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by erniefreeman from Memphis, Tennessee

Last Post 57 days, 18 hours Ago


Gas Prices: The good news.
May 25, 2008 | 11:19 AM
Category: News
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You already know the bad news about the price of gas: It's higher.  And, if you have the same car you had in 2004, it's actually costing you double to fill it up.  That's right, in 2004 gas was two bucks a gallon.  In a couple of days it's going to be four bucks a gallon.  More bad news; it looks like prices will continue to rise because of supply and demand issues (we keep using more, OPEC doesn't produce more) and investors are onboard for a wild bubble ride to make some quick cash.  Think housing bubble.  The only difference here is when this bubble pops, it will be a good thing for the averag Joe.  That fact probably guarantees $200 a barrel crude oil prices in the next couple of years and $10/gallon gas.  Let's hope not.

So, what's the good news?  Many, if not most of us, can still afford to drive our cars and get where we're going without filing for bankruptcy or taking out a loan.  Most people I talk to about gas usage say they fill up once a week.  For me that's $60 each week, $240 each month.  That's $120 more per month compared to 2004 when gas was $2/gallon.  So the question is, do you have $120 (or whatever your difference is) in your budger that you can use for gas?  I do.  It's in the entertainment section of my budget.  Yours might be there too.  It might be in the shopping section of your budget.  Maybe it's in your "pampering" alottment.  You know, hair, nails, spa, personal trainer.

 In a three day period this month, I went to Bahama Breeze twice, King Buscuit once and Vibes once.  These are all establishments along Germantown Parkway in Cordova.  I spent $152.53.  That would more than cover the additional $120 a month it's costing me for gas.  So, with gas prices on the rise, it's decision time for me.  Something's gotta go.  Looks like it's going to be Vibes (they tried to charge me cover last time anyway...but I digress).  While I'm at it, let's just eat in more and hang out less.  You with me on that?

Pulling back on the entertainment is just one wat we can save on gas.  Another is more efficient use of our gas.  I don't know about you, but I will make four trips in one day, running errands, when I could have completed those errands in one trip.  So, next week, I might make the post office, bank, cleaners, grocery store run all on the same trip.  Every gallon counts.

Every dollar counts too, and we have to think about all the ways we can save a buck.  I guess it's the old needs/wants analysis.  HBO ($15), gone.  Thinking about chopping the high speed internet, and saving $60/month.  I could reduce my plan with the wireless company and save a few bucks.

Please tell me I'm not the only knucklehead wasting his money on overrated nightclubs and using gas inefficiently.  If I'm not, there's the good news.  By making some adjustments in our spending habits, we can afford the higher gas prices.  At least for now.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 21
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mskaytenn read my blog
May 27, 2008 | 8:18 AM

Yes, it's time to make some cutbacks. I know I have. I would treat myself to the nail salon once a week, which cost $20 each visit, now I go every two weeks. I would take my sons to the barber every Saturday, which cost $34, now they go every two weeks. These visits alone cost around $216 a month, I have cut this in half. My Directv package may be next, I will be changing to the basic package. I have few other things that I will be eliminating if things don't change soon.
crony_capitalist read my blog
May 27, 2008 | 11:47 AM

The day of the aimless joy ride has ended. I used to hop in my ride and do the loop, dippin' in & out through all the hoods from Downtown to Westwood to Cordova to Collierville. Now if I am anywhere I have a purpose for being there. Just checkin' up on my city just to be checkin up on it, I do less of nowadays.

Now that everyone is paying & feeling the ripple effect of higher fuel prices, they are thinking seriously about "consumption". Hmmm.
erniefreeman read my blog view my photos
May 27, 2008 | 1:40 PM

Good stuff Mskaytenn and Crony.
Vote4Change read my blog
May 28, 2008 | 2:06 PM

Hey, Ernie! Most of my comments were too long, so I just wrote a blog entitled: FIGHT BACK.

However, I have been cutting my family's hair for years and doing my own nails. My only entertainment was eating Sushi at Sekisui. (Love that sushi!) That's about gone now, too.

