Gas in California

[rivan]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider

Originally posted by: amdhunter


1) Drive Less: In 6 months of ownership my car has 2400 miles. ~That's 13.4 miles a day. My Work Commute is 10 miles/day. That leaves only 3 miles a week that I use the car for recreation. I can't drive less.

2) Move closer to work: Yeah that makes sense. Spend thousands on relocating myself to save money on gas. Don't be an idiot. People can't just decide to move one day.

3) Plan my trips/routes better: In my case, I live in a straight road to my workplace. 1 street takes me the full way.

4) Keep car maintained: It's brand new, and hasn't even reached the point of needing maintenance. Oil has been changed once already for the heck of it.

SO WHAT ELSE YOU GOT? BECAUSE NOTHING YOU SAID SO FAR I CAN USE?

I didn't spend thousands to relocate. And yes, I just decided to move my family. I planned it well and it ended up costing me less than a thousand dollars, which I quickly recouped by not having a $400/month gas bill.

Yes, you can drive less, you can walk or ride a bike. The answer is, you won't.

It sounds like you want some kind of hand out.

I cut my gas bill from around $400 a month to around $30 a month. Maybe if you used some common sense, you could cut your gas bill also.

Did you not even read his post? He's driven 2400 miles in 6 months. Even if he got the terrible mileage I do, that still only be ~200 gallons of gas, or $800 (edit: assuming $4/gal).

Instead of slamming his 'lack of common sense' why don't you work on your reading comprehension?

 

[HannibalX]

Well see, there are your priorities. You have decided for yourself what is more important to you. You think not smelling sweaty is more important then having a lower gas bill.

 

[HannibalX]

<<<C'mon dude. For A LOT OF PEOPLE, many of the things you are recommending aren't practical. How hard is it for some people to realize this?>>>

I never claimed I had an end all solution for everyone on the planet. C'mon dude, how hard is it for you to realize this?

Here is the bottom line: People who want to spend less will find ways to do it. Just because what worked for me doesn't apply to you as you claim, doesn't mean there aren't ways you can spend less.

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider
Well see, there are your priorities. You have decided for yourself what is more important to you. You think not smelling sweaty is more important then having a lower gas bill.

Hah, good comeback.
Still, it doesn't help lower gas prices.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: SpunkyJones

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
In my experience, if you're willing to drive to a gas station .5-1 mile from a highway exit, you'll get a better price.

But I'm not willing to do that, and I don't look at gas prices. When I need gas, I simply pull into the closets gas station I can find and fill'er up. My father on the other hand, drives around comparing gas prices, its almost a hobby for him.

Oi... at my last job, people were always talking about the prices of gas at gas stations they passed on the way to work. WTF.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider
Well see, there are your priorities. You have decided for yourself what is more important to you. You think not smelling sweaty is more important then having a lower gas bill.

Using my math and assumptions, he's spending ~$30 a week on gas.

Look, I'm glad you had opportunities to cut down on your gas consumption, but it's as simple or easy for everyone as it apparently was for you.

 

[TheTony]

That's a deal!

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider
<<<C'mon dude. For A LOT OF PEOPLE, many of the things you are recommending aren't practical. How hard is it for some people to realize this?>>>

I never claimed I had an end all solution for everyone on the planet. C'mon dude, how hard is it for you to realize this?

Here is the bottom line: People who want to spend less will find ways to do it. Just because what worked for me doesn't apply to you as you claim, doesn't mean there aren't ways you can spend less.

Yeah, I edited my post to say this: Pale Rider, everything you said would definitely work in an ideal world, but many people couldn't do many of the things you recommended. I guess you replied before I got the edit in.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Yeah, I am going to walk or ride a bike 7 miles a day...especially when warmer weather is right around the corner. I am sure people at work will love being around me when I am sweating through my clothes all day.

So I'll save gas, but be offensive to everyone around me. Maybe I should request a shower installed in our bathroom?

C'mon dude. For A LOT OF PEOPLE, many of the things you are recommending aren't practical. How hard is it for some people to realize this?

Pale Rider, everything you said would definitely work in an ideal world, but many people couldn't do many of the things you recommended.

this is ATOT where people can just pick up and move at a moments notice, can get high paying jobs at a moments notice, can go back to school at a moments notice.

i guess making $300,000 a year can be helpful. I doubt their supermodel gfs are very helpful though.

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Pale Rider
Well see, there are your priorities. You have decided for yourself what is more important to you. You think not smelling sweaty is more important then having a lower gas bill.

