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Drivers start to change habits with $4 per gallon gas

by MEG COYLE / KING 5 News

KING5.com

Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:34 PM

Updated Tuesday, Mar 29 at 5:34 PM

FIFE, Wash. -- Psychologists call it the breaking point when gas prices hit the $4 mark -- that's when most of us finally feel forced to change or alter our spending habits. 

Well, start checking the couch cushions because $4 dollar per gallon gas is here.

At the Tumwater Shell station prices are $4.02 per gallon for regular unleaded. It was enough for a car and camper to pull in but keep right on going. 

Don and Judy Conroy won't be filling up there. 

"I pulled in and saw these prices and thought, I'm not buying gas here," they said.

Slowly customers trickled in. John Saari owns a commercial insulation business, and wasn't happy about the $4.50 per gallon diesel he needed.  

"Especially since I drive about a thousand miles a week!" said Saari.

To make matters worse, a $90 dollar credit card limit meant John has to make another transaction just to fill up his tank. All tolled: $121 dollars. 

"We always see these stories in L.A. too of people paying $4.50 a gallon and I'm always thinking, 'Idiot.' And now I'm that idiot!" said Laurel Creek, who is actually from California.

And as our state average nears that $4.00 per gallon mark, it's a luxury Saari said he can no longer afford. 

"I'll try to work from home, file share on the computer so I don't have to drive," he said. 

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Comments: Displaying 1 - 15 of 25

slappywag said on April 1, 2011 at 9:42 PM

The real issue is this: we are, as they say, ADDICTED to oil. Literally everything around you is possible because of petroluem products. It will not change until we get rid of corrupt politicians, either. The mere fact that you cannot get a hemp stamp without product in hand, but to grow it without a stamp being illegal... well that speaks volumes. There is an INTENTIONAL catch-22 in the law. Why this has never been brought before the Supreme Court, I will never understand. Ainslinger, Dupont, and Hearst screwed everyone over in the 1930's, and it continues today, some 80 years later. The politicians keep status quo, since they continue to get their pockets lined by the oil companies. Just once, I would like to see an honest politician. Who am I kidding? They would survive about 3 seconds.

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hourforum said on April 1, 2011 at 5:38 AM

some of you guys are correct- it is not about demand, nor a shortage. What happens many times when gas prices go up- these refinerys will cut production by 15%. By doing so-there is less fuel to offer, thus raising the price at the pump. But-Here is what makes me mad, if BP for example-had a oil leak ( which they did) Cheveron Exxon, Mobile etc ALL raised their prices because of BP. That should be illegal. Nonetheless, when gas prices soar-it is not due to demand. The ratio of demand remains the same no matter what more less. They refine less oil to keep prices high. THAT is what they did under the former occupant of the white house. THAT is what makes these billionare's richer, THAT is what robs America.

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dakotanative said on March 31, 2011 at 8:59 PM

If Clinton is still driving prices of gas over 10 years after he left office, then GW and Obama haven't accomplished anything. Ok, point taken.

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slappywag said on March 31, 2011 at 8:19 PM

*hole that is.

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slappywag said on March 31, 2011 at 8:19 PM

@shoreline... bull. I don't buy this unstable governments argument for two seconds. It is not about supply and demand, unstable governments, or any of that. It is about out and out greed. There is no shortage. There is no high demand. The price of oil is being driven by speculators the same as it was the last time fuel prices went off the map. You can thank Enron for punching the hold in the side of the sinking the ship with Clinton at the helm.

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dakotanative said on March 30, 2011 at 7:09 PM

This has nothing to do with the middle east, the shortage of local drilling, lack of refineries or anything else other than greed. That and demand. If everyone carpooled, rode the bus and walked to work when practicle, prices would be below 2 bucks before the weekend was over. Taxes are somewhere around $.37 a gallon plus something like 6% of the price. Locally, you may get a few extra cents here and there. If the advertised taxes are right, that is only $.75 per gallon. So the oil companies have went from $1.25 per gallon of income at $2.00 per gallon to $3.25 per gallon if the selling price is $4. And they claim they are only making $.07 per gallon? I really don't think their expenses have almost tripled in less than a year. I went with a vehicle that is close to twice the mileage of my old vehicle and I drive less. It costs me less per month now than months or a year ago, but it is still far too much.

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Sir_Real said on March 30, 2011 at 4:01 PM

Did you know mixing 2oz of bleach with 1 gallon of gas could give your car an extra 10mpg?

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kbbcoop said on March 30, 2011 at 12:09 PM

This was all Bushs fault when gas was this high before...wheres the blame on Obama?

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c8lsonics said on March 30, 2011 at 11:36 AM

I dare you to look at the oil companies profits compared to how much the government takes in taxes. Lowering that would be a good place to start if we want lower prices. The reserves are going to do nothing. Look at the past presidents who opened the reserves and find out how that fixed the economy. It didn't.

