Gas Prices – The Real Numbers

I used to subscribe to Mad Magazine with Alfred E. Neuman on the cover who would always say the same thing, "What, me worry?" Well, that's the word I have for you today friends. I don't worry about gas prices and neither should you. Don't believe me? Keep reading…

If the average American drives 12,000 miles a year and their car gets an average of 25 miles a gallon (click for story) then they're using around 480 gallons of gasoline a year. So let's do some math to see what that really costs in today's market.

12,000 miles driven in a car that gets 25 miles a gallon means that car uses 480 gallons of gas a year.
480 gallons at $3.50 a gallon = $1,680 a year in gasoline
480 gallons at $4.00 a gallon = $1,920 a year in gasoline

$240 bucks! This debate is all about a few hundred dollars? Even if a family may has three drivers that's an increase of $720 a year for that family. Reality Check!!! That's still a measly increase of $60 a month for the year! Is the price of gas going up by 50 cents worth buying a different car with a payment of $350 a month? No way!

Mass transit might be a good idea if you live in a community where it's a long enough commute but I did the math in my town in South Dakota and it costs me less to drive my car to work than to take the bus!

The best gas mileage is shared gas mileage. If you really want to save money on gas and you HAVE to drive to work, to school, to the grocery store, then call your coworker, friend or neighbor and go together. Car pooling is coming back in style! (Click for story)

We panic about gas prices because every time we drive down the street in Your Town, USA we see the price. Gas prices are just like the weather, people talk about it because it's an obvious topic. If the price of coconuts was on every corner in your town every day then it would be a topic of conversation. So resist the whining about gas prices and instead look for ways to save money in your house so gas prices don't take such a bite out of your budget. You don't have a budget!? Contact me to find out more about getting financially healthy and someday wealthy! There's not trick, just good ol' fashion intelligence.

Check back soon for other gas saving tips.