Does anyone remember when the gas stations were scrambling to get new signs because none of them had a number spot before the decimal? I think it was in 1990. (the Persian Gulf war was just starting)

I lived in California... we had the number spot before the decimal well before I started driving in 1988. Pretty sure it was over $1 when my sister started driving in 1985.

I found this chart interesting. For those that have a hard time reading line charts, here is a text version. The text version isn't lined up very well... the price per gallon is on the far right. I am guessing the prices are average for the nation... I do remember gas in Cali being around that price when I moved here but it definitely was not in Missouri.

I found this chart interesting

What's really interesting about that chart is that, adjusteing for inflation, the price of gas hasn't risen at all since 1979.

The key here is whether your salary has kept pace with inflation.

We've been LBing for a whole year, but as we just can't afford to take trips to get boxes, our find count is very low.

Well, if you can make it to just a couple of events per year that find count really jumps in a day! And some of them have very cheap accomodations! Look at this event in your state. :)

Well, if you can make it to just a couple of events per year that find count really jumps in a day! And some of them have very cheap accomodations! Look at this event in your state. :)

Unfortunately, that event is still on the other side of the state from us (5.5 hour drive!), which makes it pretty impossible to go. We were signed up to go to an event in Ohio (it was closer), but unfortunately work scheduling made that impossible, too. But hopefully someday we'll get to go to an event! :) Thanks for suggesting it!

LOved those stamps! Got a beautiful milk colored hobnail glass lamp with them! Unfortunatly my brother broke it by throwing a slipper at me one day! Darn brother!

Unfortunately, that event is still on the other side of the state from us (5.5 hour drive!), which makes it pretty impossible to go.

Impossible? Nah. Just start thinking about who to catch a ride with! You may find someone in MD, DC, PA, or in WV thinking the same thing you are, if only they had someone to split the costs with they could go...

I've been to a lot of events over the years that I've shared costs with others which has made for vacations that are WAY cheaper than a vacation anywhere else! :)

Does anyone remember when the gas stations were scrambling to get new signs because none of them had a number spot before the decimal? I think it was in 1990. (the Persian Gulf war was just starting)

it was earlier than that. gas first went past a dollar in about 77 or 78 or so. I was in about 8th grade, and I graduated in '83. gas stations had to change their signs, but they also had problems dealing with the fact that the pumps had rotating numbers on a physical dial, and no hole for the extra digit. No digital gas pumps. we barely had lcd displays on our calculators...my dad's calculator had tiny wire filaments that would light depending on what number was to be displayed. but I digress.

the gas station's immediate solution was to take a marker and draw the 1 on the sign, and to set the pump to half the price, about 52 cents/gallon or so, and then post a sign on the pump that you owed TWICE what the display read.

I got burned by that once, because that lasted long enough to get used ot paying half the total at the pump. As the stations were converting, we were in a hurry to get someplace, and mom sent me into the station (this in about 80-ish) to pay for the gas. I prepayed the whole $20, pumped it until it said $10, shut off the pump, hopped in the car, and a dozen miles later when we had no time to turn back, mom realized the needle was at half...that's when we realized we must have been at a station that had completed the conversion. oops!

anyway, gas more or less permanently over a dollar was in late '70's, early '80's; you correctly placed the persian gulf war (desert storm) in early 90's...Iraq invaded Kuwait in November of '90 (about a week before I got engaged) and war was declared in January of '91 (about 6 weeks before I got married).

romana

Double up with someone to share the gas..like your mom

We had 'green" stamps to redeem

when I started driving in California because I had to fill my parents' tank if I went out and since I only made $3.35/hour and only worked about 10 hours a week, I had a hard time paying that! We lived 10 miles from town so I automatically had to buy a gallon of gas just for the round trip down the mountain!

Just curious, where in California did you grow up? I lived near an area that was 10 miles up a mountain from town.

SJ Honey Bunny

Who here as a kid had the job of licking, yes licking, all those tiny stamps to put in the booklet? (no self adhesive available in those days)

I remember the Brady Bunch episode where the kids collected enough stamps to buy something nice (a silver tray engraved with their names for their parents' anniversary or am I confusing that with the episode where the boys wanted one thing and the girls another?). Anyway, does that count for anything?

Sj Honey Bunny

{{hat was the same summer I did a stint as Twinkie the Kid - 7 foot tall foam rubber twinkie uniform, and I passed out balloons and rings to little kids. Glad I finished college and my employment prospects improved!]]