Hah, good comeback.
Still, it doesn't help lower gas prices.

Only because you CHOOSE not to do it. Sorry, no hand outs.

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Yeah, I am going to walk or ride a bike 7 miles a day...especially when warmer weather is right around the corner. I am sure people at work will love being around me when I am sweating through my clothes all day.

So I'll save gas, but be offensive to everyone around me. Maybe I should request a shower installed in our bathroom?

C'mon dude. For A LOT OF PEOPLE, many of the things you are recommending aren't practical. How hard is it for some people to realize this?

Pale Rider, everything you said would definitely work in an ideal world, but many people couldn't do many of the things you recommended.

this is ATOT where people can just pick up and move at a moments notice, can get high paying jobs at a moments notice, can go back to school at a moments notice.

i guess making $300,000 a year can be helpful. I doubt their supermodel gfs are very helpful though.

Now if I made 300k a year I wouldn't worry about gas prices.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: maddogchen
gas prices

I don't get how this gas station makes money. Yeah its near an entrance to the freeway but its not like isn't any other gas stations around there. It consistently charges 60-70 cents more than any other gas station around its area. Yet I often still see cars getting gas from here. Why get gas here when you could drive 3 blocks down and get gas at a 76 for $3.81 for regular? And these aren't even rich expensive cars i'm seeing stopped there. Its like corollas and ford suvs and malibus.

I guess when gas prices hit $4 nationwide this summer, i'll take another picture of this gas station hitting $5.

Crazy!!

You're using the assumption that basic supply and demand actually means something on an individual basis. It's a useful theory for macroeconomics (when you're taking the average of the ensemble). Plenty of individuals either don't notice or don't care, and that's how this gas station stays in business. They need gas and don't really care about the price.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider
Well see, there are your priorities. You have decided for yourself what is more important to you. You think not smelling sweaty is more important then having a lower gas bill.

If you came in smelling like ass at my job, you wouldn''t have a job.

 

[shocksyde]

I just cut my gas usage from $150/month to $10/month by moving. Ding!

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: Pale Rider
Well see, there are your priorities. You have decided for yourself what is more important to you. You think not smelling sweaty is more important then having a lower gas bill.

If you came in smelling like ass at my job, you wouldn''t have a job.

I'm not in sales.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: maddogchen
gas prices

I don't get how this gas station makes money. Yeah its near an entrance to the freeway but its not like isn't any other gas stations around there. It consistently charges 60-70 cents more than any other gas station around its area. Yet I often still see cars getting gas from here. Why get gas here when you could drive 3 blocks down and get gas at a 76 for $3.81 for regular? And these aren't even rich expensive cars i'm seeing stopped there. Its like corollas and ford suvs and malibus.

I guess when gas prices hit $4 nationwide this summer, i'll take another picture of this gas station hitting $5.

Crazy!!

that right there is price gouging at it's worst. they need to be reported. :|

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: SpunkyJones

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
In my experience, if you're willing to drive to a gas station .5-1 mile from a highway exit, you'll get a better price.

But I'm not willing to do that, and I don't look at gas prices. When I need gas, I simply pull into the closets gas station I can find and fill'er up. My father on the other hand, drives around comparing gas prices, its almost a hobby for him.

Oi... at my last job, people were always talking about the prices of gas at gas stations they passed on the way to work. WTF.

You don't HAVE to go to the cheapest place within a 50 mile radius, but you should KNOW off the top of your head where the cheap gas station is. I know 2 Chevrons within 2 blocks of each other, 1 which is larger and easier to get to, but 2 cents more usually (at best they are equivalent). Sometimes I gas at hte larger one, only to find out that I paid 2 cents more than the other one.

How about this, plan your trips so you do stop by the right gas station. Similarly, at home I know that about 2 exits away from my house is the Chevron that is at the next city (right off the city border), and so is frequently cheaper than the one a few blocks down in my home town. Well, which one do you think I go to?

It's called GAS MANAGEMENT, and it's the same as ERRANDS MANAGEMENT. You don't go to Target on Thursday because you ran out of shampoo only to hit up Safeway on Saturday for groceries, and then find out you're out of toothpaste so you hit up Target again on Monday. You plan. If all these things can be bought at the supermarket, then you buy it at Safeway on SATURDAY. Similarly, if you KNOW you have to drive down to LA this weekend, why don't you make it a priority to drop by the gas station after you get off work on Friday?

