Monday, September 18, 2006
Stop Looking For The Cheapest Gas
I was reading an article that really helped to put the way many people go out of their way to get to the cheapest gas station into perspective. Lots of websites exist to help locate the cheapest gas at any given point in time. People will spend extra effort in locating gas stations which are cheaper than other gas stations in the area.
However, you need to put Gas Prices In Perspective. If you really analyze the situation, you can spend your effort much more effectively in shopping smarter in the other areas of your life. My buddy Luke's mom worked in NYC and would pay the toll to get in and out of the city to buy the cheaper New Jersey gas. However, even a fill up at 15 cents per gallon cheaper doesn't save enough money to even pay for the toll.
Yes, gas is a mostly inelastic good. Yes, people buy A LOT OF gasoline. However, just by bargain shopping elsewhere for 1-2 items will completely offset any "gains" from bargain gasoline shopping. Buying a few items from discount stores instead of a higher priced specialty store will save you more than a month worth of bargain petrol shopping. Making your own coffee/getting one from a gas station instead of Starbucks a few times a week and you can just start using the "Super" grade gas every time.
The point is...if you are going to put a little bit of effort into things...it's much better to locate other "deals" than to go out of your way to find the cheapest gas station. ¶ 6:19 PM
However, you need to put Gas Prices In Perspective. If you really analyze the situation, you can spend your effort much more effectively in shopping smarter in the other areas of your life. My buddy Luke's mom worked in NYC and would pay the toll to get in and out of the city to buy the cheaper New Jersey gas. However, even a fill up at 15 cents per gallon cheaper doesn't save enough money to even pay for the toll.
Yes, gas is a mostly inelastic good. Yes, people buy A LOT OF gasoline. However, just by bargain shopping elsewhere for 1-2 items will completely offset any "gains" from bargain gasoline shopping. Buying a few items from discount stores instead of a higher priced specialty store will save you more than a month worth of bargain petrol shopping. Making your own coffee/getting one from a gas station instead of Starbucks a few times a week and you can just start using the "Super" grade gas every time.
The point is...if you are going to put a little bit of effort into things...it's much better to locate other "deals" than to go out of your way to find the cheapest gas station. ¶ 6:19 PM
Comments:
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so true! it's not even worth it to drive to the location of deals (think about how much gas you use to get there!).
o, and speaking of coffee, are we on for Thurs?
o, and speaking of coffee, are we on for Thurs?
Why would you use the Super grade of gasoline if your car doesn't require it? You might as well eat your money and poop it out. That's basically what you're doing.
I completely agree however on the coffee if you're a coffee drinker. Starbucks, in-store, is a ripoff when you're drinking solo. For social occasions, it's something completely different.
Here at Harley I was drinking 5 cups a day of 35 cent machine coffee. I calculated out the cost per day versus buying my own Starbucks coffee at the grocery store and buying a Starbucks Solo Coffee Press. The Press was way too over priced, however, it was cost justified in less than a month based on daily savings. Plus, the coffee I drink is much better.
Once you use a French Press, you'll never go back.
I completely agree however on the coffee if you're a coffee drinker. Starbucks, in-store, is a ripoff when you're drinking solo. For social occasions, it's something completely different.
Here at Harley I was drinking 5 cups a day of 35 cent machine coffee. I calculated out the cost per day versus buying my own Starbucks coffee at the grocery store and buying a Starbucks Solo Coffee Press. The Press was way too over priced, however, it was cost justified in less than a month based on daily savings. Plus, the coffee I drink is much better.
Once you use a French Press, you'll never go back.
i agree. however, leftwingers do not want to hear that. they want the price of gas (even now that it has dropped significantly) to be the root of all problems so they can keep spreading thier propaganda that the war is all about oil and bush is evil.
we are at war but have not had a single inconvienence of rationing or shortage of supplies. we have only had a fluctuating gas price. people are still complaining about gas as if it were hovering around $3 still.
**steps off the soapbox. puts down the political agenda**
we are at war but have not had a single inconvienence of rationing or shortage of supplies. we have only had a fluctuating gas price. people are still complaining about gas as if it were hovering around $3 still.
**steps off the soapbox. puts down the political agenda**
# posted by 
: September 19, 2006 8:01 AM
: September 19, 2006 8:01 AM
You wouldn't use the super grade if your car doesn't require it. I guess I'm addressing the common idea of "How can those guys with the sports cars afford the premium gasoline!" It doesn't really add up to all that much more.
Ah, but you know what DOES add up to that much more? Those stupid Xenon headlights on those sports cars. You and me? Replacement headlights = $40 maybe? Them? Replacement headlight = $280. Ouch.
Mercy of mercies! Bode and Dave have agreed.
Today, the Force aligns.
Tomorrow, the apocolypse?
(Either that or pigs flying out of butts).
Today, the Force aligns.
Tomorrow, the apocolypse?
(Either that or pigs flying out of butts).
Oh, Bode, I don't know if you read the article...but it gets lots of nerd points. It talks about variance and everything. I felt like I was in econometrics all over again.
ya, and u know what? i don't know if anybody does that giant eagle advantage points thing, but personally i think its pointless.....their gas stations are so stinking far away....the cloest one to me is a half hour...and if driving there wasn't a waste of money alone, then spending money at giant eagle would be (compared to marcs)....anyway, just another little point to add....but ya know jason, i dont' think this post is really that controversial. (maybe it wasn't supposed to be, though). becasue we all agree. we all seem to not be those people who drive far for lower prices....
I currently have $14.28 off per gallon at GetGo stations. And no, I didn't spend $7000 at Giant Eagle. Well, I mean, I did, but I still have roughly 6900 of that.
Hello MasterCard stored value cards.
Hello free gas.
Hello MasterCard stored value cards.
Hello free gas.
So I just switched over to the blogger beta, and I'm signed in with my gmail acct. So far, no differences.
Nice job, Dave. You found the blogger template I was using. Did the link back to the blogger template site I grabbed the template from that I include on every single blog page help you to locate said blog template site?
I can't believe he censors his wife like that. I guess he's embarassed that he takes the dutch oven, and likes it.
# posted by : September 26, 2006 7:00 AM
: September 26, 2006 7:00 AM
why would someone step on a duck. That just seems unnessary. So, how about a new blog that's not as boring as cheap gas?
That was my guess too when I googled it. I'm almost ashamed to admit I didn't know the phrase stepped on a duck. That's a great line. It beats "Uh oh. I think your house has a barking spider problem."
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# posted by : October 02, 2006 4:42 PM
: October 02, 2006 4:42 PMSubscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
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