What are you doing to adapt to current times

[GPs37FLH]

Originally Posted by Sharon455

Our Albertsons/Safeway Rewards is only good for the first 25 gallons. Still better than nothing.

Our biggest tank is only 20 gallons making me wish we carried a gas can around to get our full value.

Even if it were for the first 25 gallons, that's a deal and worth it to go there. Unfortunately, no Albertsons/Safeway's around here. There are a couple grocery chains here that offer fuel rewards, but not many of the stores have gas stations too, so we're limited and I'd have to drive 20 miles one way to get to one of those stations from where I live. I'd burn up any savings having to go that far just for gas. Plus, they don't give anywhere near a 50 cent discount and normally its only on the first 10 gallons, and none of them offer diesel.

[GPs37FLH]

Originally Posted by ppine

Covid and the War have messed up supply chains. I am willing to pay higher prices to stop importing oil from Russia. Even though the US has recently been a net exporter of oil we still need imports. The refineries in the US were mostly retooled in the 1990s and early 2000s for heavy sour crude. Now fracking is mostly producing light sweet crude. We import oil with a profile to fit our refineries.

I agree with you and I'm also willing to pay more to stop the Russian imports. Not sure I agree yet with ending the embargo with Argentina to substitute for the shortfalls on Russian oil. But, unless US oil producers start to build new drilling sites on areas they already have rights to, there's not much of an alternative, other than pressuring the middle east for increased production. I don't see any incentive for US or middle eastern producers to budge when prices per barrel and per gallon of gas hit new records every day. They can just sit back, do nothing, and continue to make record profits.

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by New2aBus

You say you rates for electric have not changed but your BILL must have increased! If not what did you disconnect electrically at your home to off-set the additional electric to charge the car???

My electric rate aka the amount I pay per kW of electricity hasn't changed in several years. That's what I'm referring too. Of course my electric bill has gone up since I bought my car but the amount I "pay at the pump" has remained flat.

[Craig and Carol]

Shorter trips and longer stays...we don't eat out often, so not much of a change. Different times require new adaptations.

[NoviBill]

My first post-retirement trip last year was cheap and used very little gas.

Amtrak from Detroit to San Diego, Bicycle from San Deigo to St Augustine, My son drove me from St Augustine to Detroit. All told over 6000 miles, 9+ weeks and less than $6000 dollars staying at some of the finest motels and campgrounds in the middle of no where. About as cheap a vacation as I could do.

https://anunbalancedbalance.blogspot...hern-tier.html

In the past I drove my bike to someplace to ride, for the last two years I have biked from home with 2 exceptions (one being to the train station for my cross country ride). This saves gas and adds extra exercise. The trips to start biking were 3-10 miles each way, so now I get 6-20 more miles on a given ride than many of my co-riders and save gas. Now the spring is almost here, I also plan to bike to the store more often.

On our motorhome I am adding a back box that will hold two bikes, mine and an eBike for my wife. We can use these for short trips (under 20 miles) around parks and to stores. Saves gas and burns enough calories that I can stop and enjoy local bakeries without putting on more weight.

I think others have said this, all conditions are temporary, both the good and the bad. So enjoy when times are good and know that bad time will end. Most of the changes are far outside of our control (world politics, health issues, wars), we can only control how we respond. I try to be kind to others.

[GPs37FLH]

Originally Posted by NoviBill

I think others have said this, all conditions are temporary, both the good and the bad. So enjoy when times are good and know that bad time will end. Most of the changes are far outside of our control (world politics, health issues, wars), we can only control how we respond. I try to be kind to others.

Well said, Bill....."This Too Shall Pass".

[D W]

Originally Posted by GPs37FLH

Well said, Bill....."This Too Shall Pass".

I would say that the jury is still out on that one. We have entered uncharted territory. We've never experienced fuel price increases at this rate, not even during the Oil Embargoes of 1973-74 or 1979. These increases affect everything, not just what you put in your tank. Remember the old saying, "If you got it, it came by truck". At the current rate we have two more steps, stag-flation and recession.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by New2aBus

You say you rates for electric have not changed but your BILL must have increased! If not what did you disconnect electrically at your home to off-set the additional electric to charge the car???

I too own an EV (Chevy Volt) and use it for everything but towing my trailer.

When I bought it I installed a Level II charger in my garage and at the same time converted every light bulb in the house to LED. Also got rid of the extra refrigerator in the garage which was an older power hog we'd saved when the new one arrived.

The electric bill remained the same as I was able to save enough in modernizing to offset.

Also saved an average of $400/month when I stopped using the truck for my "runaround vehicle". I only have to buy gas once a year with the Volt as it's computer forces the engine to run periodically. I usually buy ~ 4 gallons (1/2 tank) just to make the computer happy. Rest of the time I use it as a 100% EV versus a Plug-In Hybrid.

[GPs37FLH]

Originally Posted by D W

I would say that the jury is still out on that one. We have entered uncharted territory. We've never experienced fuel price increases at this rate, not even during the Oil Embargoes of 1973-74 or 1979. These increases affect everything, not just what you put in your tank. Remember the old saying, "If you got it, it came by truck". At the current rate we have two more steps, stag-flation and recession.

You're correct, DW....the point of my reply was that this is all temporary, as Bill originally said in his earlier post. High costs of oil and fuel, everything that depends on fuel prices, higher inflation and a possible recession....its all temporary and will get better with time and positive attitudes. We all just need to be patient for this to work itself out. Better times are ahead for all of us.