Most of my groceries I buy from angelfood ministries, thanks to Valerie's reporting. I just cut my internet speed and phone bill, and started carpooling, so like MsKay, Direct TV may be next.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going!
crony_capitalist read my blog
May 29, 2008 | 7:56 AM

Since 1930 environmentalists & the social planners told us that this day was coming. They crop up every 20 years or so with their talk of eco-homes, eco-cide, smart buildings & train systems & mass transit. But do we listen? Nooooo.

Fill 'er up. And leave it to our leaders to work out the details of social planning. I think, this time, trusting people who completely trust the corporate model of everything is going to have far reaching repercussions. Before it's all said & done more people will be thinking like "culture-jammers"
Vote4Change read my blog
May 29, 2008 | 8:02 AM

Hey Crony,

I'm not trying to be a smart-alek, I get most of what you said,...but could you tell me what you mean by "culture-jammers"?
bubbah read my blog
May 29, 2008 | 1:05 PM

40 years ago the biggest worry was, "GLOBAL COOLING" oh, yeah, that's right, they were as afraid of global cooling and a new ice age 40 years ago as we are today about global warming and they had as much data and scientific evidence that it was already occurring.
Get your car retrofitted for an electric motor (easy) and some more batteries.
One way to ensure we don't have high prices for gas is for everyone to invest in a petroleum company. As sure as we put our money in, they will tank!
Vote4Change read my blog
May 29, 2008 | 1:09 PM

good point, Bubbah! Why haven't the brokers figured this out?
The_Okay_Pro_Se read my blog view my photos
May 29, 2008 | 8:58 PM

My budget has changed a lot. I don't go out at all. but I love to second hand shop and have my eye on this outdoor sofa. Me and my husband do not go to the movies or out to eat. I had a celica and my husband got me a volvo and the gas is like a robbery. I am about to go back to the celica and park the v.
erniefreeman read my blog view my photos
May 30, 2008 | 4:19 AM

Way to battle Vote4Change.
sonnygll read my blog view my photos
May 30, 2008 | 6:29 PM

HA!!!!! You all are crazy, I have been cutting wayyyyyyyyy beyond all this gas and food hike, I will keep my Directv, but never had the HBO, etc.... My charge is only 50.00 or less a month. If I have to go to the store for anything I figure out all I need that day, BUT I do go, HA! Drive 2 miles to tan every other day.
Buy bulks and you can eat on like Burgers or what ever for a week $12.00,

Good lord people, if it is soooooooooooo bad!!??? eat Butter and bread! Damn good I say.
You DON'T have to GO OUT to EAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Waste your money if you like~~~~~~~~

Movies, Spa treatment, out to eat, etc.... if you LOVE that life style than head on in it, God bless yeah. Heck go buy a Hummer H3.


I am Complaining because people never thought ONCE about the Truckers Strike and the fuel protes{my husband} BUT 1 person that comment on this blog, thanks VOTE! But nothing happened because not anyone would think Gas would go this high. HA! IT DID!!!!
Now WHAT!?, nothing but to figure out what we should do about they HIGH cost.
sonnygll read my blog view my photos
May 30, 2008 | 6:33 PM

Ernie I just noticed your avatar, get off that cell phone/texting
erniefreeman read my blog view my photos
May 31, 2008 | 9:29 AM

That was somebody calling me Sonnygll. Can you believe that? I'm doing live shots for Good Morning Memphis in San Antonio, and somebody's calling me. Speaking of the mobile phone, I am exploring a downgrade in my talk/text plan. That might save a buck or two. On the other hand, I'm also thinking about getting that Blackberry Curve, which would not save a buck or two. But I am eligible for the full discount.
Arkguy56 read my blog view my photos
May 31, 2008 | 10:50 AM

