🌎 Y'all remember when gas prices weren't so volatile?

[sean]

'Cause I do. I can remember back when I fist started driving (1986) that gas prices were ~$.80/gallon (maybe a bit less, maybe a bit more) where I live. And I remember the price being the price for months at a time.

Now? I see gas prices change almost daily; at the very least every 3-4 days. Yesterday morning, when I went to work at 5:30am gas was $2.65/gallon. When I came home (2:30pm) and passed that same gas station, it was $2.85/gallon. Yep, a $.20 upswing in 1 day. And it had been $2.65 for MAYBE 3 days. Granted I have seen it drop as much as $.12 from morning to afternoon. But the surge in pricing always seems to outdo the drop. And this can happen on an almost daily basis. It's just maddening how often it happens.

 

[alabama mike]

I’m old enough to remember gas for .35 per gallon. No sense in the constant swing in prices on an almost daily basis.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

When I was a kid, gas was 26 cents a gallon, and according to my Dad it had been that forever. Then it went to 29 cents and everyone grumbled. Then it went to 32 and there was an uproar. It leveled out in the 50's for a long time, then in 1980, it went to the $1.25 range. That got domestic production moving again, just in time to get ruined in the mid- late-eighties oil bust.

 

[OldPlayer]

'Cause I do. I can remember back when I fist started driving (1986) that gas prices were ~$.80/gallon (maybe a bit less, maybe a bit more) where I live. And I remember the price being the price for months at a time.

Now? I see gas prices change almost daily; at the very least every 3-4 days. Yesterday morning, when I went to work at 5:30am gas was $2.65/gallon. When I came home (2:30pm) and passed that same gas station, it was $2.85/gallon. Yep, a $.20 upswing in 1 day. And it had been $2.65 for MAYBE 3 days. Granted I have seen it drop as much as $.12 from morning to afternoon. But the surge in pricing always seems to outdo the drop. And this can happen on an almost daily basis. It's just maddening how often it happens.

With computers, oil companies and their retailers (most outlets aren’t owned by the oil company) can track oil prices, competitive pricing and volume much faster. The oil companies/distributors make pricing recommendations and the retailer can accept the price or price it higher/lower. Most of the time they accept the price and adjust their pumps. Based on market activity, this can cause multiple price changes in a day - up or down. The goal is to make money, as much money as possible. Slight $0.01 - $$0.03 changes can make a big difference.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

With computers, oil companies and their retailers (most outlets aren’t owned by the oil company) can track oil prices, competitive pricing and volume much faster. The oil companies/distributors make pricing recommendations and the retailer can accept the price or price it higher/lower. Most of the time they accept the price and adjust their pumps. Based on market activity, this can cause multiple price changes in a day - up or down. The goal is to make money, as much money as possible. Slight $0.01 - $$0.03 changes can make a big difference.

Needing to know the best time of day to buy gas makes it feel like we're living in a hyperinflation banana republic.

 

[rick4bama]

After I got my driving license, I found a gas station that sold unleaded gas cheaper than regular gas. At the time I think that regular gas was .35 cents a gallon. The unleaded was .25 cents. So I would get that, 3 gallons and two cokes. Who would know that in little over 10 years we all would be buying unleaded.

 

[rick4bama]

From 73-74 We were living in New Jersey. I still had a Bama tag with 56 for Randolph County. Since I had and even tag number that was when we with to get gas. Check out the price per gallon.

 

[sean]

Had to get gas today. The price has changed 4 times in the last 4 days...$1.73 - $1.65 - $1.85 (yep, jumped 20¢ in a single day) - $1.73 (today's price). Thankfully, I joined the Shell Rewards program and I get 10¢ off per gallon. Still, it going up 20¢ in a single day was kind of a shock.

 

[rick4bama]

Had to get gas today. The price has changed 4 times in the last 4 days...$1.73 - $1.65 - $1.85 (yep, jumped 20¢ in a single day) - $1.73 (today's price). Thankfully, I joined the Shell Rewards program and I get 10¢ off per gallon. Still, it going up 20¢ in a single day was kind of a shock.

Our are still in the $2.00 ranger.

 

[sean]

Our are still in the $2.00 ranger.

Shit...sorry. Those "1s" are supposed to be "2s".

Hell, if it got THAT low, I'd go buy some more cans and keep a bunch of it stored.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Had to get gas today. The price has changed 4 times in the last 4 days...$1.73 - $1.65 - $1.85 (yep, jumped 20¢ in a single day) - $1.73 (today's price). Thankfully, I joined the Shell Rewards program and I get 10¢ off per gallon. Still, it going up 20¢ in a single day was kind of a shock.

Get the Costco Visa, they give you five percent cash back on all gas purchases (not just at Costco) up to either $5,000 or $7,000, can't recall. I use that card for all gas and Costco purchases, Amex on everything else that doesn't charge a fee to get the Delta Skymiles.

 

[sean]

Get the Costco Visa, they give you five percent cash back on all gas purchases (not just at Costco) up to either $5,000 or $7,000, can't recall. I use that card for all gas and Costco purchases, Amex on everything else that doesn't charge a fee to get the Delta Skymiles.

I'm trying to not use credit cards so much. I got into some trouble and I'm starting to see some daylight, now. My credit score was absolutely tanked about a year ago, but now it's MUCH better and only getting higher. And I'd like to keep it that way.

 

[TerryP]

I'm trying to not use credit cards so much.

With cash back incentives, I only use cash when buying 'hoes.' At the 7-11 I get cash back on everything...beer and crap inside, gas outside.

On another note, I've got that Capitol One Shopping app running as well. I think my balance on that right now is around $180 or more. IE: I can use my Disc. over Visa on Lowe's web site and get bonuses through Cap One (have a checking account through them, as well as one MC.)

Get the Costco Visa, t

I think my BOA Visa is 3. I bought a new tool the other day through their rewards. Five, is good. Costco? Not so good. It's too damn far for a membership.

 

[sean]

With cash back incentives, I only use cash when buying 'hoes.' At the 7-11 I get cash back on everything...beer and crap inside, gas outside.

On another note, I've got that Capitol One Shopping app running as well. I think my balance on that right now is around $180 or more. IE: I can use my Disc. over Visa on Lowe's web site and get bonuses through Cap One (have a checking account through them, as well as one MC.)

I get cash back on both my credit cards. The rate varies, but I've seen it as high as 12%. Although, that 12% was a place I've never been to and have no desire to go. I can usually get 5% back at Lowe's. Still, I'm trying not to use them so much. I want to stay out of credit trouble and not get in that hole, again. That sucked. Yes, it was my fault...I know that. But I want to have as much "cash" on hand for anything unexpected that may come up. And I don't want to have to rely on a credit card to pay for something big and then be right back in that hole, again.