Higher Prices Coming

We live in a state without a personal income tax, so we pay more on the front end.
Higher sales tax, etc. adds to the price of things.
Knew this when we moved here.
Filled up today @ 3.19 a gallon; with the price of crude hovering just under $100 a barrel, wasn't shocked.
While waiting for the next open pump, flashed back to the long lines in 1974 just to get some gas.

Again, not much shocks me anymore.
 

The average price for a house in Denver is now about $525,000... over half-a-million dollars! And that's for a little ranch house! Unreal! I guess that's one paradox of living in a city with a thriving tech economy; people want to move here for the jobs, but housing costs don't allow them to live much better than they did where the economy was in a slump.

The thing is, Denver isn't like other big cities where there are beautiful and fascinating cultural attractions such as what you find in Manhattan or San Francisco. The Denver metropolitan area consists mainly of barely constrained urban sprawl and gentrification spreading like a deadly pandemic that has killed off all the benefits of living in Colorado, such as access to wilderness areas in the mountains and ski resorts that are now only accessible to the wealthy and upper middle class due to the prohibitive cost of lift tickets and crowds.

Developers are constructing massive apartment and condo buildings, which is good. High density housing is the only way to go when land is at a premium. It just seems out of whack. :unsure:
 
I'm staying overnight in a Walmart parking lot tonight instead of a campground to make up for gas costs for the van. Super nice area and other RVs are here. I'm still going to go to campgrounds for leisure or when I need to dump waste tanks or refill water but can save at free places when passing through for work.
 
Last edited:
Yes, bigger is better was the philosophy but with energy crisis, global warming, hyper inflation, massive overpopulation and perhaps another world war, can we still live by the old rules? Perhaps "less is better" for the future; if there is a future?
Nosy Bee-54 said:
Bigger is Better in America!
Click to expand...
 
Don M. said:
Crude oil futures hit almost $90 a barrel today....compared to what is normally about $40/B this time of year. Some of the "experts" are saying that oil could reach well over $120/B as Spring arrives, and driving picks up. In some States with high fuel taxes, such as California, that could translate into prices at the pump soaring well into the 5 or 6 dollars a gallon range.

Even if you don't drive, these prices will be reflected at the grocery stores, etc., as delivery charges increase. Inflation is going to continue to be a problem, as a result, and affect those on a fixed income the most. Sooo...start budgeting...
Click to expand...
I was reading an article on the BBC website and they claim that the crude oil price is now $100/barrel. Glad I don't drive a 4X4 with a V8 motor. People around here are crying with some paying over $600/month on their daily commune to work. Some sure are looking longingly at the Toyota Prius for a future trade-in for their gas guzzling monster. That price ticket will be going up. I'm glad to be retired and "just sitting around".
 
AnnieA said:
I'm in a Walmart parking lot tonight instead of a campground to make up for gas costs for the van. Super nice area and others are here. I'm still going to go to campgrounds for leisure or when I need to dump waste tanks or refill water but can save at free places when passing through for work.
Click to expand...
We've boondocked overnight in a US BLM area in Quartzsite, Arizona. Another time we had some RV trouble and stayed overnight in a park's parking lot in Medocino, CA. Felt safe both times.

Warning... Completely off topic:
Funny aside on the Mendocino thing. We pulled off the freeway when a passerby pointed to our 5th wheel in a way that suggested we had a problem. We followed him off the freeway and pulled over on the exit. He suggested we pull into the park that was within visual range to sort it out there, and wished us well.

Once in the parking lot a couple of people realized we were having problems and came over to see if they could help. One (who was experienced with horse trailers and RVs) immediately diagnosed our problem and recommended a nearby business to sort it out. She called the guy for us. He was on another emergency though and couldn't get to us before morning. By this time it was early dusk.