ummmmmmm a lot of good points here. But with the high fuel prices, it don't hurt us only when we fill up but when we buy anything! So should we only drink a half a glass of milk, OJ,coke or what ever we like to drink? Maybe eat half a meal at a time, take a shower once a week to save money so we can all fill up and let the oil companys like Exxon get richer. This is one time it better to live in a big city where it not far to drive and get what ever you need and want. The one of use that live a long way out like I do, which is 30 miles you learn a long time ago to make a list of things you need then make one trip a week to town. I remember growning up we went to town once a week on Saturday shopping. But back then we didn't have computer, cell ph, cable with HBO.. We had 3 or 4 channels and we was very happy back then when the whole family sit down afer dinner to watch TV. It a changing world out there ....and my old saying is YOU AINT SENN S\NOTHING YET!!!
sonnygll read my blog view my photos
Jun 1, 2008 | 1:22 PM

That texting can be high, unless you have a plan, I don't, I get on my computer and send messages to people that text me a lot, just so I don't have to use my cell and it cost me and arm and leg:):)
Maybe that person that called you while doing live shots was wantin in on some air time too, funny how people can be.
Good luck on downgrading.

You got that right ARK. ""we aint seen nothing yet""
erniefreeman read my blog view my photos
Jun 1, 2008 | 6:08 PM

ARK, those are good questions. How far will we have to go to compensate for these increases? We may have to do more, or less, as it were, with what we have. Right now, I am in a battle with mother nature and MLGW. She's turning up the heat outside, I am not turning on the AC inside. We'll see how long that lasts.
sonnygll read my blog view my photos
Jun 1, 2008 | 11:21 PM

I got a break in on this Ernie, You have not yet turned on the A/C???" I know thats what you said on the morning news" If not OH my lawdy, {HOT in bed to sleep} Mine has been on for over a month and it is only $90.00
WOOOHOOOOO, thats what livin in Fayette County will do for yeah.
Plus we are gettin a Taco Bell/Kentucky fried Chicken., lOLOLOL Yeah we do have a $tarBuck$ too, but no use to you Ernie, Unless NO caffeine:, which I know you have cut out.
Pickin on yeah:):)
erniefreeman read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 5:05 AM

The ceiling fan is cranked to the max most nights, and I could actually do without it for right now.
sonnygll read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 11:22 AM

Oh yeah that ceiling fan works well, no doubt.
irishoaks read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2008 | 9:09 PM

Now sonny I commeriserated with you about the fuel prices and your husband's rig. My daughter and her husband have a glass business and they travel all over the Atlanta area in their big glass truck and are getting eaten up in gas expense--remember us talking about that?

If you have a StarBucks, you're doing good. Our Wendy's closed down. We do have a TacoBell and KFC and Dairy Queen and Sonic and McD's.

We have room a/c's and only 2 rooms run all the time and our bill was nearly $200. We're supposed to be cheap with TVA, too. NOT 95 degree heat does it every time.

We eat out maybe once a month. I give at the church, don't buy clothes unless something wears out or gets grown out of, then I give it away. It takes upwards to $85 to fill up my truck. And going back and forth to the doctors in Memphis, the truck has to be filled up--alot. We feed 2 dogs, 1 cat, 1 hamster, 2 adults, 1 child, and other family that drops in. So where else does one cut down to fill up the vehicle? Plus my husband drives to work and back in Covington in a little Ford Escort. That is less to fill up and gets some better mileage that the truck. But the truck is paid for, has almost 100,000 miles--is safe. I'm not driving to Memphis in anything else.
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erniefreeman

Co-Host of the Emmy Award winning Good Morning Memphis on Fox-13, and a member of the Fox-13 News I-Team, I also make the best mac and cheese in the world. Just ask Valerie Calhoun. After an 18 month layoff, I resumed my golfing pursuits April 26th, 2008. I think I'm going to resume saying, "it is what it is." If I'm hanging out in Memphis I'm at Onix on Main Street and EP's Delta Kitchen on Beale Street. If you have a cell phone, I will send this text message: How about those New York Football Giants! all year long. I recently stopped drinking coffee, and life without it is fine.

Member Since: 10/3/2006


 

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