the high price of everything!

[diamondsrock]

with Christmas right around the corner, I was wondering if the high prices of gas and oil were putting a crimp in anyone's shopping? I had 125 gallons of oil delivered a week ago and it cost me almost $400.

Not fun! When we bought our house 5 years ago I think it was something like $1.09 a gallon, now it was $3.19/gallon in that delivery. I know my salary hasn't tripled in those years!
Quite a few people I've talked to are scaling back this year on the gifts. Instead of buying a lot of gifts without much thought, they are putting a lot of thought and effort into the gifts they do buy. I keep telling myself to scale back on the gifts but it's hard.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

It doesn''t bother me thaat much but I lived in Europe where gas prices are so much higher. I also only use very small cars and keep the heat at 65 because there really is no need for it to be more than that. From an internantional political view, it is truely amazing our gas prices stayed as low as they were for as long as they did. Its a non-renuable resouce so as we are finding less and less and having a harder time getting it out of the ground, it is going to continue to rise in price, probably much faster than it already is.
As for gifts though I am also needind to save money for grad school so I am having the same problem. My solution was to talk to the people I buy for, which very limited, and ask for something smaller than they usually get me so I can do the same.

 

[KimberlyH]

Date: 12/9/2007 3:39:24 PM
Author: brazen_irish_hussy
It doesn''t bother me thaat much but I lived in Europe where gas prices are so much higher. I also only use very small cars and keep the heat at 65 because there really is no need for it to be more than that. From an internantional political view, it is truely amazing our gas prices stayed as low as they were for as long as they did. Its a non-renuable resouce so as we are finding less and less and having a harder time getting it out of the ground, it is going to continue to rise in price, probably much faster than it already is.
As for gifts though I am also needind to save money for grad school so I am having the same problem. My solution was to talk to the people I buy for, which very limited, and ask for something smaller than they usually get me so I can do the same.

Thanks for providing an international perspective, bih. I don''t think many people realize the the effect that the global oil market has on the price we pay. It''s easy to get mad at Exxon and other suppliers without realizing that the price of oil is set OPEC and other exporting nations and if companies like Exxon aren''t willing to pay the price exporters will sell their product elsewhere, leaving us with no supply.

 

[sumbride]

Yep, definitely cutting back this year. Our electricity prices actually DOUBLED this summer with deregulation... grrr... and gas prices and then our property tax doubled... etc.... I used to do gifts for each of my siblings and each of their spouses and each of their kids. And then we would get one present from their family, as a couple. So we''ve decided that with that, and the prices vs. incomes, we''re buying one gift per couple and one gift per child. And that''s it. Of course, we don''t have kids so we always get the losing end of the deal on that, but then I guess we also don''t have to play Santa so it works out better for us. My cats are happy with a couple of new mousies.

 

[Steel]

Bah humbug!

I entirely agree, everything costs too much and quality seems for the most part to have taken a nose dive!

Where I have saved money is on my Christmas cake, which featured in a recent ring shoot. I used (up to last year) make my cake and often the first attempt went into the bin. Then I realised that if I bought one from Marks & Spencer it tastes 50 times better and costs 4 times less than my ingredients would.

But, seriously I would love to know how much you pay for petrol (gas?), I paid €1.22 per litre last week and almost died. That is 'exactly' $1.78749 (Gotta love that XE converter!).

Edit: You may remember I am building a house in the country over here having just sold my house, so I am renting. Now for the good bit, the house I am renting has no heating. It has an open fire in the front room (which I tend to live in brrrrrr), which luckily has a back boiler that heats hot water for the next morning. We are wrapped up in coats and scarves like mummies and the cats are desperately back combing their fur! Now there is a flip side! Wait for it. A tree across the road fell down in high winds today, so DH and I are going 'free' wood scavenging tomorrow. Oh the joys! [Yes, I realise I am doing nothing here to dismiss the myths about rural Ireland, but what the hay?]

 

[zoebartlett]

Date: 12/9/2007 6:38:24 PM
Author: Steel
Bah humbug!

I entirely agree, everything costs too much and quality seems for the most part to have taken a nose dive!

Where I have saved money is on my Christmas cake, which featured in a recent ring shoot. I used (up to last year) make my cake and often the first attempt went into the bin. Then I realised that if I bought one from Marks & Spencer it tastes 50 times better and costs 4 times less than my ingredients would.

But, seriously I would love to know how much you pay for petrol (gas?), I paid €1.22 per litre last week and almost died. That is 'exactly' $1.78749 (Gotta love that XE converter!).

