anyone started trying to save gas?

[javacontour]

Nope. Life is too short. Didn’t 2020 teach us that? If I can afford it, I don’t worry about it.

2020 was barely a blip in terms of the loss of life.

The breathless news coverage was overblown for the number who actually died.
It was serious, but not the extinction event the media critters seemed to think it was.
Big numbers without context are just clickbait/sensationalism to get eyeballs and ears tuned in.

 

[Wylie6G72]

Usually smells of cheap cigarettes and B.O. but it's saving me quite a bit of gas, wear & tear, and greatly reduces my chances of getting hit by some Karen in a Tahoe.

 

[GR_CoB]

with gas prices soaring and no end in sight, the trickle down effect is straining budgets for many of us. myself included. have any of you started to cut back on your trips or in other ways? without getting political, what are some of the things you are doing to save?

prices here range from 4.89 to 5.39 depending on where you are in the county. ive started to consolidate my trips. im also looking at sales at the grocery store & buying store brands when i can. cutting out stuff i dont have to have. keeping netflix & canceling hulu. making changes to my auto insurance to state minimums while keeping full coverage. downgrading my satellite tv package to eliminate premium channels. small changes can add up pretty quick. if things keep getting worse ill have to eliminate some services all together, such as saying bye bye to directv.

the economists on Bloomberg & CNBC warn of a pretty rough summer (likely recession) into early 2023.

I switched my mode of transportation.
My gas guzzler vehicle got just below 15MPG average on last tank, while my most efficient car gets 25MPG average. So I switched over to scooters a year ago. Makes the daily commute A LOT more fun and engaging, yet costs fraction of what I would spend on fuel in any of my vehicles.
- My first scooter was a 2020 Honda Ruckus. 49CC, 40MPH, 100+ MPG. Quite frankly I had the most fun on this one. It almost forced me to learn to slow down and enjoy life. See the stuff that I usually always miss with a faster vehicle. Ruckus will always have a soft spot in my heart. Maybe one day I'll get another one.
- Second scooter was a Slovenian 2009 Tomos Nitro. 150CC, up to 62MPH GPS-confirmed (72MPH indicated on the optimistic speedometer), 85MPG. Definitely keeps the commute time in line with how long it takes on the vehicle, yet at much higher fuel efficiency. Fun dragging the center stands and making sparks in twisties.
- Third and current is 2001 Honda Reflex. 250CC, should be good up to 85MPH (have yet to test top speed myself), and 70MPG. Bigger, faster, less fuel efficient than previous scooters, but still a better option overall. I'll finally be able to give wife a ride, as two-up shouldn't be a problem. Entry-level MaxiScoot.
- Next on my radar is probably Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive. Also known as Half-a-Busa, as it uses half of mighty Hayabusa engine. Or so they say. Allegedly does triple-digit speeds with ease, while getting 50-60MPG.

So yea - that's how I save $$$. And have lots of fun doing it. Fuel has been $10/gallon or more everywhere else in the world for a long time. Which is why third world countries have a lot more Moped/Scooter/Motorcycle traffic. Just a more fun and efficient option, when weather allows.

 

[Spector]

Americans, it appears that once we fill the tank we don't care about how we drive, over the speed limit, jackrabbit starts, hard braking not anticipaitng lights etc. We complain about prices but do nothing to up the mpg. In many ways we deserve what we get!

 

[Andrew1972]

Combining errands with shuttling kids or asking daughter to pick up items using the parking lot pickup(Lowes/target/Walmart) on way home with her car.

Leveraging paid or free shipping at stores that are 15 miles away+.

 

[IndyIan]

2020 was barely a blip in terms of the loss of life.

The breathless news coverage was overblown for the number who actually died.
It was serious, but not the extinction event the media critters seemed to think it was.
Big numbers without context are just clickbait/sensationalism to get eyeballs and ears tuned in.

Seems kind of significant? ah but what's a million people give or take, nothing to see here...

https://www.census.gov/library/stor...ates-deaths-spiked-as-covid-19-continued.html

 

[wpod]

Seems kind of significant? ah but what's a million people give or take, nothing to see here... View attachment 104598
https://www.census.gov/library/stor...ates-deaths-spiked-as-covid-19-continued.html

Population increase over the decades?

 

[IndyIan]

A couple of us have started carpooling to the far away baseball games. Which is fun anyways for the kids.
I do a bit more hypermiling stuff if there's no traffic and I have the extra time, and think abit more about consolidating trips to town, but we still do our normal stuff.

