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LisaR
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| Posted: April 11 2008 at 12:02pm | IP Logged
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sewcrazy wrote:
Any diesel car will run on bio diesel. Not all trucks will though. You can buy the equipment to filter the grease yourself, and get the grease from local restaurants. I buy mine from a local station that combines recycled grease with fresh pressed soy bean oil and 10% diesel fuel.
with a contract at the Chicago MB dealer, we were able to buy it at MB employee cost and 0% interest financing.
LeeAnn |
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LeeAnn, very intersting about the bio diesel adaptability. I had no idea. We have a '02 suburban, and it can take the E85 fuel, but we go back and forth about if it is really "worth it".
where is your dh work area? we're in Peoria, maybe we'll have to contact you for auto suggestions when our 1996 200,000 mi Isuzu Oasis (honda odyssey rebadge) finally dies for good!
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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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folklaur
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| Posted: April 11 2008 at 12:25pm | IP Logged
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When gas prices went up, dh got a scooter. It looks like this. DD18 is mortified, obviously  .
But he gets 85 miles to the gallon....
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JenniferS
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Dh has seriously talked about getting a scooter. My dh is so accident prone, though, it makes me nervous. 
Jen
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PDyer
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| Posted: April 11 2008 at 3:13pm | IP Logged
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Lots to read and ponder there; thanks, Cay!
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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 11 2008 at 4:05pm | IP Logged
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Kathryn UK wrote:
Averages tell you everything and nothing  . Not everyone owns their own home, and it is a safe bet that those on lower incomes are more likely to rent or be in social housing. The average income of home-owners would therefore be higher than the overall average, possibly significantly higher. The second factor is two income families. For many families in the UK (and I guess in the US too), having a second income is the only way they can afford to buy a home.
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Sounds like there isn't as much difference in the US and UK as we thought.
I know this started out as a "gas hike" talk but I find all this talk fascinating and right in line with "Is Your Husband Depressed Over..."
So keep talking. 
__________________
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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Kathryn UK
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| Posted: April 12 2008 at 1:56am | IP Logged
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CrunchyMom wrote:
It is also my impression from reading about home improvement and green living, etc..., that homes in Europe are built more expensively than homes here. They use more efficient windows, insulation, furnaces, etc... that all make the upfront cost of the house more--but, people tend to buy/build to live in one place for much longer than Americans do, and in the long term, they don't have to use as much energy to run their home.
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I think that may be true of continental Europe, but not of the UK which in many ways is more like the US than the rest of Europe. What pushes up house prices here is the cost of land in a much more densely populated country - population density in the UK is 10 times that of the US (population a quarter of the USA, but the USA is 40 times larger). Also planning restrictions are greater which also pushes up land prices. Houses are therefore smaller and more expensive. Double whammy!
We have a mild climate with no extremes of heat or cold, so may well need less energy - we don't get the long, snowy winters of the northern US, nor do we need air conditioning in houses. I doubt that our houses are any better built than yours. Other European countries may well be better than the US at building houses that suit their climate.
Also people are very mobile here and no more likely to stay in one place than Americans. Again, I think it is probably different elsewhere in Europe.
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Kathryn
Dh Michael,  Rachel(3/95) Hannah(8/98) Naomi(6/06)  (11/07)
The Bookworm
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CrunchyMom
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That is interesting, Kathryn. Thanks for clarifying.
I wonder how the population density thing really plays out? For instance, there is a lot of land in American that is super affordable--it just happens to be in the middle of no where with no jobs or means to support a family (things like churches). So, I wonder if in practice, we are really living so much less "densely" (boy, you could take that a number of ways, lol) than those in the UK.
It is hard to be content, isn't it? I know rationally that I am living in luxury compared to most of the world, and yet, after being stuck inside our 1100 sq feet all winter with two very active boys, a bigger house sure does look appealing! It is hard for me to weigh it all and look at things objectively sometimes!
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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stacykay
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Cay Gibson wrote:
...
Sounds like there isn't as much difference in the US and UK as we thought.
I know this started out as a "gas hike" talk but I find all this talk fascinating and right in line with "Is Your Husband Depressed Over..."
So keep talking. |
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Oh, I am glad Cay said to keep talking, because I have a question that is off-track, along the lines of maybe a new thread, "what is live like in the UK?" But I will ask here. (My grandfather came from a small town near London, so I am always fascinated by anything English...)
My question for Kathryn or other UK moms is how much do you pay in taxes? Do you have "free" health care? Dental? Optical?
Oh, and what are your speed limits on your roads? (That question is more "gas" related! )
We have been talking economics ALOT here (17yods is taking econ right now,) and we all have had questions we are looking up. The health care cost was 13yods's question.
Thank you!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Kathryn UK
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CrunchyMom wrote:
I wonder how the population density thing really plays out? For instance, there is a lot of land in American that is super affordable--it just happens to be in the middle of no where with no jobs or means to support a family (things like churches). So, I wonder if in practice, we are really living so much less "densely" (boy, you could take that a number of ways, lol) than those in the UK. |
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I think it does have an impact. Planning regulations are very tight here to protect "green belt" land around towns and cities - land that can't be built on. I haven't visited the US so can't compare directly, but I'm pretty certain houses there are generally larger and on larger plots. The sort of surburban sprawl you get round American cities would be very much more squashed up here.
More average figures
The average size of a new American home in 2000 was 2,266 square feet.
