Gasoline prices and you

Posted Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at 11:02 PM

Other than driving to and from work, how much have you limited your driving or altered your plans for trips or a vacation due to the price of gasoline?

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I think it's time to bring back the railroad system... Seriously if I were a billionaire and wanted to change history, save costs, and reduce the burden on middle and low income citizens, what better opportunity arises?

It could possibly take 1/2 of all semi's off the road. Where they'll only be needed to pick up parts at local warehouses rather than shipping them across the entire country.

Think about it...

-- Posted by darrick_04 on Sat, Mar 15, 2008, at 12:27 PM

I'll have to say, oil prices are going to squash out the middle and low income people. The fact is what we eat,wear, drive,our homes and all the furnishings, well for that matter all that we have is transported in some way. Trucks and railway are the way we get things. Take a look at this, to fill a big rig up with fuel it cost 1,000.00 to 1,200.00, and they get around 6 to 8 miles to the gallon so do your math. Now who is that cost going to be passed on to? The minimum wage jobs are not going to be able to eat or buy clothes. Just paying rent or mortgage payments and utilities will break the bank.

-- Posted by tn.moonshiner on Fri, Mar 14, 2008, at 6:41 PM

We really haven't cut back on our gas but we have in other places. My husband and I love to take little one day road trips on the weekends and we've just started going thru Sonic for a burger while out instead of the more expensive restaurants that we used to frequent while on our trips. Of course we do take my more gas friendly car and leave his big truck at home.

-- Posted by DannysGal on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 9:13 PM

We sold the big truck and the suv. Have an s-10 and 4cyl. car. No extra running to the mall or buzzing over to Murfreesboro or Tullahoma for a night eating out and a movie. Having people over more instead of going out has been very enjoyable. I would love to ride my bike more but am not ready to die yet.

-- Posted by ontheoutside on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 4:07 PM

I have started buying things from the internet instead of going out. If you buy enough you can usually get free shipping. With some site you don't have taxes either. This will hurt our Bedford county budget if someone else is getting our sales tax but what can you do? Maybe we should lower our gas tax to gain some relief.

-- Posted by ILOVEBEDFORDCO on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 1:14 PM

After responding several minutes ago, I thought more about this question, and more about our addiction to driving and thus on oil.

Maybe higher gas prices are a good thing. The truth is, for most of us, higher gas prices are not detrimental to financial survival,as we would spend that money on a few lattes a week or an extra outfit that we really don't need. But, if it does make us think twice about the unnecessary driving or increasing our fuel efficiency , then maybe the end result becomes positive.

Whether are not you accept the notion that any perceived climate change is due to global warming, we all DO know that vehicles have a degree of emissions that pollute our air. By using technology to increase fuel efficiency, and reduce these gross by products, we will help insure a cleeaner atmosphere for future generations.

And BTW, why in the world are roads so narrow here in Shelbyville that bicycling or walking short distances is such a danger. If our city was more pedestrian-friendly we can get a start on solving two of today's problems,gas and obesity.

-- Posted by gottago on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 12:29 PM

Disgusted:

A gas boycott will do sweet f.a. Check it: http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/...

-- Posted by cubicalgirl on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 11:55 AM

We have done several things. First we traded our pickup and SUV for a couple of 30+ MPG cars. We lived in Murf, worked in Shelbyville so we moved heto Shelbyville and I do our Murf running when I go up there to check on the Murfreesboro part of my business. We will drive to the beach tgis year, going 100% interstate, and hopefully the dollar will improve and jet fuel prices will stabilize so we can travel outside the country next year.

As gas prices also effect food prices we buy more things in bulk and will grow our own vegetables this year

-- Posted by gottago on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 9:56 AM

No extra trips, no vacation far away. We are thinking of going to Fall Creek Falls for a few days.

-- Posted by Jacks4me on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 9:44 AM

Guess your right!

-- Posted by Disgusted on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 9:44 AM

nothing. The oil companies have so much money it wouldn't hurt them at all.

-- Posted by Evil Monkey on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 9:23 AM

I wonder what would happen if everyone took just one day (same day for everyone) and refused to drive at all or buy gas?

-- Posted by Disgusted on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 8:39 AM

My husband and I work at MTSU, thankfully I can adjust my schedule to match his so we don't have to make extra trips.

We used to, on the weekends, when we first moved to TN, drive around and explore the area. Now that the gas prices are so high, we do that much less than we did.

-- Posted by cfrich on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 8:31 AM

We, too, try to run all errands in one trip and have only been driving to and from work. The bad part is that I work in Murfreesboro so gas is one of my biggest expenses. Our vacation plans will definitely be altered this summer. We'll probably still go to the beach, but most likely will wait until the rates change after Labor Day to help offset some of the fuel cost.

Speaking of the cost of gas, does anyone else happen to work in Murfreesboro at or near MTSU? I would definitely be interested in getting a carpool together.

-- Posted by k_collins39 on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 8:21 AM

I have started driving my daughters car to work, 32 mpg sure beats 17 mpg. I try to go to the grocery store on my way home rather than go back out.

-- Posted by Disgusted on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 8:20 AM

We only leave town when we have too.

Gas is our biggest expense, also. We spend right at $400 a month on it!

Man, that is sad!

-- Posted by Mary on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 7:14 AM

I live close enough to WalMart that if I only need one or two things, I walk.

-- Posted by craftin_mom on Thu, Mar 13, 2008, at 5:59 AM

I wished I could cut back on my driving, because gas is almost my biggest expense. I have cut back some.

-- Posted by greasemonkey on Wed, Mar 12, 2008, at 11:44 PM

I try to do all my errands in one trip. My vacation plans will most likely not vary due to gas prices.