 

[javacontour]

Seems kind of significant? ah but what's a million people give or take, nothing to see here... View attachment 104598
https://www.census.gov/library/stor...ates-deaths-spiked-as-covid-19-continued.html

Even your graph doesn't show a million additional deaths. Looks like deaths go from 2.8 million in 2019 to 3.4 million in 2020, so an extra 600k or ~20% bump.

Yet in a nation of 330 million, that's about 0.2% of the population.
So as I said, significant, but not an extinction event.

And let's be clear, I never said it was insignificant. I said the very opposite, that it was significant, but not the extinction event the breathless coverage made it out to be.

One last thing, it will be interesting to see if follow on year deaths drop BELOW the 2.8 million figure as given that 85% of the deaths were in the over 65 years old cohort, did we "front load" deaths from COVID and will see fewer deaths in following years because of this?

Again, significant, but not an extinction event.

Context is important. About the same number as had died from heart disease during the same time period.
I don't want to derail the thread, so perhaps we should just end this here.

 

[IndyIan]

Population increase over the decades?

That's why the graph is increasing generally, but in normal years there's not much variation from the trend. In 2020 a lot more people died than would be expected, that's all the graph shows, not why they died.

 

[IndyIan]

Even your graph doesn't show a million additional deaths. Looks like deaths go from 2.8 million in 2019 to 3.4 million in 2020, so an extra 600k or ~20% bump.

Yet in a nation of 330 million, that's about 0.2% of the population.
So as I said, significant, but not an extinction event.

And let's be clear, I never said it was insignificant. I said the very opposite, that it was significant, but not the extinction event the breathless coverage made it out to be.

One last thing, it will be interesting to see if follow on year deaths drop BELOW the 2.8 million figure as given that 85% of the deaths were in the over 65 years old cohort, did we "front load" deaths from COVID and will see fewer deaths in following years because of this?

Again, significant, but not an extinction event.

Context is important. About the same number as had died from heart disease during the same time period.
I don't want to derail the thread, so perhaps we should just end this here.

2021 is also well above the regular trend as well so I think its probably close to 1M? I agree with the rest of your comments though. It would be nice if more people had the attention span and math knowledge for the media just to report the numbers and context without having to amp things up to get people's attention.

 

[javacontour]

2021 is also well above the regular trend as well so I think its probably close to 1M? I agree with the rest of your comments though. It would be nice if more people had the attention span and math knowledge for the media just to report the numbers and context without having to amp things up to get people's attention.

Yes 2021 was higher, and yet one of the smallest increases. But an increase to a higher number. I think on the order of 30k deaths.
I just wish people would understand the nuance and look at multiple variables.
I still think we'll see lower (as a percentage of the total population) deaths in the future as so many were front-loaded.
Of course, I still contend many were self-selecting as they had co-morbidities. Deaths of the healthy from C-19 seem to be extremely rare. The obese or those with un-managed chronic conditions seem to be an outsized cohort in the population of those who died.
One cannot social distance themselves out of a lifetime of poor health choices.

 

[Zee09]

Shipping expenses are what's killing me. I used to put $50 into my shipping account and that lasted several days with cheap first class mail. Now I put over a $100. in and I don't last a day...

 

[PimTac]

I switched my mode of transportation.
My gas guzzler vehicle got just below 15MPG average on last tank, while my most efficient car gets 25MPG average. So I switched over to scooters a year ago. Makes the daily commute A LOT more fun and engaging, yet costs fraction of what I would spend on fuel in any of my vehicles.
- My first scooter was a 2020 Honda Ruckus. 49CC, 40MPH, 100+ MPG. Quite frankly I had the most fun on this one. It almost forced me to learn to slow down and enjoy life. See the stuff that I usually always miss with a faster vehicle. Ruckus will always have a soft spot in my heart. Maybe one day I'll get another one.
- Second scooter was a Slovenian 2009 Tomos Nitro. 150CC, up to 62MPH GPS-confirmed (72MPH indicated on the optimistic speedometer), 85MPG. Definitely keeps the commute time in line with how long it takes on the vehicle, yet at much higher fuel efficiency. Fun dragging the center stands and making sparks in twisties.
- Third and current is 2001 Honda Reflex. 250CC, should be good up to 85MPH (have yet to test top speed myself), and 70MPG. Bigger, faster, less fuel efficient than previous scooters, but still a better option overall. I'll finally be able to give wife a ride, as two-up shouldn't be a problem. Entry-level MaxiScoot.
- Next on my radar is probably Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive. Also known as Half-a-Busa, as it uses half of mighty Hayabusa engine. Or so they say. Allegedly does triple-digit speeds with ease, while getting 50-60MPG.

