Janie from Haverhill, Mass.With the higher price in gas, my daughter and I have been staying with my parents in Manchester during the week when I work and go home on Friday night for the weekend. Not a way to live when you're married, but it costs too much to travel back and forth every day. Some of the folks that I work with are doing double shifts, by trading with co-workers, and sleeping in their car between their shifts (we work for an airline.) They live about an hour from work, too, and it's too expensive for them to drive back and forth every day. They'll do three double shifts and be off for four days. They don't see their families either.Michelle from Pelahatchie, Miss.With this economy, we have had to cut out several things we used to love to do, such as going up river on the weekends, going out to eat, or just going to visit family and friends an hour or so away. The gas prices are CRAZY, as are the food prices. We have three people in the house that drive (one driver is a senior in high school). My husband drives a diesel due to his construction business and my daughter and I both drive cars, so in any given month our gas bill is averageing $1600-$1800 per month (that is just going to and from work and the kids going to school and home). They go to private school, so riding the bus is not an option.I have had to watch what I buy at the grocery store to stay within a budget to be able to put gas in my car to back and forth to work. We have no choice on the need for gas, we need it to get to work, to get paid so we can pay our bills and take care of our family, but it is a sad time when one has to choose between either medication, food or gas. We as a nation are making the CEO's of these companies VERY weatlhy at our expense and it is being tolerated. I hope for America's sake, the "new" leadership can bring some rhyme or reason to this MADNESS!!!! Maxine from Albuquerque, N.M. With having a big truck as far as gas is concerned, my husband rides his motorcycle 90% of the time to work. I brown bag lunches and have taken the bus on occasion, I've cut down on the monthly salon visits and do at-home beauty touch-ups. I picked up a 2nd job to have the money to have our entertainment outings, which have lessen to once or twice monthly, instead of every weekend. We're spending more time at home and doing those chores you put off, even if it's just cleaning the yard or washing the vehicles instead of taking them to the car wash. Carolyn from San Antonio, Texas The higher gasoline prices have definitely affected our family income with another hit from higher prices at the grocery store. So we don't travel out of the city or even to the other side of San Antonio as it requires too much gas. Why is diesel so high when it is a by-product of gasoline. The American people are being seriously gouged on the price of diesel. Just because more vehicles use diesel, the price has increased over 100%. Higher prices in gasoline and groceries both are playing serious rolls in our household income. The latest stimulus checks didn't do anything for families to stimulate economy. It was great to receive but just paid bills with it. There was no extra room to purchase any luxuries.Sharon from Dallas, Ga. My husband is an owner/operator in trucking, and with the current prices of fuel, it is costing him money to work. We are at the end of our rope. We have had to use a credit card to pay our bills. The goverment needs to keep the checks and drop the prices of the fuel. We have an appointment with the attorney this week about our options.
The Allegheny Conference on Community Development and its affiliates (Pittsburgh Regional Alliance; Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce; and Pennsylvania Economy League-Western Division) are working in collaboration to stimulate growth in southwestern Pennsylvania's economy and improve its quality of life. Full Story ››
With banks and lenders facing major troubles, gain some insight on how to sell, refinance or keep your home. You'll find everything mortgage in our special section. Full Story ››
Sitting at a desk all day is a one way ticket to poor fitness. Find out how you can work to stay in shape regardless of your work situation. Full Story ››
Viewer Stories: Gas Price Woes