$4 a gallon... we aren't going...

[sublimesting]

I really like the fact that BIG OIL, which is demanding to open ANWAR, and other sites, is only drilling on 20 million acres of the 90 million acres that they have access to in the Gulf of Mexico.

meaning that they have 70 million acres that they could be drilling on. and THEY ARE NOT. what that means is that they DON'T WANT TO FIND MORE OIL. and that they are NOT MAXIMIZING the acres that they DO have access to.

granted, that some of this area may not have oil.. But right now, they aren't even TRYING. :shrug::shrug::veryconfu

but they are keeping the lie alive by saying that we "don't have any oil left in this country".

Even Pat Buchanan said that the Oil companies needed to start drilling in Texas.

but the source for the main story is this weeks CNNFN page.

Lack of oil is not the problem. The current production is meeting the demand. We have a lack of refineries...not a lack of oil. And i hate to say this but Big Oil is not gouging us. Yes, they have record profits but they are only making a 7% return annually.

 

[sublimesting]

For us it is not the increase in gas prices involved in the trip to and from Disney that is preventing us from going it is the cumulative effect of that same increase in gas in our everyday lives. Between 2 cars (A Saturn SL2 and a Kia Sedona) we are going through around $200 +/- a week just to get back and forth from work. Compare this to the $80 +/- we were spending just a couple of yeas ago and it is easy to see why money has gotten tight and trips to WDW are now off the table.

Now that makes sense. It doesn't make sense though when people base the one trip on it. Like saying well, $3.00/gallon was fine but now $4.00 that just breaks us for this trip. The DW and I just watch what we spend elsewhere, like we have no cable TV and don't miss it (saves us $500 per year) and that right there pays for ALL the gas cost difference between 3 and 4 dollars that we use annually.

 

[WildLodgeFan]

It's kind of interesting to read everyone's views regarding the increased prices of fuel and unfortunately the increase in other items (like groceries) in result of the increased fuel costs (or is than excuse to jack up prices? :animwink. I guess on the the pieces of wood I would throw into the fire, is that this economic cycle is not uncomon, but we seem to be taking it so harshly this time. Is it because as Americans in today's time, that too many of us live beyond our means? With savings at all time lows, I think many Americans are experiencing this crunch more than before because we haven't saved for rainy days as well as people have in the past.

For example - household A has a rainy day fund of 3 months income. The increase of costs is not as painful for them as for household B that doesn't even have 1 months income in savings and basically is living paycheck to paycheck.

BTW, this is a philsophical debate, not a particular stab to any poster on this thread, I'm just curious about other's opinions.

 

[sublimesting]

And as I pointed out if you buy cheap made products from other countries because you can get them cheaper then you have contributed to the high demand for fuel which we are experiencing right now. Save money one way.. pay in another. The people that don't get that make me laugh!:ROFLOL:

I really don't get your point about tailgating & racing to redlights? That makes no sense to me if you point out that you are spending more on fuel you must have roadrage too?:shrug: I can assure you that I don't.

By the way I don't have a "cheap" car because it is paid for. I was smart enough to avoid interest fees by paying for it with cash, it is almost new,thus the reason it would be ignorant and pointless for me to get another vehicle.

I am not moaning btw I am a very lucky & thankful person that I am able to afford to go to WDW (3rd trip in a year) I get to do this because I spend in other ways wisely; meaning I don't finance and pay twice the amount for things I can't pay for on the spot. That is what works for me

They are saying that by racing to lights and speeding and tailgating that you would be an aggressive stop and go speeding driver......THAT wastes ALOT of gas. Probably about 25% more actually.

 

[Elonwy]

See that's everyone's problem: You are COMPARING it to previously instead of looking at what it actually costs.... I mean just 6 years ago or so gas was like not even a dollar. Like another poster said, if you are cutting it so close that $100 is the deciding factor maybe you shouldn't have beed going to Disney in the first place. If $100 is going to break your bank, you're running it REAL close and should be worried about finances week to week. In that case I'd be cutting out stuff like cable TV, and other discretionary spending.

It's not everyone's problem by any means...i don't have cable TV (never have...no use for it) I don't drink coffee either if that matters but I would have to budget around $850 - $900 in gas as opposed to $300 for the trip down so, yeah, $600 can be a deciding factor or at least require me to put off a trip until I can save more. I can sometimes find a full weeks vacation for $1000-$1200 so adding another 50% to my budget deosn't feel good

 

[wdwfan100]

In 2001, this century, average price for a gallon of gas was somewhere around $1.85, I believe (just read it a few days ago). And up until 2005, it hovered around the $2.30ish mark, going up after the post-Katrina gouge and then back down again.

In 1929, a gallon of gas cost .12cents (I happened to have that figure handy LOL). From 1929 to 2001 gas went from .12cents to $1.85 per gallon (over 70+ years). In just the last couple of years, gas has seen an absolutely unprecedented inflation. It took 70+ years to get from .12cents to $1.85, and then a half a decade to hit $4+. That's the issue here.

