Doing math in gas for my community

[lendingheart]

We live in a small, poor county. 35 miles from the nearest walmart. Or factory job. ( We had a factory here but it burnt down) if people continue to live here they have to drive out at least 35 miles one way to a job. Unless they are skilled.... the avarge wage in the next big town over starts about $8 an hour.

So here is my math.

Average car gets 25 miles to the gallon. We live in the hills and curves, we drive what we can, nothing fancy.

25mpg divided by the 70 miles round trip to work and back is 2.8 gallons a day.

2.8 gallons x $5.00 a gallon ( possible in summer some say) = $14 a day

$14 a day x 5 days a week = $70 a week

That person making $8 an hour, 40 hours a week might clear $240 after taxes. leaving $170 a week for other things.

If this person is a single mother needing day care, they are really hurting!

Many couples here have already decided for the mom to stay home, she was just working to pay for the sitter anyway.

I think we are going to see a lot of changes in lifestyles this next few months.

[SummerSailing81]

I think you're right, LH.

[Biblenuggetlady]

More, Doing math...

In my valley, gas on my side of the town is 3.99 a gallon (for my grade, it is 4.09 and 4.29 for higher octane). If you drive 12 miles to the other end of the valley gas is down at 3.79-3.99. So, if I drive over there to save the .20 a gallon/2.80 a fill up, it would cost me a gallon+ in gas to drive over there and back. Now, take the -2.80 I saved, minus the gas to drive round trip of $3.79, it would cost me .99 more to "save" that .20/gallon. :lol2 :panic

[Issachar]

I've had my eyes on something like these (http://www.rhoadescar.com/jumpshow.htm) for a long time now.

http://www.rhoadescar.com/4w2plf-g.jpg

Issachar, thinking he may be able to do a homebrew cheaper.

[RememberTheName]

Look up some gas saving tips. Like going under the posted speed limit on the highway, accelerating more slowly, buying gas when it's cool at night, etc. etc. My car gets maybe 13 a gallon, but I'm able to stretch it pretty good.

[dpetty]

Well if you live in hilly country u can always coast down the big hills, car pool and have the extra riders push part of the way....if you drive the interstate u can fall in behind large trucks and draft.....I'm being silly fact of the matter is we need to get off oil as a fuel source.

[svend]

Look into some of the alternative air fuel mixture additives, some of them are not hoxes, and some of them work pretty good adding at least 25% increase in MPG

[Bodude]

[QUOTE=Issachar;574164]I've had my eyes on something like these (http://www.rhoadescar.com/jumpshow.htm) for a long time now.

http://www.rhoadescar.com/4w2plf-g.jpg

I have one of those. I bought it from a company in Canada.
Mine looks similar to this:
http://www.ultimate-quadracycle.com/images/grand_sport_rumble_seat.jpg

[stonewallfan]

We live in a small, poor county. 35 miles from the nearest walmart. Or factory job. ( We had a factory here but it burnt down) if people continue to live here they have to drive out at least 35 miles one way to a job. Unless they are skilled.... the avarge wage in the next big town over starts about $8 an hour.

So here is my math.

Average car gets 25 miles to the gallon. We live in the hills and curves, we drive what we can, nothing fancy.

25mpg divided by the 70 miles round trip to work and back is 2.8 gallons a day.

2.8 gallons x $5.00 a gallon ( possible in summer some say) = $14 a day

$14 a day x 5 days a week = $70 a week

That person making $8 an hour, 40 hours a week might clear $240 after taxes. leaving $170 a week for other things.

If this person is a single mother needing day care, they are really hurting!

Many couples here have already decided for the mom to stay home, she was just working to pay for the sitter anyway.

I think we are going to see a lot of changes in lifestyles this next few months.


People here have to drive 70 miles one way to find work that will sustain a family of 4

It is not just the gost of a gallon of fuel but everything else

[svend]

I have to live out 35 miles just to afford housing where I live