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Wednesday, June 04, 2008

which is more ridiculous?

A. I found a paper with our 'family budget' from 1998: been married less than a year, baby on the way. Our monthly budget for gasoline for our one vehicle was $20 a month.

B. I fill up the tank in my van, on average, weekly. This morning I filled up and it cost(ed) $99.22.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am so depressed about gas. It takes two weeks of my pay to cover the expenses of four drivers. I can't keep up! I finally told the boys they have to hitch a ride and I'm going to pump up my tires and ride to work again. I'm even considering breaking out the bike trailer for trips to the grocery store. You know, because thank heavens food prices aren't ridiculous. Not!

Sherry said...

I live in New Zealand right now. And there are a lot of great things about living here. I really love it.

Except everything here is more expensive than in the States

The worst is that gas prices are $6/gallon. That's adjusted for the U.S. dollar.

I know that doesn't make you feel any better, but I figured this was a good outlet for my whining.

Carina said...

I remember when I crossed the state line seven or eight years ago. Gas was $1.15 on the Nevada side. $1.15! I thought that was so much money, I could hardly conceive of it.


Yeah...

amanda said...

B - Wow, that's really depressing!

QueenScarlett said...

It's frustrating... infuriating...

I used to complain when gas was 1.99 - my hubby was in the bay area last week and paid 5.15... there is no excuse for this... except greed.

Shar said...

I just paid $100.68 to fill my tank today. But I spilled some down the side of my car. At least $0.68 cents worth. Ridiculous.

wendysue said...

My Dad and I were chatting as I was filling up my van while he was visiting, I remember when I first started driving it was really good if it was like .98, he remembers when it was .05, yep .05.

Cari said...

It is ridiculous! I put $20 in the other day and it barely filled up a quarter of the tank! I think the bikes are getting dusted off around here too.

La Yen said...

We don't have bikes. Because I am lazy.

But we are still less than most of the country--$3.85. And we are still complaining.

Even when we were first married we always had a high gas budget because we NEVER lived near where we worked. It just didn't work out. If W were living here we would be putting gas in the tank at least once a week, instead of my every two weeks or so lifestyle. I am considering getting him a motorcycle when he comes back...

Rynell said...

That sounds very familiar. My van cost me $50 to fill when we got it 2 and a half years ago. Now it costs me more than $90 to fill. Same scenario w/ my husbands little commuter. Almost double in price in only about 3 years time.

When we were first married, we lived close to almost everything...campus, work, grocery store. One winter, we only filled our gas tank once. And when we went out to finally drive our (very old) car, it was frozen to the ground. Now I have to drive everywhere.

(Didn't intend to get so wordy....)

More Caffiene, Please said...

This post is funny because I found a budget from five years ago, before kids, married one year. I had a CLOTHES budget of $250 a month. Just for me. And it was SECOND on the list, just under "Condo Mortgage Payment." At least my priorities were straight...

Okay, now I'm bummed.

sue-donym said...

For the first time in my life, my seester said to me, "I'm not sure if I will come down for your party; It will cost me $15 in gas."

Of course she came, but still what a freakin' joke.

Gerb said...

My brother came over last week and asked my 11-year-old, "What's up?" She answered: "Gas prices".

What a joke!

Mumsy said...

Ack! What kind of car do you drive???

Here in NY it's over $4.50 a gallon for premium--it sucks to drive a VW right now. We used to be able to fill up for $40, like last summer. Now we're too afraid to let it get below the halfway mark...

Logan said...

I remember being angry when gas prices were $1.22. Seriously. And I drive an Audi, which "requires" premium grade gas, but yeah, that doesn't happen. Luckily, being at high altitude, the lower grade doesn't affect the performance much. I even get better mileage with regular! Can you tell I'm just trying to make myself better? It's not working

Geo said...

I'm doing the woman-powered grocery-haul too, like c-dub. Maybe we should bike pool?

Elisa said...

Whenever I go to get gas, I leave feeling violated. And not in a good way.

My Ku'ulei said...

Oh Jenny, I love your 1998 family budget mention. Yeah, gas prices blow, but it made me happy thinking of 10 years ago, how we didn't have much of an idea of what was in store for us. It's amazing what life throws at you - I'm glad it threw you me 12 years ago. I love you - K.

Ryan and Susie said...

the fact that you spent $100 to fill up your family mini van is absolutely hands down disgusting. I'm terribly, terribly sorry.

I heard it costs about $100K to get a license to drill for your own oil. We should all pool our money together and start making some bucks!

Tori :) said...

I remember when you could put $5 in your car and it'd getcha atleast 1/4 tank. Now $20 doesn't even get you that much. :(