Okay, just something short and quick cause this article kinda pissed me off:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24920462/
And people wonder why it's so easy to fool the average American consumer. I'm not saying people have unlimited amounts of money to pay for gas. But anything you put in 1 week and don't use will be just sitting there in the tank for you next week. It doesn't magically expire Sunday night and go back to empty. So come on, take the extra $4 hit and buy an extra gallon. If you don't use, you can just buy 1 less gallon next week and save $4 then. The article mentions the potential damage to your fuel system if you're running dry. What they don't mention is the fees that AAA charges to come out with a tank of gas. Not only do you have to pay a premium for the gas they're putting in (probably $5-$6/gal), but you also have to pay their service fee for driving out there. So while you may think you're saving money, you're just royally screwing yourself by taking the risk. And a seemingly silly risk for the reason above regarding roll-over gas (for all you people that only understand cell phone-speak).
{Jarod decides to skip roughly 18 comments that all center around properly budgeting your money. But since they're all things that have been said already in previous posts, he just walks away to start working on dinner.}
Sunday, June 01, 2008
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7 comments:
What kind of AAA are you calling? I did run out of gas a couple of years ago - I was having problems with my car and it went from reading a quarter tank to empty in about 10 miles.
AAA came out, no service charge - it's included in the $40 a year. Because I didn't have the premium plan, which is like $60 a year, I had to pay for the gas. It was about 3 cents more expensive than going to a gas station - gas was around $3 at the time and they gave me 3 gallons for $9 and change.
Honestly, that was a guess. I've had to call AAA before. I guess they figure they've already got your $40, might as well give you the gas @ cost. $40 person/year x all those years with no calls...I might do the same to thank people for giving me money for not doing anything.
Anyways, so instead you just had to pay the opportunity cost of sitting there waiting for them. And admitting to people that you mis-read your gas gauge. Hopefully you've learned something here...
Yeah, I got rid of the car. :-D
Also, if you don't fill it up, then you just waste gas by having to go to the gas station more often.
Don't forget that since the price of gas is trending upwards, better to top it off with $4.00 gas now than have to buy more $4.10 gas next week.
Good call, Rembrandt! It's almost like an invest to buy more gas this week. Under your example, you're "making" $0.10 for every gallon you buy.
I found out the HELP people - Highway Emergency Local Patrol, not Highway Emergency Lucky People, as the radio personality thought - will give you gas for free if you run out. At least around here, still. Apparently people in CA are taking advantage of it - I didn't catch what they're doing, but I think they're charging for the gas now. (HELP is a good Samaritan service.)
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