If there HAS to be a bright side to high fuel $

[SHovis]

This is the reason I don't agree that we should be bailing out the idiots that got themselves in "too deep"... just because they can't manage their finances, the rest of us that can get hosed. Maybe losing their house would be the needed wake up call. There is no being responsible for your actions anymore... the one's that screw up always get bailed out while those of us that work hard and live within our means get nothing.

Second that!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

YUP - everything we have is paid for too, and quite a bit in the bank and investments, providing good income so far...



But the "well heeled" here just can't seem to grasp or comprehend the fact that living in the penthouse luxury is of little comfort...



WHEN THE BUILDING IS ON FIRE!



Sorta like having the "best cabin" on the Titanic...





A blurb from the pages of one of todays leading financial papers:

Indeed, while the dollar rose against the euro on Monday, many investors believe the greenback is likely to keep falling as the Fed continues to cut rates. Many analysts believe the rise in crude prices is not supported by the market's underlying fundamentals, noting that supplies are generally rising while demand is falling.



"By gobbling up everything in sight, (investors) are pushing food and fuel prices to ruinously high levels," said Peter Beutel, president of the energy risk management firm Cameron Hanover, in a research note. "

 

[JFaulkner]

There are always plus sides to everything. The falling dollar just makes this country more attractive to foreign companies to build products here. I heard AirBus was looking to build planes here because it's cheaper than Europe. About the declining housing market, all you hear on the news is how horrible it is. Well it's only horrible if your trying to sell a house, it's great for those shopping for a house. No matter what happens it's always labeled as the worst thing ever, but we always seem to find a way to get through it.



I saw how the congress is thinking on raising taxes on oil companies, gee that will be sure to lower prices. Hope none of you have a 401k or a pension plan because I'd bet money you've got oil stock and it's going to take money from you. They won't be happy until a company like Exxon moves to Mexico and they lose all the $27. 9 billion in taxes (41. 4% tax rate) that the govt collected in 2006 from them. Higher Tax Rates, Lower Revenue.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

They won't be happy until a company like Exxon moves to Mexico and they lose all the $27. 9 billion in taxes (41. 4% tax rate) that the govt collected in 2006 from them. Higher Tax Rates, Lower Revenue.

They likely to take all their stations and refineries with them? :-laf:-laf



Fact is, most of the major oil companies ALREADY have major offices and operations in foreigh countries...



BUT yeah - increasing taxes on the oil companies IS a foolish move - far BETTER to devise an alternative energy program, and give the oil companies tax CREDITS for their development and production...

 

[Bill Lins]

Higher fuel prices = less traffic = safer for me on my 52 mpg motorsickle!

 

[Reddog1]

I live in California, and drive 260 miles on the highway to work, each week. I see no difference in traffic. My MPG is such, that it cost me about 8 cents more to drive, for every one dollar increase per gallon of fuel. If I did the math right, I think the dollar increase will cost me about $20 per month. I really hope I never get so far in debt, that $20 a month would force me to sell my truck.

I do not live the American way, and have been debt free for over twenty years, home excepted. I seldom use cash, always use plastic, and pay it off every month. Because I do not use credit, I believe I live about 15 to 20 percent cheaper than most.

Wayne

 

[HBarlow]

Wayne:



Another man who lives within his means. It is an amazing concept for a worry free life.



For anyone who is interested the simple formula for determining fuel cost per mile is:



1 (meaning one mile) divided by your vehicle's mpg multiplied by the dollar cost of one gallon of fuel.



1 / 15 mpg * $3. 75 = $0. 25 per mile driven



Cost to drive 1000 miles per month equals $250.



If/when fuel cost in TX goes to $4/gallon it becomes:



1/15*$4 = $0. 267/mile



1000 miles per month at $0. 267/mile equals $267. ($0. 267 * 1000 = $267)



Hardly a reason to sell a Cummins powered Dodge Ram or jump off a bridge.



I haven't had my first cup of coffee yet so hope my arithmetic is correct.



Harvey

 

[gitchesum]

Here's what I built when I started thinking it would be cheaper to buy another vehicle to commute in.



Of course, it's just basic expenses(gas and oil), but it helps establish a baseline number to add insurance and other expenses to. Just input the information in the cells with the red letters. The rest of the cells have formulas in them.



http://www.hotroddiesels.info/Excel/Vehicle Mileage Calculator.xls

 

[Reddog1]

HBarlow - My math is the same as yours.

gitchesum - I Looked at your spreadsheet, thanks. I plugged my numbers in, and probably be banned from posting, if I posted the results. I added a couple of things to your spreadsheet.


