Comments on: How Would $4 Gas Affect Your Budget? http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/04/27/how-would-4-gas-affect-your-budget/ A personal finance blog dedicated to discussing such topics as budgeting, asset allocation, 401K, IRA, cash flow, insurance, financial planning, portfolio management, and other areas in personal finance. Thu, 24 May 2012 22:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Alex http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/04/27/how-would-4-gas-affect-your-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-122358 Alex Sat, 21 Jul 2007 20:26:02 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=1746#comment-122358 I'm paying around $3 a gallon but starting to realize the cost that is being rolled into goods and services. I'm having to adjust my budget to prepare for that impact as well. I’m paying around $3 a gallon but starting to realize the cost that is being rolled into goods and services. I’m having to adjust my budget to prepare for that impact as well.

]]> By: Khyron http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/04/27/how-would-4-gas-affect-your-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-100948 Khyron Tue, 01 May 2007 09:45:03 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=1746#comment-100948 My budget is already calculated to support $8/gallon gasoline. That would allow me to do the minimum amount of commuting - from home to work and maybe some lighter travel. I live in the Washington, DC metro area so I could use public transportation more when I go downtown. The job is 10 minutes away by car. The real problem is my RE investing which is mostly in Baltimore, a little hike up I-95. But I'm going to stress test my budget for $10/gallon soon. I like to be prepared. My gas budget is calculated based upon my last daily commute when I lived in California (80 miles each way from Orange County, through L.A. to the edge of L.A. and Ventura Counties). My budget is already calculated to support $8/gallon gasoline. That would allow me to do the minimum amount of commuting – from home to work and maybe some lighter travel. I live in the Washington, DC metro area so I could use public transportation more when I go downtown. The job is 10 minutes away by car. The real problem is my RE investing which is mostly in Baltimore, a little hike up I-95. But I’m going to stress test my budget for $10/gallon soon. I like to be prepared. My gas budget is calculated based upon my last daily commute when I lived in California (80 miles each way from Orange County, through L.A. to the edge of L.A. and Ventura Counties).

]]> By: Chris http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/04/27/how-would-4-gas-affect-your-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-100741 Chris Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:57:59 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=1746#comment-100741 It would definitely have an impact on my budget. But not a significant one. I commute by motorcycle and get around 70mpg. But I do notice when my weekly tank takes $5 to fill up instead of $3. There are other price increases that would result in higher gas though, such as restaurants that depend on regular truck deliveries. All those costs will be passed down to us. Wasn't it the last major gas hike that Pizza Hut started adding a $1.25 charge for delivery? I never got that, since the delivery guy is the one buying his own gas anyway...but it does point out that some industries will start charging extra just because they can, and once their prices go up they will be reluctant to lower them, or will lower them only slightly once gas prices drop again. The long-term cost of goods and services would be impacted, I think. It would definitely have an impact on my budget. But not a significant one. I commute by motorcycle and get around 70mpg. But I do notice when my weekly tank takes $5 to fill up instead of $3.

There are other price increases that would result in higher gas though, such as restaurants that depend on regular truck deliveries. All those costs will be passed down to us.

Wasn’t it the last major gas hike that Pizza Hut started adding a $1.25 charge for delivery? I never got that, since the delivery guy is the one buying his own gas anyway…but it does point out that some industries will start charging extra just because they can, and once their prices go up they will be reluctant to lower them, or will lower them only slightly once gas prices drop again. The long-term cost of goods and services would be impacted, I think.

]]> By: Q http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/04/27/how-would-4-gas-affect-your-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-100740 Q Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:45:48 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=1746#comment-100740 We have a lakehouse that's a 70-mile round trip. Frankly, we haven't been finding alot of time to get out there anyway, but I would hate to think that $4 gas would keep me from going out there. Luckily, my wife works two days a week, and I live 1.5 miles from work. So our gas consumption should be lower than the average American. I hereby pledge that if we see $4 gas, I am riding my bike or walking to work every day! We have a lakehouse that’s a 70-mile round trip. Frankly, we haven’t been finding alot of time to get out there anyway, but I would hate to think that $4 gas would keep me from going out there.

Luckily, my wife works two days a week, and I live 1.5 miles from work. So our gas consumption should be lower than the average American.

I hereby pledge that if we see $4 gas, I am riding my bike or walking to work every day!

