
Tuesday March 11, 4:56 am ET
By Steve Hargreaves, CNNMoney.com staff writer


Gasoline hit record levels Tuesday - and experts say it will likely continue to soar in tandem with the skyrocketing price of crude.
The national average retail price for gas has risen 27 cents in the last month to $3.227 a gallon, matching the all-time high set on May 24, 2007, according to the motorist organization AAA.


And experts say motorists should prepare to pay nearly $4 a gallon - and in some places even more than that - before the price of gas finally comes down in the late spring as high prices crimp demand.

The price of gasoline usually increases this time of year. Several factors contribute to the runup: Low refinery output due to maintenance, a switch from winter to pricier summer blends, and the looming high-demand summer driving season.

[taracatac]

Ethanol is a scam. It takes more oil to produce, in the form of fertilizer and machinery to grow and process the crops. It provides approximately 20% less energy per unit compared to gasoline. It cannot be moved via pipeline and it degrades rather quickly. Not to mention the ethics of using a food source for fuel when so many people in the world are starving.