Posted signs said the park was closed overnight, but she said if we explained (and showed our problem) to the local police who'd surely come to check, they'd probably let us remain. Which they did. About ten minutes after the cop locked the park gates the woman called my cell phone to ask if we were ok, and offered to let us come to their house and stay in their RV overnight. We declined but thanked her kindly.

Shortly after someone else with a flashlight showed up. Turned out some of the mansions across the street had 24 hour armed security. This guy patrolled that handful o homes all night, making sure all was well. He promised to keep an eye on us, too.

Early the following morning the repairman came, sorted us out for far less than we'd expected to pay, and we were on our way.

My point, and I do have one, is that kind, caring people are everywhere. Sometimes you don't even have to look for them - they just show up when you need them.

@AnnieA, I hope when you're boondocking in Walmart parking lots and other freebie places that you run into the same friendly, helpful people we're encountered.
 
Packerjohn said:
I was reading an article on the BBC website and they claim that the crude oil price is now $100/barrel. Glad I don't drive a 4X4 with a V8 motor. People around here are crying with some paying over $600/month on their daily commune to work. Some sure are looking longingly at the Toyota Prius for a future trade-in for their gas guzzling monster. That price ticket will be going up. I'm glad to be retired and "just sitting around".
Click to expand...

I doubt we will see crude oil futures going back down to $40/barrel, again, anytime soon. Some "experts" are predicting $120/B by Summer as more people resume normal driving. Big 4WD pickups have been the auto industries "cash cow" for decades, but a lot of people may have to start rethinking their choice of vehicles in coming years.
 
StarSong said:
We've boondocked overnight in a US BLM area in Quartzsite, Arizona. Another time we had some RV trouble and stayed overnight in a park's parking lot in Medocino, CA. Felt safe both times.

Warning... Completely off topic:
Funny aside on the Mendocino thing. We pulled off the freeway when a passerby pointed to our 5th wheel in a way that suggested we had a problem. We followed him off the freeway and pulled over on the exit. He suggested we pull into the park that was within visual range to sort it out there, and wished us well.

Once in the parking lot a couple of people realized we were having problems and came over to see if they could help. One (who was experienced with horse trailers and RVs) immediately diagnosed our problem and recommended a nearby business to sort it out. She called the guy for us. He was on another emergency though and couldn't get to us before morning. By this time it was early dusk.

Posted signs said the park was closed overnight, but she said if we explained (and showed our problem) to the local police who'd surely come to check, they'd probably let us remain. Which they did. About ten minutes after the cop locked the park gates the woman called my cell phone to ask if we were ok, and offered to let us come to their house and stay in their RV overnight. We declined but thanked her kindly.

Shortly after someone else with a flashlight showed up. Turned out some of the mansions across the street had 24 hour armed security. This guy patrolled that handful o homes all night, making sure all was well. He promised to keep an eye on us, too.

Early the following morning the repairman came, sorted us out for far less than we'd expected to pay, and we were on our way.

My point, and I do have one, is that kind, caring people are everywhere. Sometimes you don't even have to look for them - they just show up when you need them.

@AnnieA, I hope when you're boondocking in Walmart parking lots and other freebie places that you run into the same friendly, helpful people we're encountered.
Click to expand...

Oh, I'd love to go back to Mendocino now that I have the van! My profile pic was taken there.

From what I've read, people with RV problems on the road find people to be very helpful.

Back to the thread topic.... A lot of people bought RVs and campers over the past two years in order to vacation safely in the pandemic which drove RV prices sky high. With inflation increasing and the end of the pandemic, my guess is that many will start selling. A used RV is a smart choice if you hire an inspector to check it out before you buy
 
AnnieA said:
Oh, I'd love to go back to Mendocino now that I have the van! My profile pic was taken there.

From what I've read, people with RV problems on the road find people to be very helpful.

Back to the thread topic.... A lot of people bought RVs and campers over the past two years in order to vacation safely in the pandemic which drove RV prices sky high. With inflation increasing and the end of the pandemic, my guess is that many will start selling. A used RV is a smart choice if you hire an inspector to check it out before you buy
Click to expand...
You're probably right about the used RV market opening up if there aren't more Covid spikes or variants during 2022. Most people finance those purchases and those monthly payments will become a burdensome irritant for many who return to more traditional getaway habits.

