CNN Readers have posted what they are giving up to be able to buy gasoline. It's an interesting read to say the least.

CNN Story

 

The fact that people have to give up ANYTHING because of higher gas prices is proof that Americans have no idea how to live within our means.

The average American family with credit card debt owes something like $8,000 on their credit cards!

If people would spend less than they make, they wouldn't care what gas costs.

 

• a mom that stopped buying her kids fresh fruits and vegetables
• someone in Atlanta that just bought an HCH and is happy they are getting 45mpg. I figured they would be blasting the EPA stats.

It almost sounds like substance abuse when you read about the things people give up to fill up.

 

CNN Quick Poll has it that 68% of the respondents said they cut back on necessities to pay for gas.

 

I find that hard to believe when sales of consumer goods are still doing fine - even in the face of -0.6% savings rate for the nation as a whole! If people are starving their children in the name of savings, just so they can keep up with the Jones' and have their NFL HD package on DirecTV, their picturephone, thier guzzler SUV that they trade in every 3 years, their McMansion, their $2000 vacations, and so on, then it's only an example of the pervasiveness of misplaced priorities.

 

From the article: "On the positive side, we'll probably make less trips to the suburbs to see my mother-in-law."

:-) Priceless

 

Hi AZCivic:

___If you spend even a single $1.00 more for gas then you did 6 months ago, your budget is strained by that $1.00. Raises > then inflation, unsuspected bonus, or even a windfall not withstanding … The money has to come from somewhere and if that means a Cel phone has to be discarded or a weekly night out at your local Outback Steak has to be curtailed to bi-weekly to pay for that tank of fuel, so be it. Something has to eventually give no matter our real savings rate or the amount of luxury amenities we own/consume at any given moment.

___This is coming from someone who is Cel phone-less, High-speed internet-less (until tomorrow ), HBO/Showtime/Cable/Dish-less, and $2,000 vacation-less. To go along with that, the house is decent enough and the kids are very well fed

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

Now, if only this group had then been asked: If you could trade in your cars even steven for Honda Civics or a Ford Focus today, would you ?

1. Hell, no. **** librel
2. What is the 0 - 60 time on that thing ?
3. No. In my house, safety comes first !
4. I'd worry about hurting the economy
5. You first. Sucker

 

EricGo - I'm afraid you're right.

 

Uhh.. so why was it a necessity before ?