At one point in my college career, I thought about trying to get a job as the broccoli mascot in Greenfield, CA. I wanted to stand on the freeway overpass on 101 and wave at passing cars. I'm still not sure what possessed me. Never did apply for the job nor have I ever attended the broccoli festival.

SJ Honey Bunny

I paid 3.73 on Thursday! In the SF Bay Area, quite a shock, since it had been more than a month, maybe two, since I bought gas last.

You might not have bought gas for your car but you've been buying lots of fuel for airplanes.

Glad you're home,
SJ HB

Bummer about the gas money. I remember pumping gas one time for my mom when I was young. She didn't want to smell like gas, so I did the job. This was when access to the tank was behind the liscense plate. The gas came out of the nozzle so fast, it came back and splashed all over me! Took me years to pump gas again and I think of it often as I do my own gas now. I'm very thankful for the splash guards and not having to bend over so you are eye level with the tank anymore.

No, because I don't smoke, drink, get my nails done, or buy my clothes at the local mall (paying twice the price) and I pack my lunch every day. My splurge is letterboxing and most of that is free anyway :)

I had to stop myself from breaking into song & picturing Rizzo and the girls all giggling. :)

Glad you're home,

Thank you dear. I am glad to be home.

Bokmal

Our gas is $1.21 a litre today - $4.60 a gallon.

How I wish we paid US prices for fuel! I filled up a couple of days ago and paid £1.36 per litre, that is £6.12 per UK gallon. If I've got my sums right it is the equivalent of about $7.80 per US gallon - ouch!!

I have already cut back on unnecessary travel, and I am afraid that includes letterboxing. The last time I made a trip especially to go boxing was New Year's Day. As a central government employee there will be no pay rise for at least two years and I expect to be really struggling if interest rates start to rise.

DM
Letterboxing - it's not a hobby, it's an adventure

Does anyone remember when the gas stations were scrambling to get new signs because none of them had a number spot before the decimal?

Yes, now go back a bit more.... remember when McD was doing the same thing because they didn't have enough digits in front of "million sold"?

If I've got my sums right it is the equivalent of about $7.80 per US gallon - ouch!!

Please tell me you get paid twice as much as we get paid in the US if you are paying twice as much for gas! Of course, it also depends on where you live in the US as far as salaries. My husband would be making probably 2 or 3 times his current salary if we lived in California (we've checked).

Of course, it also depends on where you live in the US as far as salaries. My husband would be making probably 2 or 3 times his current salary if we lived in California

But the cost of living is also 2 to 3 times as much, especially in the SF Bay Area. The shows on TV that show how much home you can buy for various amounts of money crack me up. Around here a million dollar home (at least a few years ago before the housing bubble burst) are NOTHING special, it's just a smallish ordinary tract home in a suburban neighborhood.

SJ HB

Our tight fuel budget already had us "County Bound" when it came to LBing adventures. Gas prices here in East TN have jumped $0.24 in less than 6 hours... sheesh. Do fuel prices effect your LBing plans?

Nope. Fuel prices are still a far cry from where they were three years ago, and it didn't affect me then. Now that is not to say that they won't go well above those levels, they will most certainly.

remember when McD was doing the same thing because they didn't have enough digits in front of "million sold"?

Is that why they just say "millions and millions" served now? =)

-- Ryan

Please tell me you get paid twice as much as we get paid in the US if you are paying twice as much for gas!

Certainly not paid twice as much! I would estimate that overall US and UK salaries are similar, though as you say there are big differentials across both countries. The average US cost of living seems to be 20% or so less than ours.

My husband would be making probably 2 or 3 times his current salary if we lived in California (we've checked).

Yeah, but you would be paying 10 times as much for a house...

The average US cost of living seems to be 20% or so less than ours.

That may be true, but I bet it's still cheaper for you to drive cross-country than it is for us. ;o)

And I'm almost certain that one could walk cross-country in England much quicker than the United States! =)

-- Ryan

And I'm almost certain that one could walk cross-country in England much quicker than the United States!

Given the state of some of our roads it is quicker to walk cross-country than to drive :)

I did a stint as Twinkie the Kid

Now if that isn't a story for a stamp, I don't know what is! :)

GJ

I did a stint as Twinkie the Kid

Now if that isn't a story for a stamp, I don't know what is! :)

OMG - you're right! I'll definitely add that to my to-do list. I can see the stamp in my mind already!

Be sure and have it next Tuesday!! LOL just kidding

GG