I want to say that gas prices around us (in New England) are something like $2.79 or so. I *think*. I hate how high gas prices are (and everything else too) but I don't worry too much because what can you do? The prices are going to be what they're going to be. We haven't scaled back on things that much but it does stink.

ETA: I just checked online and it looks like I guessed incorrectly at our local gas prices. They're now listed at anywhere from $2.84-2.94.

 

[lumpkin]

We are absolutely scaling back. We have a strict budget this year, including for our kids.

In a way, it takes the stress of, but in other ways, it''s more stressful. We have good, solid reasons for not buying a bunch of stuff the recipients are going to have to store or will end up donating or giving to someone else just because we have a tradition of giving and receiving lots and lots of gifts. I''m hopeful that we won''t come home with a stuffed car load of stuff we really didn''t want/need/can''t use but will have to keep around a few years out of respect.

On the other hand, we''ve had to cut back on practical things as well, and that''s stressful. My poor hubby needs a car pretty badly, but his is paid off and car payments are not in the budget. We need a new mattress and box springs badly, but I don''t want to buy a cheap set, I don''t want to get a smaller set, and we don''t want to take the money out of savings to get it. Milk has gone up about 40% since summer and all our groceries cost a lot more than they did. Our utility bills haven''t gone up too terribly much, but we''re on level pay and they average it out over the year. I''m waiting for that shoe to drop -- at some point we''re going to get a substantial increase.

The economy here is not good -- businesses are closing and there are lots of empty shops in the strip malls and the big malls, too. I think a few of our neighboring areas now have section 8 housing/appartments where there wasn''t so much of that a few years ago. The real estate company I worked for that 10 years ago acquired a dozen other companies just obliterated their marketing department and the housing market is pretty dead. One family just abandoned their house last summer in our neighborhood, which was solidly upper middle class and people had lots of disposable income. Not so much now. A lot of us don''t go anywhere on vacation and we''ve been hanging onto our cars a lot longer than we used to. I even had a car dealership where I took my car to have repair work done last spring call me on my unlisted cell phone trying to get me to come in and take advantage of the great deals they were having. I''m sure they do have great deals, but it doesn''t seem wise to buy a car right now. So yes, definitely, I think we''ve scaled back a TON on everything, not just holiday gifts.

 

[Steel]

Date: 12/9/2007 6:46:20 PM
Author: zoebartlett

Date: 12/9/2007 6:38:24 PM
Author: Steel
Bah humbug!

I entirely agree, everything costs too much and quality seems for the most part to have taken a nose dive!

Where I have saved money is on my Christmas cake, which featured in a recent ring shoot. I used (up to last year) make my cake and often the first attempt went into the bin. Then I realised that if I bought one from Marks & Spencer it tastes 50 times better and costs 4 times less than my ingredients would.

But, seriously I would love to know how much you pay for petrol (gas?), I paid €1.22 per litre last week and almost died. That is ''exactly'' $1.78749 (Gotta love that XE converter!).

I want to say that gas prices around us (in New England) are something like $2.79 or so. I *think*. I hate how high gas prices are (and everything else too) but I don''t worry too much because what can you do? The prices are going to be what they''re going to be. We haven''t scaled back on things that much but it does stink.

ETA: I just checked online and it looks like I guessed incorrectly at our local gas prices. They''re now listed at anywhere from $2.84-2.94.

WOW, So I''m not that badly off; Shocker! At almost $3 that must hurt. I am feeling $1.7 and you are having to fork out almost x2 that. Sorry

.

I admit to being really worried about the economy. Esp. as I have not yet secured my job, I worry that I will not be hired in my field. It would break my heart.

DH and I always watch our pennies, I did before we met and we have done as a couple ever since. I try not to buy brand at the supermarket and buy fruit and veg from our local independent market which is actually fresher and cheaper. If the shop raises its price I choose to go without or buy elsewhere, I refuse to succumb to sneaky increases in price. At our nearest major supermarket prices vary weekly on the most basic of products and I have become very suspicious. I buy in bulk when the price is low and refuse to buy if they sneak it up - even by a few pennies. I take it very personally!

I feel for parents at this time. It is another reason in a very long list as to why I have chosen no kidlets for me. I would hate to have my kid be the one who ''doesn''t get'' something that all his/her mates get. But all the ads for kids toys are so super expensive. Seems like €40 an item min, and not mentioning the blashed computer games

dh tells me that the new PS thingy is €400! When I was little all I wanted was books and a selection of hair ties. (I always coveted a member of the sylvanian families, just the little figure - never got one though! WAH) Sorry to digress...

