Low Gas Prices Are Not Good for Everyone

Sure, it's good that gas prices are low, especially if you have to drive to work every day or you are planning a driving vacation. It's true, also, that eventually, low gas prices should drive down other prices because of the lower cost of transportation. (Isn't that what they told us when food and other things got so expensive when gas prices went high?)

So, what's the kick?

Gas Prices and the Economy

I'm sure you've noticed gas prices at the pump, going down and down. According to Bankrate, "The lowest prices may still be on the horizon."

Good news, right? In the short term, yes. It costs less to fill your tank when prices are so low. In the long term, the picture may not be so bright, however. 

The fact is that gas prices are tied to the overall economy of our nation and when they go down this far, companies lose their profits, causing workers lose their jobs, causing retailers lose sales, causing more workers to lose their jobs... When enough workers lose their jobs, it affects the housing market negatively and it affects savings rates and retail sales, all of which have powerful effects on the overall economy. 

Just in case you wanted to be happy about saving money at the gas pump... really, I don't like to be negative about everything, so enjoy your savings. But remember that one person's gain is another person's loss and be ready for it to boomerang. We're all in this together. 

Gas Prices, Again... Or, Can You Really Save Money On Gas?

Well, here we go again. Gas prices have jumped up across the country like scared rabbits.

There are a lot of things you can do to save gas and it only takes a quick look around the internet to find lists and articles by the dozen that tell you to keep your car tuned up, keep the tires inflated properly, drive slower, gain speed slower, slow down slower, keep your gas tank full... the advice goes on and on, and you've probably done or are doing most of those things.

But how do you know, exactly, how much you're saving? With prices as unstable as they've been lately, how can you tell whether your tactics have saved you a few pennies or a dollar or two - or if they've saved anything at all?

That's the real bottom line, after all. Is it really saving you money, and if so, how much?

Here's how to find out:

• Keep close track of your mileage and figure the savings potential according to the actual amount of gas burned per mile instead of dollars and cents. This will stand you in good stead over the long run.
• You also need to track service done on the vehicle, because that can make a difference in gas mileage.
• Then you need to remember when you bought new tires; that will make an impact, however small.
• You'll need to buy the same brand and type of gas every time, because different fuel formulas produce different mileage potential.

I found a little program you can use to track all of this in one place and it gives you your exact gas mileage so you'll know whether the things you're doing are making a difference, and how much difference.

This nifty little program is called GasDandy and it really is a dandy. There's a free trial so you can see just how it works.

I guess we could consider these high gas prices to be a learning experience. Once you find something that saves you money when prices are high, it will still save you money when prices are low.