Wayne

 

[Tinman]

Wow, some sane comments about fuel prices. The high prices have had a small effect so far, but prices will continue to rise and more changes are coming. Not just smaller cars, but people that work in metropolitan areas will start to move back into the city. Suburbanization will stop. This is just plain life on planet earth. These market forces will make things change and create needs for other energy sources. If we'd get over our ridiculous fear of nuclear energy, we could use this to make domestic shale oil into fuel for many hundreds of years.



Unfortunately, all these people out there (and some here) living beyond there means are going to cry,wine, kick and scream because they can't live their luxurious live style. They are going to expect the government to come in a rescue them. Case in point the mortgage problems going on. And what are all the talking head talking about, mortgage relief for those not smart enough pay their bills. This will be the death of what little liberty we have.



It's nice to see there are some people that can live responsibly. A little food for thought: You guys might want to look at getting as much wealth as you can out of US dollars.



As far as the big trucks we like to talk about. You can buy a lot of fuel for way it takes to buy another efficient vehicle. And since I have many hundreds of thousand of CTD miles left to drive, I'm just gonna keep on driving my truck and pay whatever fuel cost. It does make any effeciency mods more practical though. Hummmm... like maybe a cam. :-laf

 

[TFucili]

I do not live the American way, and have been debt free for over twenty years, home excepted. I seldom use cash, always use plastic, and pay it off every month. Because I do not use credit, I believe I live about 15 to 20 percent cheaper than most.



Wayne

Wow, this thread is great. I thought I was an oddball, but there appears to be quite a few of us that aren't part of the debt culture. Thanks, fellas

On second thought, my wife still thinks I'm an oddball

 

[TboneMan]

The scary thing is, the current high price of crude (and therefore the increased fuel cost) is DIRECTLY related to the mortgage crisis.



The Fed. keeps lowering interest rates (for one reason) to help the threatened mass foreclosures from upcoming ARM increases. This rate lowering has caused the value of the dollar to go down the toilet. With the dollar in the tank, investors are putting their money elsewhere, i. e. , gold and crude.



Get some strength in the dollar and crude will fall (and hopefully fuel prices). I hate to say this, but sometimes you have to sacrifice a few to save the masses. Those living beyond their means and those duped by realtors, fast talking mortgage brokers and fancy home builders should realize that Darwin had a theory about their survival.



p. s. I'm only talking financial survival here.

 

[TFucili]

The scary thing is, the current high price of crude (and therefore the increased fuel cost) is DIRECTLY related to the mortgage crisis.



The Fed. keeps lowering interest rates (for one reason) to help the threatened mass foreclosures from upcoming ARM increases. This rate lowering has caused the value of the dollar to go down the toilet. With the dollar in the tank, investors are putting their money elsewhere, i. e. , gold and crude.



Get some strength in the dollar and crude will fall (and hopefully fuel prices). I hate to say this, but sometimes you have to sacrifice a few to save the masses. Those living beyond their means and those duped by realtors, fast talking mortgage brokers and fancy home builders should realize that Darwin had a theory about their survival.



p. s. I'm only talking financial survival here.

True enough, but to repeat what bears repeating, why in heck do I have to pay for the foolish/naive/shortsighted lifestyle of the average moron. When I make a mistake, and I have made plenty, nobody comes swooping in to bail my azz out. I take it on the chin and get back at it. This is un-American.

 

[HBarlow]

TFucilli



I would add selfish and irresponsible to your description and agree with you.



Harvey

 

[Garlic]

I know we have beat a dead horse on fuel prices. IMO it was just a matter of time before it caught up with us. We have been enjoying the 'American Way' for a long time and all of a sudden the fuel costs go right through the roof with no end in sight. Just to put things in a little perspective here are todays "Gasoline" prices (I know it's gas not diesel but here they are).

Oslo Norway $6. 48/Gal USD

Milan Italy $6. 27/Gal USD

FrankFurt Germany $5. 57/Gal USD

Luxembourg $4. 82/Gal USD

Geniva Switzerland $4. 74/Gal USD

Tokyo Japan $4. 24/Gal USD

Now these places I would like to live and their prices are WAY higher than ours.

If you want lower pricing here is the other side of the world:

Caracas Venezuela (Chavez ville) $0. 12/Gal USD He owns the oil and the stations.

Cairo Egypt $0. 65/Gal USD

Moscow Russia $2. 10/Gal USD

Riyadh Saudi Arabia $0. 91/Gal USD

(USD-US Dollars)

Yes, I as everyone else would like to see a more reasonable price structure and justification on fuel prices rather than Gouging (That they say they are not doing) But, We do live in a "free" country and unfortunatly that is the way it is. If you want better fuel mileage get a smaller car, if you don't really care just continue the way you are (That's my vote). This is just my 2 cents of complaining about it. I will continue to drive the cleanest longest lasting LD Diesel on the market. Thank you for your support.

