SeaDog wrote: Everyone's going to feel the pain--even those who have been financially responsible their whole life. I think we are in for a world of hurt and our country's future is scary. It doesn't seem like we'll ever regain the living standard we're loosing/lost.
Of course our present standard of living has been only in the past fifty years.
Ask your grand parents what type of classA that they owned, ask them how many opportunities they had to travel out of country on holiday.
I am old enough to remember when the ordinary worker was hard pressed to keep food on the table, let alone live a luxurious life with fancy homes and expensive toys.
I think we are really only returning to a more normal division between the social strata in our countries, a line that has become blurred in recent years.
Huh? What pain?
I've planned my life by paying my way as I went. I don't know where everyone's having hard times in your post, but I'm doing fine. I've worked hard and saved since I was 22 years old. I'm now 56 years old.
I have no advanced education, just high school. Why am I doing so well, and some are complaining? No one is owed an RV and a thousand dollars a week.
SeaDog wrote: Everyone's going to feel the pain--even those who have been financially responsible their whole life. I think we are in for a world of hurt and our country's future is scary. It doesn't seem like we'll ever regain the living standard we're loosing/lost.
Of course our present standard of living has been only in the past fifty years.
Ask your grand parents what type of classA that they owned, ask them how many opportunities they had to travel out of country on holiday.
I am old enough to remember when the ordinary worker was hard pressed to keep food on the table, let alone live a luxurious life with fancy homes and expensive toys.
I think we are really only returning to a more normal division between the social strata in our countries, a line that has become blurred in recent years.
Huh? What pain?
I've planned my life by paying my way as I went. I don't know where everyone's having hard times in your post, but I'm doing fine. I've worked hard and saved since I was 22 years old. I'm now 56 years old.
I have no advanced education, just high school. Why am I doing so well, and some are complaining? No one is owed an RV and a thousand dollars a week.
I think we're all still in a state of shock because the price of fuel has jumped so high in such a short time in '08 -- I'm trying to be optimistic by thinking that it'll bottom out at some point (hopefully sooner than later), at which point by then we'll be so accustomed to paying the higher prices and having accepted it, that we'll just continue to have fun. Really, what other choice do we have. As painful as it is at the pump, I'm still trying like heck to keep a smile on my face.
Have to admit I really watch local trips when not camping, and use the car when ever possible. But still going on all the pre-planned ones. However it makes me wonder after reading the following on MSNBC news this morning:
In the United States, Chevron pocketed an average of $87 per barrel for crude oil and natural gas liquids sold in the first quarter, more than doubling from $37 per barrel last year.
The situation was basically the same in the rest of the world, with Chevron collecting an average of $86 per barrel compared to $35 per barrel last year.
They double their income while we have to cut back.....so much for their only "10% is all they get" I have been reading on many posts!
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By January 2007, we had our boat, new truck and 5er. Life is too darn short. HECK NO! We worked hard for these things and we intend to enjoy them as long as we can. We plan to adjust as needed to enjoy life. Steak on the grill beats the fru-fru kind any day. We almost never go out. A weekend in the 5er in the forest is better than an evening out to dinner in town, anytime.
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jvann1 wrote: Have to admit I really watch local trips when not camping, and use the car when ever possible. But still going on all the pre-planned ones. However it makes me wonder after reading the following on MSNBC news this morning:
In the United States, Chevron pocketed an average of $87 per barrel for crude oil and natural gas liquids sold in the first quarter, more than doubling from $37 per barrel last year.
The situation was basically the same in the rest of the world, with Chevron collecting an average of $86 per barrel compared to $35 per barrel last year.
They double their income while we have to cut back.....so much for their only "10% is all they get" I have been reading on many posts!
We belong to an RV Club with about 150 members. Almost all are retired folks. 90 percent store their RV's in the same lot we do. We pass by several times a week and have noticed that the lot has been practically full all spring. Compared to past years I would estimate that these folks have reduced their travel by at least 50 percent. So far commitments to our scheduled club outings for this summer are far below previous years and many are requesting that we reschedule to parks much closer to home. These folks are relatively well off, but still seem to be affected by the fuel costs. There are quite a few for sale signs showing up as well. It is not just the high cost of gas but the used value of most RV's must be much less now, at least it is in our area in northern California.
so while it seems alot of people are claiming not to cancel there planned trips no matter what the price of gas... makes you wonder what they are cancelling.
it's simple math, unless your income is rising at the same rate as inflation and the price of gas then something has to give. Whether it is the amount you choose to save, spend on eating out or whatever... we are all making compromises. so those that say they are not feeling the pain of high fuel prices are only tricking themselves into feeling better.
For my situation i choose to drive less (including RV travel) as it is an unnecassary expense. I'm not going to compromise the amount going to retirement (especially since rising inflation means i'll need even more $$$) I'll spend more weekends at home with the kids than out camping with the kids... it's really the time spent together that they will remember. So if my camper (paid for) sits most of the summer it really does not bother me as it means i will simply be sitting by the pool with the kids, still enjoying myself. i don't need to travel to enjoy myself.
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