Why $4 Gas Need Not Wreck Your Budget

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I agree with his comments to the core. We try to save money on everything and we try and take control of things. Look at groceries. We plant also and freeze for the winter. I am tired of having no control over what i pay for things. I also fond a site that lets me control the cost of my heating oil. They work by letting me earn points and using the points to buy oil. I get $10 worth of points for inviting people and they also get $10. I just paid $2.61 per gallon == when the local retail was $ 3.54. Now i also control what i pay for oil. The link to register is here if you want it: http://neighboroil.com?referrer_id=12048

Steven of RI 3:50PM August 21, 2011

It's funny to hear that Americans complain about the cheapest oil in the world.
Here in Spain, unleaded gas is about 1.45 euros per liter (that makes 5.45 US dollars per galon) and the average salary is 1000 euros/month (1400 US$). That IS difficult to commute on your own car!
The gas price in other european countries may be higher (up to 1.60 euros per liter which breaks a 6 $/gallon barrier) but salaries in France, Germany, Holland or UK are generally 2 or 3 times higher than Spain's.

Frankie 12:49PM May 06, 2011

Multiply that $45 times 2 for two cars - and then double it for owners of SUV's and Minivans that get half the mileage.
Now you're talking about well over a $1000.00 pr year...I could certainly use it - especially when I had it before - and now I don't...
You have to be more efficient and decrease the demand...don't be complacent and just accept higher gas prices...do something about it and the demand will go down...and then the price

Scrappy of OH 9:08AM May 03, 2011

you people complain and talk about the cost of everything and trying to make ends meet with $4500 a month and using 4.5% for transportation cost and X% for entertainment and how much your electric bill costs and how much a gal of milk is. Stop an take a breathe people... you need to try it on half of that money. I do it every day and every week and every month on $2500/month.... N no I get no help from the state... I don't qualify. I make too much. LOL. But I have learned to open my drapes to let in the warm sun to heat my house during the day and close them at night to keep that heat in. I do plant a garden to supplement my groceries. I don't go out to eat. I stay home and spend time with my family and my neighbors. We have fun. you all should try it. its amaxing the money you can save (not spend).

srl of IL 2:26PM April 22, 2011

While it is true that "typical" american might spend only 5.4% of his take home income on gasoline. How much were we spending before the latest spike in gas prices? Also this percentage does not reflect on how much petroleum products cause the price of everything we need from the food we eat to the heat that our families require. That is not to mention the segment of our population that can ill afford to pay these exorbitant prices, the young,unemployed,the aged,under employed,people just starting out in life and the list is endless.

David Breard 4:03PM April 10, 2011

......enough said.

rgh of NM 11:59AM April 06, 2011

If you have the disposable 45 dollars per month to spend on something that is as urgently important as text messaging then you should have no problem spending that on gas every month!
Am I that far out of the loop or has this country finally begun to collapse in a consumer driven capitalistic hellhole!! To think I used to be proud to call myself a Republican and Capitalist.

Joe of TX 2:04PM March 28, 2011

Finally--someone who verbalizes the real positives of higher gas prices. Refreshing! If people won't conserve on their own, I suppose the economy will naturally force them.

Benton of ID 11:43AM March 25, 2011

Hmm. Well, whether a study or a lot of statistical math shows that it shouldn't be so hard on consumers or otherwise, my wallet gives me the bottom-line answer. I'm cutting back on meals as a result...not tvs and phones. I'm also wondering how long I will be able to afford to get to work. Get a 2cnd job? Heh. I've been looking, but what does that cut down on? Time with my kids. I also have to downgrade in position to open up availability for that 2cnd job which equals a decrease in my income that the 2cnd job will also have to help compensate for. Thanks but no thanks for the false comfort.

nicole of MD 5:20PM March 19, 2011

No, not just will we spend another $45 a month in gas. Which is not very exciting, you will spend more in food, etc. etc. This is the most ridiculous and untruthful article I've ever read. You are full of it.

Karen Schalow of NC 9:22PM March 14, 2011