I don't go to the cheapest gas station, but I'm pretty sure within reasonable distances, it's one of the cheaper ones. I stick to Chevron, but I'll try to look for the cheap ones. Also, if I time my Costco trips well, I just get gas there instead.

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Pale Rider
Well see, there are your priorities. You have decided for yourself what is more important to you. You think not smelling sweaty is more important then having a lower gas bill.

Hah, good comeback.
Still, it doesn't help lower gas prices.

Only because you CHOOSE not to do it. Sorry, no hand outs.

You keep saying "hand outs".. do you work for the one of the major oil companies or something? Would explain why you keep indirectly defending their position.

 

[spacejamz]

You better not tell dmcowen about this thread...he thinks that CA is $5/gallon and that nationally, it is $4/gallon...

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Pale Rider

Originally posted by: mugs
Honestly, I don't even look at the price when I get gas. I guess I might look if I were getting off the highway and there were multiple choices nearby.

This is why gas continues to go up in price. There is no oil shortage, it's just the consumer is willing to pay whatever is demanded of them.

OK, what do you think I, as a consumer should do? Seriously, what the hell can anyone do? PLEASE TELL ME SO I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Drive less, buy a more fuel efficient car, move closer to work, plan your trips/routes better, keep your car maintained so it's running at optimal efficiency. Common sense things mostly.

In 2006 I took a job in a neighbooring town to the town I was living in. I drive an SUV so to counter the insane gas bill I was going to have I moved next door to my office. I was now less than a mile from work, I kept my SUV. I literally bought gas every two months unless I drove out of town. My bank, my office, my grocery store, etc were all within 1 mile of my home. I cut my gas bill from around $400 a month to around $30 a month.

See, people aren't willing to make changes. What I did was nothing revolutionary. I am not advocating change for the environment's sake. I say do it for your own financial well being. People are spending $600 a month on gas these days. That's insane.

How can you possibly spend only $30/mo.? I work at home and consolidate my trips. I go out less than a mile to drive my wife to and from work... and I spend $100/mo. minimum. One tank-full is already $50-$70 for an SUV.

At any rate, I'm not all up in arms over $100/mo. I honestly enjoy driving everytime I get out there. But I'm just saying your number is very hard to believe.

 

[olds]

Paid $3.99 for diesel today.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: Pale Rider

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Pale Rider

Originally posted by: mugs
Honestly, I don't even look at the price when I get gas. I guess I might look if I were getting off the highway and there were multiple choices nearby.

This is why gas continues to go up in price. There is no oil shortage, it's just the consumer is willing to pay whatever is demanded of them.

OK, what do you think I, as a consumer should do? Seriously, what the hell can anyone do? PLEASE TELL ME SO I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Drive less, buy a more fuel efficient car, move closer to work, plan your trips/routes better, keep your car maintained so it's running at optimal efficiency. Common sense things mostly.

In 2006 I took a job in a neighbooring town to the town I was living in. I drive an SUV so to counter the insane gas bill I was going to have I moved next door to my office. I was now less than a mile from work, I kept my SUV. I literally bought gas every two months unless I drove out of town. My bank, my office, my grocery store, etc were all within 1 mile of my home. I cut my gas bill from around $400 a month to around $30 a month.

See, people aren't willing to make changes. What I did was nothing revolutionary. I am not advocating change for the environment's sake. I say do it for your own financial well being. People are spending $600 a month on gas these days. That's insane.

How can you possibly spend only $30/mo.? I work at home and consolidate my trips. I go out less than a mile to drive my wife to and from work... and I spend $100/mo. minimum. One tank-full is already $50 for an SUV.

A tank is only $30 for me (well, considering that the light goes on when I have about 4 gallons left), and it lasts me about a month. I work 4 miles from home, drive a Civic, grocery store is 1 mile away, and I go to Target/Costco maybe every other week.

 

[Platypus]

<-- loves public transportation / living in a city with proper public trans

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: mugs
A tank is only $30 for me (well, considering that the light goes on when I have about 4 gallons left), and it lasts me about a month. I work 4 miles from home, drive a Civic, grocery store is 1 mile away, and I go to Target/Costco maybe every other week.

He said he drove an SUV.

But I guess if he never goes out for anything leisurely like on weekends he could squeeze it. But wow, money is meant to be spent so you can enjoy your life, just a tad.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: spacejamz
You better not tell dmcowen about this thread...he thinks that CA is $5/gallon and that nationally, it is $4/gallon...

Doesn't matter, I moved to New York City.

Buses, Trains and Cabs baby.