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Stephanie_Q
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| Posted: April 09 2008 at 8:17am | IP Logged
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Our first change, when gas hit $3 last summer, was to buy a motorcycle, which my husband just got fixed for driving to work this spring/summer/fall - that saves us a lot of $$ on gas. We also just realized that there is no LAW against having kids sit in the front seat, so I'm going to use the car for my weekly trip to town with our 4 kids to save $$ on gas, as well. I'm excited that we'll be saving $$, but have bulked up on prayers for our safety...I just saw an article on bicycle safety because so many more people are biking to work. I'm glad they're trying to raise awareness among drivers to look out for (both kinds of) bikers.
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Stephanie dh 6.01
dd 6.02, dd 8.03, ds 3.05, ds 12.06 at Catholic school.
dd 12.09 at home.
Baby boy due 10.13
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stefoodie
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| Posted: April 09 2008 at 8:36am | IP Logged
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not saying we shouldn't be complaining, but when we were recently in london, the petrol prices were unbelievable -- 1.35 (in pounds) per LITER. so about 4 times what we're paying here. no wonder they have smaller/less cars there. and in paris they have Velib. which would be awesome here, except that our communities aren't exactly walk- or bike-friendly. 
more on Velib, see the Chicago mayor trying it out!
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stef
mom to five
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PDyer
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| Posted: April 09 2008 at 8:48am | IP Logged
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KC in TX wrote:
| I'm depressed over them. We're taking a long road trip this May and it's going be awful with the gas prices. It's cheaper than if we flew, but still. |
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Yep, we're going to FL for my niece's college graduation (and a beach vacation with my extended family) in May.
I'm really starting to think about whether we should have a smaller car. We *do have the ability to choose, given our small family, but I like having a minivan for the flexibility it gives us to carry other people's children (and therefore be of service to other families). Not that I *want to buy a new car, but it's getting to be close to time to buy a new car, and this consideration may be getting larger for decision making purposes. Sigh.
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Patty
Mom of ds (7/96) and dd (9/01) and two angels (8/95 and 6/08)
Life at Home
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: April 09 2008 at 8:55am | IP Logged
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My husband heard that they (whoever "they" may be  ) are wanting to get our gas prices up to what England's gas prices are.
What do you English ladies pay anyway?
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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chicken lady
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I am with Theresa, we are out of heating oil and there is no way we can afford to fill up at these prices. We do supplement with wood heat, dh said we are going Amish! Not sure how I will look in the bonnet, I will keep you posted 
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CAgirl4God
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| Posted: April 09 2008 at 9:07am | IP Logged
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there are 3.785 liters in a gallon. I looked it up yesterday.. so just short.
and $1.24 a liter!!! yikes.
but look at us here.. we obviously have our oil/gas shipped in and it is only $.80 a liter. hhhmmm
we thought about getting a motorcycle for dh to go to work.. but after seeing first hand how crazy people drive around here... we said NO WAY! lol
this is the longest commute, through the most traffic dh has had to deal with in his career. bummer.
his last two units, he was able to ride a bike or even skateboard (long board skateboard) to work. now for sure he needs a car. we are still a one car family.. but in a couple of months we are going to two. we need a bigger car. cramming a family of 6 into a Subaru outback lol. it is a tight fit. LOL
but I do think we have no control over the prices. we can only control how we use the gas...
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lapazfarm
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chicken lady wrote:
| I am with Theresa, we are out of heating oil and there is no way we can afford to fill up at these prices. We do supplement with wood heat, dh said we are going Amish! Not sure how I will look in the bonnet, I will keep you posted |
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LOL!!! I am sure you will be adorable! I want to see pics!LOL!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: April 09 2008 at 10:20am | IP Logged
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CAgirl4God wrote:
| I do think we have no control over the prices. we can only control how we use the gas... |
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Excellent motto to live by in this uncontrolable situation.
I was just thinking, as I got breakfast this morning, it's the price of food and everything else that is going up because of the gas that upsets me. 
I could look on the bright side and say we're all having to learn sacrifice and moderation (which are good things) because of this uncontrollable situation but...
I can't justify it in the face of such greed and gluttony by others.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 09 2008 at 10:31am | IP Logged
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Cay Gibson wrote:
| I can't justify it in the face of such greed and gluttony by others. |
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It's a very complicated issue. The media wants us to think it's BIG BAD OIL companies, so does the Government. There are so many factors that cause complications. The US taxes the oil companies to the hilt. And we could have lower gas prices immediately at the pump if they would lower the tax at the pump.