I couldn't find an overall average for the UK, but Sevenoaks in Kent is the town with the largest average property size - 1,377 square feet. The smallest average was for Tower Hamlets in London - 729 square feet. So at a guess an overall average of around 1000 square feet probably wouldn't be far out. That would include flats (apartments), but the average family home would probably be somewhere around 1200 to 1500 square feet. Unlike the US where new homes are growing in size, new homes here are typically smaller.
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Kathryn
Dh Michael, Rachel(3/95) Hannah(8/98) Naomi(6/06) (11/07)
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lapazfarm
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Ok,now I am starting to feel bad.
The average American has a 300K house with 2266 sq ft., and I have a 125K house with 1100 sq ft, what does that make me?
And here I thought we were pretty average!LOL!
Just kidding. I know that averages don't tell the whole story. But still it does give one pause...
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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Kathryn UK
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stacykay wrote:
Oh, I am glad Cay said to keep talking, because I have a question that is off-track, along the lines of maybe a new thread, "what is live like in the UK?" But I will ask here. (My grandfather came from a small town near London, so I am always fascinated by anything English...)
My question for Kathryn or other UK moms is how much do you pay in taxes? |
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Converting into dollars for you ...
There are four main forms of tax that affect individuals (as opposed to businesses)
1. Income Tax: the first $10,870 of an individuals income is free of income tax, then the rate is 20% on the next $72,000 and 40% thereafter.
2. National Insurance: this is used (at least notionally) to fund state pensions and benefits. The amount of state pension you eventually receive is based on the amount of NI contributions you pay, as are certain other benefits (widows, unemployment and so on). The standard rate is 11%, unless you are on a very high income, or a very low one (when it is zero)
3. Council tax: local taxes, based on house size and notional value. For the average family home this would be around $3000 a year.
4. Value Added Tax (VAT): sales tax at 15% on everything except "necessities" which are groceries, children's clothes but not adults (!), books and maybe one or two other things. This is usually included in the price of goods so it tends to be an invisible tax.
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| Do you have "free" health care? Dental? Optical? |
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Yes to free health care. The only charge is for prescription drugs, which are about $14 per item. This charge is waived for children, over 60s, pregnant women (and for 1 year after the birth), and anyone on a low income. People needed frequent prescriptions can pay a fixed annual charge (around $150 to $200 I think).
Dental (including orthodontics) and optical care is free for children, but there are fixed charges for adults, unless you are on a low income or have particular health problems (for example someone with glaucoma would get free optical care). Many adults use private (non-National Health Service) dentists, but the costs are considerably lower than in the US I think.
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Oh, and what are your speed limits on your roads? (That question is more "gas" related! )
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Two lane roads and motorways are normally 70mph
Single lane roads are 60mph outside built-up areas.
The speed limit in built-up areas is usually 30mph, but can be higher if it is a major road.
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Kathryn
Dh Michael, Rachel(3/95) Hannah(8/98) Naomi(6/06) (11/07)
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stacykay
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Thank you for taking the time to give us all this information, Kathryn!!! I think we will segue from economics into Great Britian!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI (gas still $3.499/gallon at our closest station)
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stefoodie
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stacykay wrote:
| Thank you for taking the time to give us all this information, Kathryn!!! |
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Yes, thank you!! And actually, thank you for the whole thread, Cay and everyone. This has been very educational for me, and will make a great lesson for the kids!
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stef
mom to five
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Kathryn UK
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lapazfarm wrote:
The average American has a 300K house with 2266 sq ft., and I have a 125K house with 1100 sq ft, what does that make me? |
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Lucky . Over here you would just about get half of a 500 sq.ft. apartment for that. And you would be paying $10 a gallon for gas
That average house size was for new builds, though - and the article said new houses in the US are getting larger, so the average house would be less than that. And in any case, average is as average does!
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Kathryn
Dh Michael, Rachel(3/95) Hannah(8/98) Naomi(6/06) (11/07)
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lapazfarm
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Kathryn UK wrote:
lapazfarm wrote:
The average American has a 300K house with 2266 sq ft., and I have a 125K house with 1100 sq ft, what does that make me? |
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Lucky . Over here you would just about get half of a 500 sq.ft. apartment for that. And you would be paying $10 a gallon for gas
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Yes, lucky! And especially compared to what many have worldwide. I have to remember this when I am feeling like I don't have much. I do have a full belly, warm clothes,safe streets, and a place for my children and I to lay our heads every night. Many, many more blessings than I deserve, and much more than many folks will see in their lifetimes.
Thanks for the reminder, Kathryn!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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stacykay
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lapazfarm wrote:
Ok,now I am starting to feel bad.
The average American has a 300K house with 2266 sq ft., and I have a 125K house with 1100 sq ft, what does that make me? .....
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Thrifty!  Not living beyond your means? In the next town over from us, there is a brand new subdivision, houses about 3,500 sq. ft. and up, with 40 houses now in foreclosure! 
Because so many jobs in MI are auto and manufacturing related, needless to say, MANY here have lost jobs to out-sourcing and down-sizing. Incomes are stagnant or dropped. Two houses on our block are in foreclosure, and ours is a way more modest suburban neighborhood. I would guess we might get $200,000 for our 2,000 sq. ft., if houses were moving. Our 2,000 sq. ft. (and ours is one of the larger homes) are for 8 people. Our yard is 70X120. Just enough.
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Is Your Husband Depressed Over...
