Why does the price increase of gas feel so enormous?

[jeffrey]

AS I stand at the gas station filling my tank, the meter tallies how much it’s going to cost me. At this station, a gallon is $4.26, and as the meter passes the $20 mark, then the $30, I realize that I am paying too much attention to the price of gasoline. I bet you are too.

Looking back at my family’s expenses over the past few years, I see big increases in our health care costs and in how much we pay for food. The rise in what we spend on gas is not nearly as extreme as our increases in categories like electricity and telephone. So why does the amount we spend on gasoline feel so enormous? I think it is because of the way we buy gas.

For the several minutes that I stand at the pump, all I do is stare at the growing total on the meter — there is nothing else to do. And I have time to remember how much it cost a year ago, two years ago and even six years ago...

Op-Ed Contributor - Standing at the Pump Makes Gasoline Seem More Expensive - Op-Ed - NYTimes.com

[rob62521]

I think there is some truth in this...if you drive at all, the pain in the pump is real. But it's not only painful there, but when it spreads to everything else from groceries to other shopping and shipping.

[maat55]

Because to many people, it's another car payment.

[Snave]

I can clip coupons for food though! There is just no way to really curb your spending in this area. If my entertainment budget is being blown, I can stay in and read a book, or go to a free museum. If my food budget is out of whack, I can clip more coupons or buy less expensive products, etc... There are ways that you feel like you can adjust your spending. Other than when you have that newly minted license and are in highschool, people don't just drive around to drive around anymore. So, there is no way to really curb the cost of gas and the pain you feel at the pump.

[jIM_Ohio]

Depends how much you drive.

Since the twins came home I go to work and go home, and go to one soccer game per week which I play in.

One tank of gas lasts me 2 weeks. I drive by 5 gas stations in my 5 mile commute to work. I look at prices each day, check the gas meter, and tell myself the price volatility means little to me.

Today I had 3/4 of a tank and saw gas for $3.65. I was tempted to fill up, but did not.

A few hints:

1) fill up in mornings- the underground tanks are cool, cooling the gas and making it more dense. For same volume of tank, you get more gas because the gas is denser.

2) fill up tank slowly. If you use fast setting, air will get into gas and take up volume. This will make you pay for "volume" which is not really gas but air.

[Gruntina]

I second Jim regarding it depends on how much you drive. Gas price hike seems huge to me but I fill up the tank twice a week. The increase adds up pretty fast in my monthly total on my gas expense.

Gas was somewhat pretty cheap before. Now the differences in minimum wage pay and the price of gas per gallon is much smaller than it used to be. I cannot imagine how those who earn minimum wage must feel. For teenagers, I suppose that a big chunk of money goes to gas than to actually do something with like movies, or purchasing things and friends expenses. Even babysitting jobs that requires you to drive to the work location, the cost per hour to babysit must be higher than the gas price it takes for you to get there and back home.

[JanH]

Gas was somewhat pretty cheap before. Now the differences in minimum wage pay and the price of gas per gallon is much smaller than it used to be. I cannot imagine how those who earn minimum wage must feel. For teenagers, I suppose that a big chunk of money goes to gas than to actually do something with like movies, or purchasing things and friends expenses. Even babysitting jobs that requires you to drive to the work location, the cost per hour to babysit must be higher than the gas price it takes for you to get there and back home.

This happened in the late 70's and early 80's, too. Gas cost increases took a much bigger percentage of our then minimum wage earnings. We got creative in our budgets! Wish I had kept that mindset. Not a deprived feeling, but a creative working of your lifestyle. Hubby and I find ourselves having gone full circle. Even with education and better jobs, we're back to that mindset again. Getting creative.

[Gruntina]

Another thought - for those with long commute like mine... it is almost starting to feel like you are paying to go to work! lol!

[cptacek]

Another thought - for those with long commute like mine... it is almost starting to feel like you are paying to go to work! lol!

Agree! without the lol!

[osadg]

I have to agree.....I stand there looking at the pump rollover thinking "Wow, it's never gone that high" and the next time I stand there watching it rollover again, the same thought crosses my mind again...
I will confess it's actually been one of the easiest expenses my family has learned to curve. We live in a very centralized area, and we're close to everything. With the nicer weather, walking and biking have become more routine for us, especially for everyday errands. I'm also lucky enough to have a job that has allowed me to start working from home one day every two weeks. And although it took a little bit for my husband at first, we only take my much more economic car whenever we're out and about.
We've been lucky enough to not be effected too awfully by the high gas rates, since we started making adjustments to our gas consumption the minute we saw the bills changing.

[rob62521]

Snave is right...most of us who have driven for years no longer take the ride for relaxation or a way to get out of the house. And although I chuckled over Gruntina's comment that it's like you are paying to drive to work, it's true! I guess it's time the USA found other sources of energy.

[irs]

price increase of gas feel so enormous

It is really true not only in the US but around the world. Households and small businesses are facing a 20% increase in gas prices . This increase along with the recent increases in the cost of oil and electricity leaves many older people praying but all the people suffering on the price increase. Meanwhile, Age Action has called on the Government and energy providers to take steps to ensure that vulnerable older people are protected from rising fuel