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jdjdjdj said on March 30, 2011 at 10:53 AM

You'd look cool on a Vespa. ;) My husband is now riding his motorcycle most of the time. Even in the rain. You gotta do what you gotta do.

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hourforum said on March 30, 2011 at 9:41 AM

The Former occupant of the White House George Doubbya did nothing with the cost of gas in America for one reason. His whole family is in Oil, so likewise was the Other occupant Mr.Cheny. Unlike President Obama- his money did not come from Oil. That said, Yes the cost of Gas is way too high-but here is what you can do. Either Don't drive a car that uses gasoline, or buy a car, hybrid- OR you can carpool OR you can take a bike to work, OR you can walk where you need to go. What amazes me, no matter what opec does- in some latin american countries they still pay 50 cents per gallon. I think it is time that President Obama get into our own reserves, and get the prices lower. With an economy as ours- we can not afford this! Millions have lost jobs, millions more are on the way. We need help, and now. Not a quick fix, but a sure fix

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shoreline said on March 30, 2011 at 8:51 AM

newlogin86, It not about how much oil we export from Libya or what percentage they produce. It's about the stability of the whole Middle East Region. Look at a map, most of the Oil producing countries are experiencing civil unrest. The governments are not stable and therefore the oil prices are not stable. Of course there are lots of other factors as well. Skok_cush, where were all the new refineries during the Regan/Bush/Bush administratons? This isn't about Obama or Bush or even refineries. We have some of the cheapest gas of most countries. Try Europe if you want to see expensive gas.

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speedracer said on March 30, 2011 at 8:14 AM

Buy a motorcycle or scooter and riding(aka rain) gear.Just think of the money you'll save and all the room on the roads.Before you know it you'll be giving peace signs to everyone.

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c8lsonics said on March 30, 2011 at 7:37 AM

I thought Obama was going prevent this from happening! Seems like he has no control over the oil prices just like.. oh.. say.. the last president. Funny how the loving liberal news media and their subjects won't attack their beloved chosen one like they did Bush.

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skok_cush said on March 30, 2011 at 6:50 AM

Thank a Liberal/Greener. . . . .Not allowed to drill anywhere. . . .no new refineries in 30 years. . . .Socialism at its finest.

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a6chris said on March 30, 2011 at 6:48 AM

I'll be riding my motorcycle more. Well ... as soon as the rain lightens up... ?

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newlogin86 said on March 30, 2011 at 6:36 AM

There is just no reason for it to be so high. Libya produces 2% of the worlds oil yet him showing a little anger and it skyrockets 50$ a barrel, then actual conflict and up up and away!!!

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shoreline said on March 30, 2011 at 6:15 AM

What driving habits are changing? Still seems like just as much traffic out there to me. I still see lots of full sized SUV's and trucks with single occupants parked at Starbucks. Busses in my area are still mostly empty all day long. No... driving habits aren't going to change at $4/gallon gas. Wait until July when it's $5 /gallon. Then maybe you can run this story with a little ring of reality.

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rnl52 said on March 29, 2011 at 8:30 PM

@living life, interesting point.....The people that can work from home and file share will be the third tier in our upcoming new reality. The first tier being the likes of the Koch brothers and the Waltons, bank CEOs, Etc........the second tier will be the .5 to 2.5 M/yr managers.........The fourth tier is us, wage earners...be us police, fire, clerks, laborors, mfg., nurses. And thanks to faux and the tea party they are convincing the simple minded that lowering taxes on corporations will create jobs, while W exposed that myth as a lie..tax cuts for the wealthy and the poorest job creation in recent history. While the middle class either picks up the tax burden shed by the corporations or suffers a much poorer community and reduced or cut services. Keep it up fox, you are convincing the weak minded.

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Sir_Real said on March 29, 2011 at 7:23 PM

All this started when we got new leadership in the US house of reps!

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aziza said on March 29, 2011 at 6:46 PM

We all have to get used to higher prices, and adjust accordingly.

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joeblow said on March 29, 2011 at 6:41 PM

c'mon people in this country won't change the gas guzzel habit until it hurts real bad... that's not til it hits 8.00 a gal. and that will be the only time cleaner and better sources will be taken seriously on a massive scale...

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slappywag said on March 29, 2011 at 6:26 PM

I changed habits at $3.25. I spend less than half what I spent on gas a month ago.

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mr_conservative said on March 29, 2011 at 6:14 PM

Can I get a jar...make that a 55-gallon drum of Vaseline - with that?

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livinglife said on March 29, 2011 at 5:59 PM

must be nice to have the option to work from home and file share. sad part is he can afford to pay the gas prices and the people who really can't are forced to so they can go to work just to pay for gas to get back.

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