We are paying record prices for gas, and the oil companies and CEO's are taking record profits. The only people that makes sense to are those who are getting the record profits, and the anger in America is growing exponentially every day over that fact.

AEfx

As far as inflation goes, gas lagged far behind most household goods that we use. It finally adjusted to close to what it would have been had it kept pace. The only problem with the cost of gas is that it adjusted very quickly and people could not adjust budget for it quickly enough. It certainly is causing a pinch to a great number of people and that is unfortunate. Had the price of gas kept up with inflation though, we would not even be having a discussion like this.

I am not a CEO and I certainly do not work for the oil companies. I don't like the fact that gas is $4 a gallon. I do however, understand that it should/could have been there a long time ago.

 

[disneymyway]

In the end it just boils down to people knowing what is best for them and for their families. If someone says that this is going to make it too expensive for them and that they'll have to do without Disney this year I'm proud of them for being fiscally responsible and knowing their limitations. We don't know what other expenses they may have, and for sure don't know everything that has gone into the decision.

Too many people go and spend when they shouldn't be; don't you think? I don't get this trying to talk people into spending money they aren't comfortable spending that seems to be going on in this thread.

 

[wdwfan100]

it totally not fair to jump on me for doing a couple of things. the most is telling the truth.

I am sorry if I don't see the correlation between the price of gas in Europe, as opposed to the price of gas here. Like I said, Europe uses at least part of its gas taxes to pay for governmental health care.

and two, you want to go to Disney in Europe, Gees how far is it? 545 miles to Disney Europe in Paris from Berlin., 645 from Vienna. and those are the extremes.. that's not even half way for some one like me. or may be exactly half way. and you can do Euro Disney and be back home in London in a day.

but I have been told that I have "the Wrong car".. or that we must be "bigger people.." wow. talk about immediate prejudices. None of which deals with the economic problem, $4 a gallon for gas.

and while a joke may have seem appropriate, it didn't sound like a joke.

Not while my state is losing jobs. and that means others will lose their jobs as well.

I am not bitter. But I am also not going to go into debt either. Not for a trip to WDW.

think about this, my vehicle is paid for. I have no other loans besides a fairly low balance on my credit card.( of which should be paid off within three months or so.) None. I have been a good steward of my money.

I am living within my means. and that means NOT increasing my debt to go to Disney.

but to jump on me because you want to drink the kool aid, that WDW is the end all and be all, and that we need to go at any cost, because desire is more important then putting your self deeper in debt. I find that very wrong.

Now maybe I should have been a little more lax on the European posters, and I am sorry that I made a geographical statement, a true statement, on this person's initial post. but I am also pointing out that there are reasons why gas is as high as it is in Europe. and they are legit reasons. it is paying for something. and governmental health care is one of them. they were paying $4 when oil was $20 a barrel. Why? its a government tax . Just as other countries are SUBSIDIZING gas prices so their people are paying less then a dollar a gallon. So there have been benefits for why the Europeans are paying what they pay for gas.

there is a big picture here. try to see it. and try not to make personal attacks due to personal prejudices .

Forgive me for saying so, but I believe even if you were receiving health care for free, you would feel the gas prices would be too high. It does not appear to be an earings problem for you. You have a paid off suburban (not a cheap vehicle at all) you have little to no debt, and as you have said you have been a good steward of your money. What ever the cost of gas is, it would seem like you would have cash reserves saved up to deal with it. Having something else paid for certainly would not make that much of a difference. I personally would rather pay for my own health care than pay $11/gal for gas and/or let the govt. take over health care over.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

it totally not fair to jump on me for doing a couple of things. the most is telling the truth.

I am sorry if I don't see the correlation between the price of gas in Europe, as opposed to the price of gas here. Like I said, Europe uses at least part of its gas taxes to pay for governmental health care. .

Taxes are used for many things, as Im sure US axes are too

and two, you want to go to Disney in Europe, Gees how far is it? 545 miles to Disney Europe in Paris from Berlin., 645 from Vienna. and those are the extremes.. that's not even half way for some one like me. or may be exactly half way. and you can do Euro Disney and be back home in London in a day.
.

Funnily enough not everyone lives in London or in the few places you seem to know about.

but I have been told that I have "the Wrong car".. or that we must be "bigger people.." wow. talk about immediate prejudices. None of which deals with the economic problem, $4 a gallon for gas. .

You have, lets face it American cars are pretty crap, almost as bad as he driving.

and while a joke may have seem appropriate, it didn't sound like a joke.

Not while my state is losing jobs. and that means others will lose their jobs as well.

I am not bitter. But I am also not going to go into debt either. Not for a trip to WDW. .

Oh yes you are

there is a big picture here. try to see it. and try not to make personal attacks due to personal prejudices .

Try practicing what you preach, surely?

