Interest rates & gas prices up?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Interest rates & gas prices up?
15
Fri, 08-26-2005 - 1:22am
Hi, Danni and Shannon, and Heather and everyone :) I look to your help on this. Is it my imagination, or is everything rising faster than yeast? I was on vac for 2.5 wks, and came back to a stack (mountain) of bills. Got the cc bills. OMG! The Sears card is at 21%interest. (owe about $450 on it--DH has locked the cards away). Girlfriends, this is insane! Once again, how do you close the Discover Card, and go with one of the O% interest? Have any of you done this? Did you go with interest of 0% for life of what you owe, or for one yr? My payment on the Discover increased from $125 to $150/month! It seems to me if you pay more, they want more. Example: I have been snowflaking :) and rounding up my payments each month. So, paid more on the one lab bill. Now, they want more minimum due than last month. Go figure. I snowflaked them an extra $50. Gas is now at 2.89, and sometimes 3.0l per gallon. What websites have you gone to to research gas prices? Have you cut back on other things because of it? SOrry for so many questions, but am curious if others have done the 0% thing and what you are doing for gas prices. THanks. WHiz.

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Avatar for gidgetgirl
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 08-26-2005 - 11:36am

Whiz,

I think gasbuddy dot com is a resource. I know I have favorite gas stations in my metro area that I know tend to be cheaper, but have quality gas.

I try to be even more efficient with our gas use- combining several errand trips, carpooling places, etc. It's hard to think outside the box, since having a car= independence for so many, me included.

Sorry things are rough for you right now. I know when I hit a rough patch, I always try to evaluate want vs. need. Problem is, I can talk myself into making a want, a "need".

Good luck!

Gidget

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Fri, 08-26-2005 - 11:43am
Hi, Gidget :) Thanks for support. When DH and I both drove a lot for work (and this was 10 yrs ago) we were spending $400 per month on gas. That is one reason I chose not to do that type of work anymore, unless there was a company car and gas allowance. Still, I read articles that everything is going up, from flower and pizza deliveries to parents having to pay more to subsidize school bus trips for bands, camps, football teams, etc. I, too, am cutting back. Am shopping at the small, local market around the corner for food, etc., rather than the big store I love, because it is closer. Whiz.
Avatar for gidgetgirl
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 08-26-2005 - 12:01pm

"Am shopping at the small, local market around the corner for food, etc., rather than the big store I love, because it is closer"

What about doing a "big" shop at the store you love (with likely lower prices) 1x/month and then doing the weekly milk/bread/fresh items at the local (likely higher price) market. The downside (for me anyway) is planning ahead. I'm getting better though with practice!

Gidget

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2005
Fri, 08-26-2005 - 3:23pm

"...and my mom said she doesn't feel bad for us as a society we have become so ridiculous with our huge cars that eat enormous amts. of gas, just to keep up with the jones's alot of the time. ...."

For that matter, we as a nation is also eating too much. Back in the 1960's a muffin is about 2-inches in diameter; these days it is close to 5-inches! Because of higher gas prices, I have noticed that food is also getting a bit more expensive. It could be a blessing in disguise - we will walk more, eat less, and get healthier?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2005
Fri, 08-26-2005 - 3:51pm

Well i hope i didn't sound too high and mighty, b/c two of my best friend have minivans and they both have several children, and i would probably have one too if i could afford it.... but it is interesting what we all consider to be normal these days and we are spoiled IMO. as far as the food thing... i agree that the portions are ridiculous, we went to breakfast at bob evans last week and i got a stack of pancakes for like $6 that was 3 HUGE pancakes, and i could not eat them all, nowhere near was i able to, and i thought, just give me one pancake and charge me $2 and i'll be happy instead of wasting so much food!
I have been reading dave ramseys financial peace book and realizing how much it was ingrained in me that borrowing and debt are normal and just how things are done. That book has opened my eyes so much and made me want to do things differently, including not allowing "the jones's" to dictate how i live.

Shannon

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