Seven years ago we paid cash for our gently used, warranted and inspected, ten year old RV (which we still love). Same with the used heavy-duty diesel pickup we'd already bought to haul it. Even with a few repairs over the years, we're still WAY ahead of the cost of buying new.
 
Don M. said:
I doubt we will see crude oil futures going back down to $40/barrel, again, anytime soon. Some "experts" are predicting $120/B by Summer as more people resume normal driving. Big 4WD pickups have been the auto industries "cash cow" for decades, but a lot of people may have to start rethinking their choice of vehicles in coming years.
Click to expand...
Been in Texas for 40 years and its boon and bust for oil prices. The rodeo is going on right now!
 
Liberty said:
"Everything's bigger in Texas...including the oil wells...lol.
Click to expand...
Oil wells may be bigger in Texas but these days Russia has the world's largest supply of natural gas. Saudia Arabia has the world's largest supply of Crude Oil. Lesson here is: BE NICE TO RUSSIA AND SAUDIA ARABIA. Nice lesson but Russia is expanding it's borders right now. In Saudi Arabia, the Koran rules which presents certain problems for the ladies over there.
 
I also drive a smaller car. Hop it holds out for a few more years with the car price increases.

I do notice people still driving like jerks. Passing me, gunning the engine so I can meet them at the next red light. I sure don't see people driving to conserve gas.
 
I fill up my vehicle once a month. Yesterday I paid $3.79/gallon for unleaded regular. I have no doubt the price of gasoline, like everything else, will only go up.

On a related note, I have noticed that the grocery store shelves are filling up. For a long while there were empty spaces here and there but as I was walking up and down the store aisles a few days ago, it occurred to me that the shelves are now full. Of course the prices have been increased, unfortunately.
 
Its interesting...some things like coffee have gone up and others like ground turkey have gone down. Kroger has weekly specials and coupons that really cut the costs, like Jennie-o ground turkey, 1 lb. for $2.99. That's cheaper than it used to be. Think the household paper products have gone up. Shopping the coupon/sales really helps.
 
Noticed a small creep in my billing from Consumer Cellular with my last statement. I had lowered my data plan from 3GB to 1GB which should have dropped my balance. My balance actually went up, not a huge amount only $5. There was an item listed as auto pay opt out, I dislike auto pay anyway, another loss of control. I went on my billing details, signed up for auto pay & the $5 charge disappeared.
 
I had been contemplating cutting cable for about a year now and finally did it a few weeks back. I pay far less now for the few streaming services that I actually use and watch than I did for cable that had so many channels that had content that was of no interest to me. I also reduced my cell phone data plan, cut back on my driving by combining trips when I do go out, selling some things that still have a bit of value but are of no use to me, have switched from a rather expensive (for me) hair salon for my monthly cut and color to a local shop that charges a nominal fee for a simple trim and I color my own hair now and probably another 6 or 7 changes that I'll think of after I post this.

It's an ever-evolving process with more to come, I'm sure.
 
I went ahead and filled up the vehicles and cans used for lawn mowers, etc. This should last me about 3 months. Not a big deal, but the national average for gasoline is almost certainly going to punch through the 2008 record highs and might be 60¢ a gallon higher than current... within in a month. Regrettably, such prices tend to impact the thought processes of Americans of all stripes, much more than groceries... for some reason.
 
Oil/gas prices normally rise with the slightest hiccup. I think I've seen it when a tanker leaks at sea and with hurricanes. So it's not surprising that prices would go up when a major producer like Russia is in the crosshair of other nations.

Also, I read where Russia is #3 and Ukraine is #9 in wheat production. So the occupation and if there are sanctions on wheat, that could have worldwide implications on cereals, bread and etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top