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

I too own an EV (Chevy Volt) and use it for everything but towing my trailer.

When I bought it I installed a Level II charger in my garage and at the same time converted every light bulb in the house to LED. Also got rid of the extra refrigerator in the garage which was an older power hog we'd saved when the new one arrived.

The electric bill remained the same as I was able to save enough in modernizing to offset.

Also saved an average of $400/month when I stopped using the truck for my "runaround vehicle". I only have to buy gas once a year with the Volt as it's computer forces the engine to run periodically. I usually buy ~ 4 gallons (1/2 tank) just to make the computer happy. Rest of the time I use it as a 100% EV versus a Plug-In Hybrid.

It varies based upon weather and my driving habits but my car typically gets 4 mile per kW. After all fees, my home electric rate is $0.26 per kW which translates into my car costing me $0.065 per mile to operate. Gas prices around me currently hover around $4.80 per gallon.That calculates out to 74 miles per gallon equivalent.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by timfromma

It varies based upon weather and my driving habits but my car typically gets 4 mile per kW. After all fees, my home electric rate is $0.26 per kW which translates into my car costing me $0.065 per mile to operate. Gas prices around me currently hover around $4.80 per gallon.That calculates out to 74 miles per gallon equivalent.

Wow, that's twice what I pay per Kwh. I'm served by a Public Utility District. A lot cheaper than what I've read about from "Private" suppliers.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by GPs37FLH

Well said, Bill....."This Too Shall Pass".

But why does it have to feel so much like a Kidney Stone as it passes?

[bstar1952]

I'm glad that those that can are still able to travel but unfortunately that's not us. Not delving into politics but here's how I'm dealing the current inflation that I'm pretty sure will be with us for at least the next 3 years and will probably take a couple years after that to get back to any sense of normalcy. We are retired and on a fixed income so after agonizing over the decision, we put the travel trailer and truck up for sale today. No problem selling the truck and I've already received offers for more that I paid for it back in 2020. Have to wait and see on the TT. My thoughts are the RV industry and market will crash and we just can't afford to miss the window on selling. It's a gamble but what's the point of having an expensive toy that you can't afford to use. Not having these payments, taxes and insurance costs will go a long way to helping us survive the next few years. If we were still working I wouldn't be writing this so it is what it is. We've been RVing over 25 years and we'll miss it. Good luck and our prayers are with all of you as well as for our country.

[NavyLCDR]

Originally Posted by bstar1952

I'm glad that those that can are still able to travel but unfortunately that's not us. Not delving into politics but here's how I'm dealing the current inflation that I'm pretty sure will be with us for at least the next 3 years and will probably take a couple years after that to get back to any sense of normalcy. We are retired and on a fixed income so after agonizing over the decision, we put the travel trailer and truck up for sale today. No problem selling the truck and I've already received offers for more that I paid for it back in 2020. Have to wait and see on the TT. My thoughts are the RV industry and market will crash and we just can't afford to miss the window on selling. It's a gamble but what's the point of having an expensive toy that you can't afford to use. Not having these payments, taxes and insurance costs will go a long way to helping us survive the next few years. If we were still working I wouldn't be writing this so it is what it is. We've been RVing over 25 years and we'll miss it. Good luck and our prayers are with all of you as well as for our country.

I hear you, I'm retired too. I hope it doesn't get to the point of us selling our new-to-us Yukon Denali and our trailer. But I think we will be making half of the trips we have planned.

Also, I just converted one of my 2% cash rewards on everything cards to a card that gives me 5% cash back on what category I spend the most on, so that will be exclusively gas. At 4.60/gal, the card will give me $.23 per gallon back. That's better than the $.10/gal discount most stations are offering for cash/debit.

[NoviBill]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

But why does it have to feel so much like a Kidney Stone as it passes?

Best quote of the year!

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by NoviBill

Best quote of the year!

X10,000

[GPs37FLH]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

But why does it have to feel so much like a Kidney Stone as it passes?

Got that right, Mike!

[SVTodd]

Originally Posted by GPs37FLH

You're correct, DW....the point of my reply was that this is all temporary, as Bill originally said in his earlier post. High costs of oil and fuel, everything that depends on fuel prices, higher inflation and a possible recession....its all temporary and will get better with time and positive attitudes. We all just need to be patient for this to work itself out. Better times are ahead for all of us.

Yes be patient...because a little time is what all Ponzi schemes need to work themselves out. It always works out in the end! LOL!

Anybody who thinks the dramatic increase of fuel prices are solely the result of the Ukraine invasion have their head in the sand. We (as in the good old USA) have kicked the can down the road too many times. Eventually we are going to have to pay the piper.

[Nick Danger]

Originally Posted by SVTodd

Yes be patient...because a little time is what all Ponzi schemes need to work themselves out. It always works out in the end! LOL!

Anybody who thinks the dramatic increase of fuel prices are solely the result of the Ukraine invasion have their head in the sand. We (as in the good old USA) have kicked the can down the road too many times. Eventually we are going to have to pay the piper.

Glad to see someone else also believes in the reality that all around us!

[D W]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

But why does it have to feel so much like a Kidney Stone as it passes?

Great analogy! If you've ever had a kidney stone you'll understand that before it's over there will be blood, sweat and tears!