It’s about the economy stupid! I live 18 miles from town. That’s 36 miles round trip just getting there. That’s $7 at least. Then, anyplace I go in town is extra cost. I can tell you it costs $15 to go the grocery store. It costs $18 to go to my car club meeting once a month; not including dinner.
I haven’t had a regular full time job since 2011. (I had 10 months contract in ‘12.) So, although I’m not hurting for money, I have no idea how long what I have must last. Also, with Obama diddling the money supply;doubling (2009) then tripling (2010); plus Quantitative Easing of adding 87 billion per month, how long will the money I have last?
That’s why Americans aren’t driving for entertainment anymore.
I used to always fill the car with gas.
Now I buy $30.00 worth at a time , and I watch the needle and stay home.
Gas prices are really bad. I haven’t gone for a boat ride all year, Gas costs too much. I may even sell the boat.
5 gallon can of gas for the lawn mower is almost $20.00.
For me, anyway, gas was one of the easiest places to cut back.
Mrs WBill and I used to get in the car and go where we pleased. No more.
Now, I plan shopping trips on my way home from work. If we shop on the weekends, then we "go to town" ... plan the trip out to make numerous stops, and so on. If it can wait, we wait.
When gas is $3.50 / gal, that's what needs to be done. I'm sure that we're not the only couple who feel this way.
One plus, I suppose, is that the small stores local to me are getting my business. Makes no sense to spend $6 in gas driving "into town", to save a buck on some single necessity.