Also, OPEC keeps raising the barrel prices. Also, many are investing in oil as a hot commodity, which drives the prices up (look at gold).
Another factor is that no new refineries are being opened, so there can only be limited production.
My husband was looking at the British Petroleum annual report yesterday and came across this paragraph:
Quote:
| Global reserves Global proved oil and natural gas reserves have been on a generally increasing trend since 1980 and remain adequate to cover expected consumption for decades to come. Proved oil reserves continued to exceed 1.2 trillion barrels at the end of 2006, equivalent to sustaining current production levels for more than 40 years. World proved natural gas reserves exceeded 181 trillion cubic metres, equivalent to sustaining current production for more than 60 years. |
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I'm not trying to start a debate, just trying to show how it's very complex. And I'm not even scratching the surface.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Anne McD
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| Posted: April 09 2008 at 10:42am | IP Logged
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You're so right, Jenn. Also, prices take a hike just before people start using gas more, like in the summertime. Unfortunatley, they never completely lower the prices after the hike . ...
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Anne
Wife to Jon
Mommy to Alex 9
James 8
Katie 6
William 3 1/2
Benedict Joseph 1
and baby on the way! 10/14
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CAgirl4God
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| Posted: April 09 2008 at 10:52am | IP Logged
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Cay... I agree... I think that my family has cut down on almost everything we use... food included. just don't eat as much. and have found that we don't need as much as we thought lol.
when $$ is tight, it is just a skimming of the whole that helps the ends meet at our house. cutting back a little in all areas that help.
Jenn...
I hear you completely. the media would have us believing the Oil companies are this big bad entity.. but really just a business like any other. it is out reliance (huge heavy reliance) on the product they are selling that makes such an impact on us and our daily lives. it isn't just about gas for our cars. it is fuel for our houses, heat and cooking/hot water etc... it is getting places to run errands. it is going places to have fun. it isn't just trying to get to work and back.
but all these things have made our lives extremely convenient (and I am happy about that). but at what cost?
we rely heavily on countries around the world for imports, but these very countries we are fighting in some capacity. (middle east, china, even Mexico etc...)
we don't open new refineries. we don't drill for more oil to become more self reliant. we tax the heck out of the oil we do get, we complain at higher prices, yet keep buying stuff (thus promoting supply and demand).. it is a cycle.
stepping down... sorry lol
I know when we had NO extra $$ and didn't spend anything extra.. it was a freeing experience. only getting what we absolutely needed. we had little, and we bought as needed.
I plan on doing this with the gas also.
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teachingmyown
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Not so much my dh, but me. He drives a hybrid and doesn't balance the checkbook. So, I see the effects more. I drive a 12 passenger van (no choice there ) and I only leave the house for Sunday Mass and Friday co-op. We are 20 minutes from just about everything. Dh does most shopping on the way home from work.
I don't quite agree that we have no control. Call your representative and tell him/her to lower the gas tax. Tell them that we need to tap into domestic sources of oil so that other countries do not have control over our economy.
Another email thing that was going around, that I am not sure I buy into, but I will pass along for what it's worth, is to boycott two of the bigger oil companies, Exxon and Mobile(actually the same company, aren't they?), until they are forced to lower prices to lure people back. The idea is to then continue to hold off buying from them until other companies follow suit to compete.
I am not sure these prices are so much about oil company profits vs. political tactics of hostile nations. But, I honestly haven't done the research so my $.02 isn't worth much when adjusted for inflation.
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: April 09 2008 at 10:58am | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
It's a very complicated issue. The media wants us to think it's BIG BAD OIL companies, so does the Government. There are so many factors that cause complications. The US taxes the oil companies to the hilt. And we could have lower gas prices immediately at the pump if they would lower the tax at the pump.
Also, OPEC keeps raising the barrel prices. Also, many are investing in oil as a hot commodity, which drives the prices up (look at gold).
Another factor is that no new refineries are being opened, so there can only be limited production.
My husband was looking at the British Petroleum annual report yesterday and came across this paragraph:
Quote:
| Global reserves Global proved oil and natural gas reserves have been on a generally increasing trend since 1980 and remain adequate to cover expected consumption for decades to come. Proved oil reserves continued to exceed 1.2 trillion barrels at the end of 2006, equivalent to sustaining current production levels for more than 40 years. World proved natural gas reserves exceeded 181 trillion cubic metres, equivalent to sustaining current production for more than 60 years. |
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I'm not trying to start a debate, just trying to show how it's very complex. And I'm not even scratching the surface. |
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I realize you are not trying to start a debate, but the facts are that the "BIG BAD OIL companies" are indeed making record profits while we all suffer.
