Gas Price Shenanigans

I paid $54 USD at a Shell gas station last night to fill up the family mini-van. That’s $2.98/gallon for the lowest grade available (87 octane). Grrrr

It got me real grumpy and pondering who to blame: Bush, Cheney, greedy oil executives, Hurricane Katrina

Then I decided to do a little research. I’ve tracked every one of my gas fill-ups for the past three years (yes, I need a better hobby obsession). Here are the prices I paid around this time each year:

It’s interesting to see how the prices conveniently peak each summer. Also, I guess I’m becoming desensatized to the prices because I didn’t remember the prices being this high a year ago.

2004 May $1.819 :: Dec 2004 $1.929
2005 May $2.119 :: Dec 2005 $1.979
2006 May $2.819 :: Dec 2006 $2.139
2007 May $2.979

So what do we do to manage ourselves while all the puppet masters tug on their strings?

There is a lot of advice online. Here’s what I think is reasonable:

• Have a plan… consolidate all your travel errands into a single weekly trip.
• Make sure your tires are inflated properly.
• Drive less aggressively.
• Research where to buy your gas before hitting the road looking for the cheapest prices. Just search for “gas price tracker” and you’ll find many Web sites and desktop widgets to help you.
• Mass transit / public transportation can be miserable. But consider doing it once or twice a week.
• Consider using one of the online grocers… prepare your shopping list online and have it delivered.
• Pay bills online so you don’t have to travel to the Post Office for stamps or to mail letters.

Oh yeah, vote out the incumbant politicians (Democrats and Republicans alike). Start sending a message. It will take decades, but one day it might sink in.
-BD