Gas prices heading up up up 

Gas has never been as expensive this time of the year as it is right now, and the way things are going with Iran you could be looking at $5.00 a gallon by summer vacation time. Oh boy are people going to scream.  When the gas prices went up with Bush in the White House the Democrats and the media started screaming about all those poor families that weren’t going to be able to take their summer vacation trip.  Now that a Democrat is in the White House I’m sure the Republicans will come up with similar tales of woe. 

Can we put things into some perspective here?  Let’s take a look at just how much more a family of four would have to spend to make their vacation trip this year if gas reaches $5.00.  We’ll assume a 1,500 mile vacation trip in a car that gets 18 miles per gallon.  We’ll also assume a $1.50 increase in the price of gas.  Here’s the math:  1,500/18x1.5 = 125.  That’s it.  Your vacation trip is going to cost you an extra $125 in gas.  Cut back on one meal in a fancy restaurant or one night on the road and you’ve more than made up for this. 

What about someone with a 20 mile commute?  What are they paying a day with this gas increase?   Since we’re commuting we’ll lower the gas mileage to 15mpg.  You have a 40 mile round trip, that’s $4.00 a day in gas.  Yeah .. that hurts.  Hurts about as much as one Starbucks.  It’s survivable, folks; especially if you’re participating in the dollar bill savings plan.  I’m not trying to downplay it, but there are other things happening in our lives and to our country that need some of your attention.