Why in the world should we give a corporation making record profits a tax break? They are not the ones hurting. Lowering their taxes will simply raise their profit margin, with no guarantee that we will see any relief at the pump. Plus, less taxes on the gas companies means we will have to pick up the slack to pay for all of the things those tax dollars went towards, like road improvement, etc. Giving the oil companies a tax break means giving the rest of us a tax increase.
Yes, it is complicated. Very much so.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 09 2008 at 11:01am | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
Why in the world should we give a corporation making record profits a tax break? They are not the ones hurting. Lowering their taxes will simply raise their profit margin, with no guarantee that we will see any relief at the pump. Plus, less taxes on the gas companies means we will have to pick up the slack to pay for all of the things those tax dollars went towards, like road improvement, etc. Giving the oil companies a tax break means giving the rest of us a tax increase.
Yes, it is complicated. Very much so. |
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Oh, I wasn't suggesting lowering the oil companies taxes, but the tax that we're paying at the pump (which is both US and then each state can levy their own, making it higher in different places). That would lower it for us in a small way.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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LisaR
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CAgirl4God wrote:
I know when we had NO extra $$ and didn't spend anything extra.. it was a freeing experience. only getting what we absolutely needed. we had little, and we bought as needed.
I plan on doing this with the gas also. |
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I know this wasn't the "point" of this discussion, but I wanted to jump in and say a resounding YES!! to how freeing it is when we live as simply as we can. if it takes this "crisis" to push middle class america into this lifestyle, maybe some good can come of a bad and selfish situation re: oil companies.
I like the challenge, we are willing to give up a car again if we need too! Biking to work is great, we walk to Mass, etc. Just if anything for our own family it is freeing to "prove" that we do not need to rely on gas so much.
during Lent my kids got into studying 3rd world cultures/lifestyles. maybe in some very small way we can unite our little sufferings and sacrifices to the difficult life they live everyday....
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Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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JennGM
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Dh takes the train into work, and the station is only about a mile away. Most of our errands are "in town" and I consolidate them. Our biggest consumption is when I'm expecting and have to travel to all those doctor appointments, so thank God that's not happening right now.
We do travel to PA pretty frequently, so that hurts.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Donna Marie
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We are bummed because I have to travel about 40 minutes (one way) to see my new midwife and to get to the hospital to have this baby because the hospital only 4 minutes away from my house does not accept VBACs! I have to drive the 15 passenger van to get there...so yeah, we are bummed! It is hard when you have already cut back on so much!
God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc +one more due 10/08!
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God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 9dc!!
Finding Elegant Simplicity
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: April 09 2008 at 11:25am | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
lapazfarm wrote:
Why in the world should we give a corporation making record profits a tax break? They are not the ones hurting. Lowering their taxes will simply raise their profit margin, with no guarantee that we will see any relief at the pump. Plus, less taxes on the gas companies means we will have to pick up the slack to pay for all of the things those tax dollars went towards, like road improvement, etc. Giving the oil companies a tax break means giving the rest of us a tax increase.
Yes, it is complicated. Very much so. |
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Oh, I wasn't suggesting lowering the oil companies taxes, but the tax that we're paying at the pump (which is both US and then each state can levy their own, making it higher in different places). That would lower it for us in a small way. |
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I see. Thanks for clarifying!Whew!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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lapazfarm
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I heartily agree that living simply, reducing consumption, and promoting alternatives to petroleum products is the way to go. It just seems so logical that the answer on all of this mess it to reduce our dependence on oil, period. It's a win-win, really. Better for our economy, for our environment, and for our national security to not have to rely on imports. Perhaps these high prices will be what it finally takes to motivate research and development in that direction.
I love you ladies and the fact that we can discuss this potentially touchy topic without resorting to the nastiness I've seen other places! 
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: April 09 2008 at 11:39am | IP Logged
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Jenn,
I don't mind clarification at all. I'm pro-explanations. Truth is, I understand very little myself.
The "record profits" is what gets my husband and last night he was talking to me about the processing of sweet vs. sour gas.
I expect good narrations from my children but please don't ask me to narrate what dh said last night. I listened and politely nodded my head and acted interested because I knew he needed to vent and because I know how much this affects all of us.
It's so confusing and, yes, you're right...very complex.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Is Your Husband Depressed Over...