 

[Dwarful]

Well, we are still going and still driving. It is still cheaper for us to drive than fly. Our economy is hurting big time. We live in the St.Louis area (IL. side of the swollen Mississippi River). My husband works across the river...50-100 miles daily depending on where he has to be (and what roads are flooded). So the price of gas has def. hit our budget overall. Throw in the turmoil of the hostile takeover of ABusch and suddenly job security becomes a possible issue as well. However, we are secure in our finances. Had planned this trip and will still go. We are going for two weeks and have made changes to our original plans. Our original plans included a visit to Sea World and the Universal Parks. Instead we have changed to the Water Parks and more option. We normally go 2-3 times per year, this year we are only planning on this trip. We most likely won't be back until next summer. In the end this will save us considerable money (no tickets for P&PP, No tickets for MVMCP, no $$$ for limited pins for each of those events, no $$$ for tshirts etc, from those events). So that is sort of how we are cutting costs.

By the way no one in our house drinks coffee, we take our snacks into Busch Stadium for baseball games, pack picnic lunches when we go to the zoo, etc.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

Sorry folks but you Americans are still living in a kind of gas-price Fantasyland. In Germany you pay something around $ 8,50 per gallon!

 

[Emerald Rose]

We are still going this year and although the price of gas has certainly impacted everyone, we are going to try to budget elsewhere. Like making peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and bring boxed cereal for breakfast. Saves a ton instead of buying breakfast and lunch. Do a pizza for dinner and you really save. We have done that in the past anyhow, and it helps us afford the trip more frequently. For us driving is still cheaper than flying and we'll do the best we can to keep up. I'm really sorry for anyone who can't travel this year because of the gas prices--it's a big disappointment after you work all year and then can't go because of the gas. Hope somehow someway things improve a bit.

 

[DisneyGigi]

They are saying that by racing to lights and speeding and tailgating that you would be an aggressive stop and go speeding driver......THAT wastes ALOT of gas. Probably about 25% more actually.

I wasn't questioning whether this wasted gas or not. What I didn't get was the assumption that people drive that way based on the type car they drive or because someone remarked about the higher price of fuel.

 

[Epcotian]

Sorry folks but you Americans are still living in a kind of gas-price Fantasyland. In Germany you pay something around $ 8,50 per gallon!

Mostly for taxes though. That's your government's fault, not the fault of the oil companies or gas-guzzling Americans. We pay much closer to what the fuel is actually worth. Rather than Americans living in a gas-price Fantasyland, you guys are living in a gas-price Nightmareland of your own creation. Using the title from a book about Disney, we're much closer to living in gas-price Realityland than you are.

 

[Sam02]

Sorry folks but you Americans are still living in a kind of gas-price Fantasyland. In Germany you pay something around $ 8,50 per gallon!

How much of that is due to taxes vs. how much it actually costs companies to buy the gas?

The reason our gas prices are low compared to other countries is because we don't have as much state or federal taxes on the gas. I live in Missouri (currently the cheapest state to buy gas according to our local news) and in the Kansas City Metro area gas ranges from about $3.89 - $4.09 a gallon. Kansas is right next door and they have a higher state tax so their gas is more expensive.

Gas prices fluctuate from area to area, country to country, based on how much it costs to ship, what taxes are in place, and the place you buy your gas. We have "chain" gas stores that can buy in bulk, once again lowering our cost. The independent gas stations have slightly higher gas prices.

So we can't really compare what a gallon of gas costs between the U.S. and any other country because of all these little differences, especially the added on tax. If you don't like spending that much on gas then find a way to lower the amount of tax you pay on it, but then that might mean giving up some federally funded programs. You can't have it both ways.

 

[WIX]

I am really late to this post, but I would surely LOVE to pay $4.09 a gallon. It hasn't been that LOW here in at least two years. As a matter of fact we have been paying over $5.00 for about a month and a half now. :brick:

Welcome to the Bay Area!!!

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Im paying close to $12 but then I do get 50 to the gallon urban.

 

[disneymyway]

Sorry folks but you Americans are still living in a kind of gas-price Fantasyland. In Germany you pay something around $ 8,50 per gallon!

And many times Europeans have no idea the driving that we Americans must do every single day. I have friends in Italy and when I tell her how far away work, schools, and even the grocery store is from my house I sometimes think she doesn't even believe me. She lives near where she work, her kids' schools, church, and market. She could walk to church, the the market, and schools, and she takes the bus to work. I can't do any of those things. We have extremely little mass transit here.

Americans have set up their lives this way because it used to be affordable - now we are in trouble. We know full well that you have been paying high prices for a long time, but I don't think that a lot of you do the driving we must do here.

 

[Damian31]

In england our fuel prices are about 4 dollars a litre never mind a gallon:dazzle:

We also have our lives set around driving. I live over 2 hours away from where I work and have no access to public transport that could get me there. I would love to pay 4 dollars a gallon!!

 

[disneymyway]

In england our fuel prices are about 4 dollars a litre never mind a gallon:dazzle:

We also have our lives set around driving. I live over 2 hours away from where I work and have no access to public transport that could get me there. I would love to pay 4 dollars a gallon!!

I haven't traveled around the UK much and I can really only talk with any authority about Italy because I've spent a lot of time there. I don't know anyone who drives that much there. Their mass transit is outstanding - compared to ours, anyway.