]]> By: Cheryl http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/04/27/how-would-4-gas-affect-your-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-100737 Cheryl Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:32:05 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=1746#comment-100737 $4 a gallon would have an effect on my budget, about $676 a year total difference! I would have to rework the numbers to allow for that kind of an increase. I commute about 40 miles roundtrip, fill up once a week...and am very careful about planning errands to and from work so as not to use extra gas. $4 a gallon would have an effect on my budget, about $676 a year total difference! I would have to rework the numbers to allow for that kind of an increase. I commute about 40 miles roundtrip, fill up once a week…and am very careful about planning errands to and from work so as not to use extra gas.

]]> By: skTheTwo http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/04/27/how-would-4-gas-affect-your-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-100734 skTheTwo Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:33:49 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=1746#comment-100734 The prospect annoyed me enough to put some math skills at work - an analysis of the Nymex spot price for gasoline and the retail price showed there was a connection, with a time lag of course; but predictable enough for me to create a 3 day "gas cast". I update it daily at my website. it tells you which day in the next 3 is the best day to buy gas. On average it saves you 2 cents/ gallon. O yeah, its on my homepage. -SK The prospect annoyed me enough to put some math skills at work – an analysis of the Nymex spot price for gasoline and the retail price showed there was a connection, with a time lag of course; but predictable enough for me to create a 3 day “gas cast”. I update it daily at my website. it tells you which day in the next 3 is the best day to buy gas. On average it saves you 2 cents/ gallon.

O yeah, its on my homepage.

-SK

]]> By: JLP http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/04/27/how-would-4-gas-affect-your-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-100729 JLP Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:56:32 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=1746#comment-100729 John Bob, I don't think a person who used public transportation is a holier-than-thou. When my wife and I visited Washington DC, we used public transportation nearly the entire time. It's fairly easy to do as long as you stay in the city. It's living in the suburbs that really hurts. John Bob,

I don’t think a person who used public transportation is a holier-than-thou. When my wife and I visited Washington DC, we used public transportation nearly the entire time. It’s fairly easy to do as long as you stay in the city. It’s living in the suburbs that really hurts.

]]> By: CK http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/04/27/how-would-4-gas-affect-your-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-100727 CK Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:37:44 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=1746#comment-100727 #14 Except for the heat, JOhnBob just described Portland, OR and environs. Miscreants? Nail on the head, My Brother. This is even the town where a transit bus driver let a passenger off so that he could beat up a bike rider! I asked my employer for a company gas card in lieu of a COLA raise that would be non-taxable to me and with no payroll taxes for him. He surprised me by giving me both! My company just moved to new digs that increased my daily one-way commute from 18 miles to 30 miles, so the gas card was a blessing that came at just the right time. A fill-up for my wife's Mazda6 has now exceeded $50 at $3.11 per gallon, but with the gas card I don't even get to complain. #14 Except for the heat, JOhnBob just described Portland, OR and environs. Miscreants? Nail on the head, My Brother. This is even the town where a transit bus driver let a passenger off so that he could beat up a bike rider!

I asked my employer for a company gas card in lieu of a COLA raise that would be non-taxable to me and with no payroll taxes for him. He surprised me by giving me both! My company just moved to new digs that increased my daily one-way commute from 18 miles to 30 miles, so the gas card was a blessing that came at just the right time. A fill-up for my wife’s Mazda6 has now exceeded $50 at $3.11 per gallon, but with the gas card I don’t even get to complain.

]]> By: Miguel http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/04/27/how-would-4-gas-affect-your-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-100725 Miguel Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:14:03 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=1746#comment-100725 I live in NYC, take public transportation to work, do not own a car, and rent cars only for local errands, so $4 gas would barely register in our household budget.... sorry JOhn BoB. I live in NYC, take public transportation to work, do not own a car, and rent cars only for local errands, so $4 gas would barely register in our household budget…. sorry JOhn BoB.

]]> By: Jim http://allfinancialmatters.com/2007/04/27/how-would-4-gas-affect-your-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-100723 Jim Mon, 30 Apr 2007 12:58:11 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=1746#comment-100723 I actually believe higher gas prices would be a good thing. Other countries already have higher gas prices resulting in far different travel habits. We need to change the way we live and higher prices would force the issue. As it stands, there are never enough roads and there are never enough lanes and 98% of the cars have only one person. I actually believe higher gas prices would be a good thing. Other countries already have higher gas prices resulting in far different travel habits. We need to change the way we live and higher prices would force the issue. As it stands, there are never enough roads and there are never enough lanes and 98% of the cars have only one person.

]]>