 

[sumbride]

Date: 12/9/2007 7:36:12 PM
Author: Steel

Date: 12/9/2007 6:46:20 PM

Author: zoebartlett

Date: 12/9/2007 6:38:24 PM
Author: Steel
Bah humbug!

I entirely agree, everything costs too much and quality seems for the most part to have taken a nose dive!

Where I have saved money is on my Christmas cake, which featured in a recent ring shoot. I used (up to last year) make my cake and often the first attempt went into the bin. Then I realised that if I bought one from Marks & Spencer it tastes 50 times better and costs 4 times less than my ingredients would.


But, seriously I would love to know how much you pay for petrol (gas?), I paid €1.22 per litre last week and almost died. That is ''exactly'' $1.78749 (Gotta love that XE converter!).

I want to say that gas prices around us (in New England) are something like $2.79 or so. I *think*. I hate how high gas prices are (and everything else too) but I don''t worry too much because what can you do? The prices are going to be what they''re going to be. We haven''t scaled back on things that much but it does stink.


ETA: I just checked online and it looks like I guessed incorrectly at our local gas prices. They''re now listed at anywhere from $2.84-2.94.

WOW, So I''m not that badly off; Shocker! At almost $3 that must hurt. I am feeling $1.7 and you are having to fork out almost x2 that. Sorry

.

I admit to being really worried about the economy. Esp. as I have not yet secured my job, I worry that I will not be hired in my field. It would break my heart.

Well, actually, Steel, you''re quoting per litre and Zoe is quoting per gallon, so the litre price is still more, though with the dollar''s rate of exchange right now, I think it''s about even...

Price per gallon around here is about $3.20. We''re carpooling a lot more.

 

[Steel]

Ah, thanks for clarifying. So I am right to feel hard done by...

 

[door knob solitaire]

Ha...hubby has a funny reminder when he hears the complaint of fuel per gallon...it is cheaper than a gallon of milk! Yes it is hubby and why don't you enjoy your Cheerios with this premium unleaded?

Well, I did an Internet search and this cute gal came up with a chart...have fun reading it!

Chanel #5 or how about some Scorpion venom anyone? Yeah...charge it! §

Price per gallon of....

 

[saltymuffin]

Steel is indeed very hard done by compared to US prices. It isn''t "about even" at all.

There are 3.785 litres in a US gallon. So that means that 1.22 euro/litre = $6.76/gallon. More than double what most people pay in the US.

Here in Canada, we pay about $1.07/litre. The Canadian dollar, and US dollar are about the same, so that means we pay $4.05 per US gallon.

Americans pretty much pay the lowest price for gas/petrol in the world.

 

[Aloros]

Last I checked, here in sunny CA, gas prices were comfortably over $3.00/gallon. I use public transportation and a bicycle whenever possible, and take the car out only when necessary. Fortunately, my car is small, light, and manual transmission, so I really haven''t felt the pinch too much.

The house we''re in has pretty good insulation, so we wear sweaters and don''t turn the heat on often.

On the other hand, I bought a bag of grapes last week that came out to $10. I haven''t bought grapes in forever...are they just out of season or something?

I''ve been doing a little extra work on the side to balance out the holiday budget!

 

[Skippy123]

Here is a link to the most expensive city's for gas; top 5 are in CA some in NY, Miami etc http://finance.yahoo.com/loans/article/103987/Most-Expensive-Places-to-Buy-Gas-in-the-U.S.

I think it would be great if the car manufactures started making cars which use less gas. In Europe you see lots of econo cars which is great for the environment.

This weekend a few of my friends and I carpooled to a party 35 mins away from the city; I think we are going to have to start thinking of creative ways to save money and not drive as much.

 

[Mara]

everything is def more expensive now...i was in Express the other day, EXPRESS of all places, the land of the cheap and typically disposable after one year clothing products. i spent $250 on a pair of pants, a sweater, a half vest, and 4 pieces of jewelry that were buy one get one 1/2 off. i was like WHAT, this has to be wrong, $250??? nope it was right. one necklace was $24 and the pair of pants were $80! EIGHTY. i might as well be shopping at nordies with the halogen brand, way more long-term worthy. i thought GOSH i remember when express sweaters were like 20 and pants were 40! what is up with that!!

however, it isn't stopping me from shopping and we are not scaling back on gifts this year, in fact we had a great year luckily...so we have gone a little crazier than normal with family members gifts, we got amazing digital picture frames for our families and i am so excited about sending them to them with our pictures on them. also, we have a new baby in the family and i have about 5 gifts for her under the tree hahaha. also i think this year we are finally going to get a new LCD tv. our old tv is 8 years old, we take forever to replace electronics and the like in our house. so i think we deserve it!!

aloros...i spend $12 on grapes at whole foods which is pretty horrifying, though figure if i eat the $12 grapes rather than buying the $5 grapes at safeway and letting them rot because they are sour, which is the better option. justification.

anyone else doing the one for them, two for me? *raises hand sheepishly*

 

[divergrrl]

Good thread!

