$4 gas in Hawaii and California, page 1
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Topic started on 14-3-2008 @ 09:55 AM by MikeboydUS

$4 gas in Hawaii and California


news.yahoo.com
WAILUKU, Hawaii - "Maui No Kai Oi" is a popular Hawaiian saying that means Maui is the best. Mike Sweeney recently moved to this idyllic island from Denver and was hit with the other side of living in paradise with his first visit to the gas pump: Maui is also No. 1 in gas prices.
(visit the link for the full news article)


reply posted on 14-3-2008 @ 10:12 AM by MikeboydUS
reply to post by BlueTriangle



That shouldn't stop the the mainland from developing mass transit systems like Europe has.

I lived in Germany for a few years. Even though gas prices were really high, due to taxes, the transit system really helped balance out those prices with people's bank accounts.


[edit on 14/3/08 by MikeboydUS]


reply posted on 14-3-2008 @ 10:15 AM by niteboy82
reply to post by BlueTriangle



If they had been living with a budget that depended on $3/gal gasoline, and it went up to $10/gal I am pretty sure it would still affect people. That's like saying that since I walk to work that it shouldn't matter to me if I spend $200 on a pair of Nikes when I'm used to spending $70.

I remember when it was $2/gal in California, and everyone here said that would just be California dealing with those prices, it would never become that much for Louisiana. Last time I saw a sign for gas, it read $3.15.

I think I'm going to stick with walking.


reply posted on 14-3-2008 @ 10:38 AM by MikeboydUS
reply to post by BlueTriangle




Most people dont drive Hondas. Most people fill their car or truck up once or twice a week, depending on the car model. So for most people its a huge issue. Me personally I spend about $40/week and thats driving a Toyota.

And I dont have an Ipod or LCD Tv.

[edit on 14/3/08 by MikeboydUS]


reply posted on 14-3-2008 @ 11:19 AM by Zaphod58
reply to post by BlueTriangle



Have you ever lived in Hawaii? Didn't think so. You can talk about "living within your means" all you want, but when you're living in a place where cereal can cost you $6 a box, and you're working 3 jobs just to SURVIVE then paying $4 a gallon for gasoline hurts a hell of a lot more. I lived out there for years and was lucky enough to have access to military stores. Not everyone does. My friends moved into former military housing, after it was opened up to rent. A medium sized 2 bedroom townhouse was costing them $1550 a month. And that was considered reasonable.


reply posted on 14-3-2008 @ 12:12 PM by LLoyd45
reply to post by BlueTriangle

Blue:

Maybe some of what you're saying is true about living beyond one's means, but gas prices also affect heating costs, food costs, utility costs, ad nauseum.

There is a fuel surcharge attached to practically every service or item you buy today. Locally food prices have risen at least 10%, and when you live on a budget, that impacts greatly on how well you can feed your family.

The increase is due to surcharges placed on the transportation of the goods to the store, who then passes the increases on to the consumer. You can bet there will even be further postal increases if the price of gas continues to rise.

When you add up all these surchages for goods that have been passed on to you, they amount to a good portion of your disposable income. It's a cumulative effect.

Where should people start economizing? Eat less, not keep their homes warm so they get sick, ride their bikes 60 miles a day to work, live in darkness to save on their electric bill?





[edit on 3/14/08 by LLoyd45]


reply posted on 14-3-2008 @ 12:23 PM by LLoyd45
reply to post by BlueTriangle

Obviously you have a good paying job, or you wouldn't be feeling quite so self-righteous or as your avatar says smarmy.

Lose your job to outsourcing or have your pay reduced due to downsizing, then we'll see what you have to say. Most people are less than two paychecks away from being on the street and homeless. It only takes one major setback to ruin a person's whole life.

Oh, By the way, I don't have a new or big car, a plasma screen TV, or a new home that I'm paying on. I'm just a poor smuck trying to get by from paycheck to paycheck like probably 90% of the population is doing now. Thanks for your comments.






[edit on 3/14/08 by LLoyd45]



reply posted on 14-3-2008 @ 12:39 PM by BlueTriangle
Originally posted by LLoyd45
Obviously you have a good paying job, or you wouldn't be feeling quite so self-righteous or as your avatar says smarmy.

Lose your job to outsourcing or have your pay reduced due to downsizing, then we'll see what you have to say. Most people are less than two paychecks away from being on the street and homeless. It only takes one major setback to ruin a person's whole life.

Oh, By the way, I don't have a new or big car, a plasma screen TV, or a new home that I'm paying on. I'm just a poor smuck trying to get by from paycheck to paycheck like probably 90% of the population is doing now. Thanks for your comments.


You assume too much. The "smarmy" remark is a joke, but I won't waste my time even arguing that. I'm also not loaded, my family falls pretty squarely into lower middle with a 50ish hour work week for me and a 35 hour week for my wife. The fact is that I'm struggling just like everybody else. I've certainly noticed the 20% or so increase in my food bill. The difference is that I don't whine and complain and expect the government to step in and ease my situation. I cut corners and live below my means so that a small increase in my gas bill doesn't destroy my life. If you define self-righteous as a person who takes responsiblity for his life and doesn't blame oil companies or the government when things get tough, then I guess you have me pegged.

Living week to week is a bad idea for anybody. Sitting down and making a plan can put that to an end much quicker than you think. This is off topic, I know, but I used to have the same attitude as you. Until I sat down and actually looked at my finances and realized that things were only tight because I was throwing away several hundred dollars a month on things like eating out, cigarettes, and soda. I didn't see it it going and I bet many people who are now struggling are doing the same thing and don't even realize it.

Thanks to you for your comments as well.

[edit on 14-3-2008 by BlueTriangle]


reply posted on 14-3-2008 @ 12:57 PM by jojoKnowsBest
On Vashon Island gas is at $3.99 a gallon and it’s only a fifteen minute ferry ride to Seattle where it’s about $3.79 a gallon for premo, which my 94 Acura requires.

Since Seattle is so close to the oil that comes from Alaska it doesn’t make much sense why we have some of the highest gas prices in the country. Why is fuel so much cheaper on the East Coast?

These are some tips to save fuel and if you follow them you can see your fuel economy go up 20-30% without having to buy a new car. I started doing it and I have noticed a huge difference.

Drive like an old lady. Feather that throttle and get up to speed as slowly as possible the higher you rev your engine the more precious gas you waste.

After 55MPH you automobile hits an aerodynamic brick wall where it take a lot more power for small gains in speed. Try to drive around 60MPH on the highway, if you go 70-75 MPH your wasting gas to get to your destination a few minutes quicker

Do as the NASCAR does and start drafting. The closer you tail a Semi your car will get sucked along by the negative pressure wave saving up to 20% more power and using less gas to achieve the same speed (See Myth Busters). The closer you get the less fuel you use but remember tail gating is illegal and dangerous.

When going down a hill throw it in neutral and coast as long as you can. When you leave it in gear or don’t have an overdrive the engine breaking will slow your car down.

Don’t believe me, try it for a week and come back and call me a liar
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