 

[TFucili]

I know we have beat a dead horse on fuel prices. IMO it was just a matter of time before it caught up with us. We have been enjoying the 'American Way' for a long time and all of a sudden the fuel costs go right through the roof with no end in sight. Just to put things in a little perspective here are todays "Gasoline" prices (I know it's gas not diesel but here they are).

Oslo Norway $6. 48/Gal USD

Milan Italy $6. 27/Gal USD

FrankFurt Germany $5. 57/Gal USD

Luxembourg $4. 82/Gal USD

Geniva Switzerland $4. 74/Gal USD

Tokyo Japan $4. 24/Gal USD

Now these places I would like to live and their prices are WAY higher than ours.

If you want lower pricing here is the other side of the world:

Caracas Venezuela (Chavez ville) $0. 12/Gal USD He owns the oil and the stations.

Cairo Egypt $0. 65/Gal USD

Moscow Russia $2. 10/Gal USD

Riyadh Saudi Arabia $0. 91/Gal USD

(USD-US Dollars)

Yes, I as everyone else would like to see a more reasonable price structure and justification on fuel prices rather than Gouging (That they say they are not doing) But, We do live in a "free" country and unfortunatly that is the way it is. If you want better fuel mileage get a smaller car, if you don't really care just continue the way you are (That's my vote). This is just my 2 cents of complaining about it. I will continue to drive the cleanest longest lasting LD Diesel on the market. Thank you for your support.

I would point out that, from what I have read, in the countries with the outrageous fuel prices the primary reason for that is TAXATION due to their more socialist approach to living. If you remove the taxes from the picture the actual cost of the fuel is much closer. It doesn't make me feel better about getting raped to find out that someone else is getting raped worse.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

It may also be true that the price of fuel in many of those European countries are "European" Gallons - nearly 5 US quarts per gallon - makes even more difference in comparative prices - they typically get MORE fuel to their gallon than we do. And for sure, mysteriously, THEIR fuel prices have been FAR more stable than ours over the last few years, and I seriously doubt that stability has been because of any REDUCTION in the government taxes on their fuels to compensate...

It doesn't make me feel better about getting raped to find out that someone else is getting raped worse.

ABSOLUTELY - nor does the possibility that some in our country are facing or going thru bankruptcy make ME feel any more financially intelligent, smug, or righteous because *I* am not!



Many are facing financial difficulty and ruin NOT because of direct effect of fuel price increases or "poor planning" on their part, but because of lost business and JOBS, as the manufacturing and retail sector cuts jobs or go under themselves as the result of peripheral energy related issues...



I only too well remember the last big (to me!) recession in the late 50's - I was married, one baby son, and just out of the Army. The place where I had been working shut down, and jobs weren't just scarce, they didn't exist! We were broke, and I did file for unemployment - but managed to land my first newspaper job before the first unemployment check was issued.



Believe me, the LAST thing I would have stood still for at that time, was to hear how I was to blame for my lack of work, lack of $$$, and was some monstrous "drain" on the financial condition of those still working due to my own "poor financial planning"!



Many currently in bad financial situations are NOT the "cause" of additional woes - but innocent VICTIMS of it!

 

[AFoulk]

I agree Gary. Many people complaign about about gas prices being so high, but I think whats really hurting most people is the cost of home heating oil. I work with a guy that is just barely making it cause not only is he paying child support for his first little girl, but his current wife just left him because she couldn't deal with the responsibility and financial strain of owning their first home and having 2 baby girls (besides his first one). Now hes stuck trying to pay the mortgage and all the other bills that go along with owning a house. Hes froze is butt off many a cold night cause he couldn't afford to fill his heating oil tank.



I also think it would help if people had a financial plan rather than making impulse purchases. I flat out told my gf when we got together, I'm gonna set aside money to spend on my truck cause I finally have something I can play around with, and someday we're gonna have kids and a house, and I wont be able to do it then. But we sat down and decided that we're gonna look at buying a house in about 5 years. We figure by then we'll have everything payed off (other than my beloved cummins) and will be able to afford a house. so many people around here buy a home, and then it gets forclosed or they have to sell it 6months or a year later cause they didn't give much thought to "hey, can we really afford this?"

 

[rb1]

sorry to hear about his cold nights people should stand up and stick together truck drivers can make things stand still but they dont see that way but like your friends family he is trying to do good feed and keep them warm

rb1