I see red (literally) when I pay my utilities every month.

Natural Gas (only my furnace & fireplace are on it) $112 a month (averaged out on "easy pay" so I don''t have $275 winter bills).

Electricity: $125 month

Water & Sewer: $103 every other month

Garbage: $43

Phone & Internet $100 (but hubby''s co picks that up since his office in in our house--same with cell phones)

Cable TV: $100 (cuz hubby loves all the sports/movie channels)



I got so sick of buying gifts for my stepbrothers (ages 28 & 29..both have full time jobs) and their girlfriends only to have them NEVER get us anything. (they always cry broke, even though they go out drinking every night) they all said that this year they weren''t doing gifts because they were broke. (even though they asked my dh for TV''s..what the hell? They think we are rich cuz we own a home--whatever). So I decided we are each going to draw a name & we are going to do a gag gift for $10 for that person. They actually loved the idea & as a result its going to be more fun than past years. So we all only have one $10 gift to worry about.

I went out for Christmas cocktails/shopping with my girlfriends & one of them was talking about the ipod & digital frame she got her BIL. I was shocked she spent so much on one person given the size of her family until she told me that (there are 8 adults to gift give for) everyone just draws 1 name & has a $250 budget for that person. I LOVE that idea. I have 6 adults I buy for in my immediate family & I usually set a $50 limit. $50 is hard to get something nice for a dad/mom/brother/etc. I''d rather do one name & get them something great. Each family member also writes their xmas list down so when its drawn (envelopes in a hat) the giver has a selection of presents to choose from with the right sizes so they get it right. And with $250, we''d still be saving $$. Heck we could even do $200.

I think I''m going to initiate that for next year.

As for my closest friends, extended family, I set a $25 limit.

 

[Gypsy]

It's really impacting us this year too. We made the decision to get my ring reset in September instead of waiting till January as planned because the price of metals and diamonds was rising... but we really should have waited until January financially. And we'll be FINE in January... but as a result December is much tighter than we thought.

I hve to get co-workers gifts, and I'm wondering how to cheap it out, without appearing that way. No secret santa at work either to make life easier. I have no idea what we are buying the 6 nieces and 1 nephew, but I'm going to be hitting the sales super hard (if I can find a decent sale)... and we have a wedding to attend NYE that is costing quite a bit and is no where near anyone's house so we got a hotel room, but it's NYE so the hotel room is costing a not so small fortune (and it's just a Marriot). So things are really tight. We're not getting each other presents to compensate, and the cats are going without the new cat tree we had planned for them... but everytime I'm filling up my gas tank I'm wincing. Plus our rent just got SERIOUSLY hiked. It's painful. Our heating bill is ridiculously high... don't even get me started on the rest of the bills.

I was in the mall on Sunday and it was empty... just like a normal Sunday at the mall in, say... April. And it's just a few weeks to Christmas. Everyone is feeling the pain. ANd Mara... I totally agree I was shopping in the mall and I was having a hard time with the 'sale' prices I was seeing. Sale my aunt Fanny.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

We''re not cutting back on Christmas presents this year, and we pay a premium to live in the city center so our fuel costs are pretty low.

However I *definitely* have cut back on clothing shopping for myself this year, courtesy of the weak dollar. As much as I like Dolce & Gabbana clothing and Manolo shoes, I can''t pull the trigger any longer. What had been a nice treat just feels... irresponsible. Absurd even.

Has anyone else noticed that you''re tempted by far fewer items for yourself when doing your Christmas shopping for others this year?

 

[jewelerman]

I am calling it quites to all the Christmas madness!I am no longer going to spend time and money on holiday gifts that have no meaning.This year as last year i will donate money and time to my favorite charities.The holidays have become commercial and each year i feel more and more manipulated into the high expectation to give gifts to everyone around me.Its great to feel no pressure to get so much done by the dec 25th deadline.

 

[pennquaker09]

I''m one of those that really doesn''t *want* anything. If I get something, fine, if I don''t, fine. We were a double income no kid(until May) household so it hasn''t been a big deal for us. I''m more a looker than an actual buyer. I''ll pick something up and decide that I don''t need it. I''m terribly indecisive. I mostly spend money on things essential to living - gas and Diet Dr. Pepper.