Gas prices have been through the roof lately and if you haven’t noticed yet - then you’re leaving under a shell or too young to drive. As if that news isn’t bad enough, 50,000+ people got laid off from their jobs last month alone. 50,000 in one month? WTF?! I could go on ranting about how big companies are financially and socially irresponsible to their employees, but I’ll save that for another day.
Remember a year ago when gas prices reached $3.00/gallon and there was a bitch-fest that it was an all-time high? Well, guess what. That’s already been forgotten. $3.00/gal is history, gone, kaput, wiped out from humanity’s hope for decent gas prices - at least here in the U.S.
It doesn’t matter if you’re working for a large company or a small mom-and-pop shop. As long as you drive to work, you’re a victim of the oil moguls and agencies that control the supply of crude oil. You know that things are getting tougher if:
- you cannot afford to buy your wife flowers like you used to on the way back from work
- you stretch the gas in your car until it almost touches the “E” before filing up
- your body cringes and your stomach tightens watching the gas-o-meter invade your bank account
- your budget is going through a shock to adjust for more gas money
- the raise you received this year is lower than the inflation rate of 4%. You heard me. If your raise is under 4% this year, you’re in for a tough ride for the rest of 2008.
- you are considering a second job just to pay for gas!
So what can you do about this? A whole lot of nothing. But for what its worth, I’ll tell you how I cope with this damned gas FUBAR.
- No more driving 1 hour to freaking outlet malls every weekend
- Increasing budget for gas by 10%
- Recycle my kids diapers! (Just kidding!)
- Increase tolerance for slow drivers. The urge to pass them on the freeway probably costs me more gas and stress than to just cruise at a regular speed while I listen to Howard Stern.
- Staying home more. This is actually more rewarding since I get to spend more time with the wife and kids playing Nintendo Wii.
The things I do to deal with this does not necessary require you to spend more money like changing oil, servicing your car, etc. While those are good - I’ve always treated that as “as needed” only. And those things costs moolah!
I’m not sure if it is better to get laid off and get a good severance package and claim unemployment, or thank god that you have a job but your salary is not keeping up with inflation or worse off all, paying for high gas prices to get to work! You be the judge.
How do you cope with this crazy jacked-up gas price?
Here is a good web site for updates on gas prices.
No Comment