So yea - that's how I save $$$. And have lots of fun doing it. Fuel has been $10/gallon or more everywhere else in the world for a long time. Which is why third world countries have a lot more Moped/Scooter/Motorcycle traffic. Just a more fun and efficient option, when weather allows.

You could have gotten a GS scooter. Ride it with your hair cut neat. Wear a wartime coat in the rain and sleet.

 

[jeepman3071]

I'm fortunate enough that while higher fuel prices are annoying, it doesn't create financial hardship. I don't drive as much as 2-3 years ago where I was commuting 100+ miles a day all over the state for work. That would be even more annoying since I'm sure the mileage I was paid by my company wouldn't be increasing.

I've always paid for my cars in cash and have fairly low taxes and insurance owning older vehicles, so fuel prices don't push me over the edge.

The problem I see is it hurts those most who are already hurting, and those who already live beyond their means. People with $600,000+ houses and new Porsches shouldn't be having financial problems because of fuel raising to $6 a gallon.

 

[Rmay635703]

2021 is also well above the regular trend as well so I think its probably close to 1M? I agree with the rest of your comments though. It would be nice if more people had the attention span and math knowledge for the media just to report the numbers and context without having to amp things up to get people's attention.

The full impact of the last 2 years is best expressed in missing population from expectations or if not available “excess deaths”

Our domestic population is closer to 2 million off from where it should be, certain populations, age groups and communities being more affected than others.
Migration has been high as well.

 

[GR_CoB]

You could have gotten a GS scooter. Ride it with your hair cut neat. Wear a wartime coat in the rain and sleet.

Not quite the GS, but I was looking at it's descendant, Vespa GTS300. I guess close enough. But more modern, a blast to ride, and pretty fuel efficient. The only problem is the price... Couldn't swallow the pill that a Vespa is ~$7000, when my Honda Reflex is under $2000. Reflex has more space, more stable on the highway, has higher top speed, and is more fuel efficient. So ended up with the Reflex. Vespa wins on style and acceleration though.

 

[Hillbilly Deluxe]

I was warned pretty well about 19-20 months ago that gasoline and diesel would go to $5-7/gallon. I listened, not sure many others did, and I started making preparations.

Even so, it has started having a serious effect with our spending. We have cut eating out about 90%. Instead of going to the lake 3-4 times a month for multiple days, we're doing one long day 1-2 times a month and not riding around as much. Instead of burning 25-35 gallons of gas each day on the lake, we're down to about 15. That was $87 in fuel Saturday morning. Instead of eating a meal out on the lake at a restaurant there, we take food with us. So we're spending $20-30 on food/drinks each lake trip instead of $150.

That has a trickle down effect, too. That's businesses that are seeing less revenue and profit from us....I'm not saying these places aren't still packed and busier than ever. We're just cutting down.

I'm a little more than "ticked off". Due to a family illness last year with a lengthy hospital stay, we were looking forward to spending many days on the lake this year, trying to be carefree. Heck no, can't do that. I'll stop there before I hurt someone's feeeeeelings.

 

[Hillbilly Deluxe]

For example, my total housing cost is less than $300.00 month. I'm lucky ... I can live on less than $1,000 a month, I've gotten it down as low as $737.00 in recent months, but I'm starting to notice and feel the price increases.

Sorry, not buying this. You claim you live near SF... $700 won't pay for jack squat there, even if you have $0.00 housing costs.

The biggest thing you claim is reducing your monthly "living" expenses by $250. Not buying it. Our grocery bill has increased over $600/month in the last 2 months and everyone else's has, too. Utilities are about to skyrocket, it's starting in the northeast in August. The boards that run the utilities are just now meeting after insane gas price increases, so they have to address that.

The next 2 years won't be pretty and it's going to take another 5+ to recover from the last 18 months ....

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I just recalculated that I use 242 gallons in a year.
So if this gouging lasts till next Summer, that will be just 484 more dollars
more spent for fuel over the coming year @ $4.82/g vs $2.82 previous Summer of '21.

I Just paid $1778.00 to have surgery on an aging pet - 4 molars removed (!)
Then $782 to get my boiler cleaned and some other system repairs.

I just saved my wife 117 bucks by changing her rear axle fluid. The Subaru Stealer wanted $132.00 !

So not lost change but nothing unmanageble.

If Home heating oil is near 6 bucks a gallon in the winter - that will be terribly costly likely between $1500-2000 more to heat the house. This will cause a uproar like never heard up North !
I better get thinking about a pellet stove NOW.