Forewarned, they say, is forearmed.
Logic dictates the above adage, but how do we logically go about preparing for the unknown?
We all do know about the rising gas prices and grocery bill, but what else looms on the horizon?
There was a time when I could fill up my 19 year old Honda for less than $10. Nowdays I'm lucky to get a little less than three gallons in my Toyota for the same amount. Who knew a year ago that $2 for a gallon gas was a thing of the past?
The real sticker shock came this evening when I visited my home heating oil company's website.
$4.29.9.
Per GALLON.
Writing this on the next to the last day of May in the year of Our Lord, 2008, months away from the home heating oil pre-pay contract signing date, usually in July or August, we may be facing nearly SIX THOUSAND dollars for fuel this season. Almost double last year's at the time incredible amount of three thousand.
Our annual usage is between 1200 and 1300 gallons even though we conserve. We keep our thermostat low, we have a new energy efficient oil heater, and tankless water heater. We have excellent storm windows, too.
But, we have to do more to conserve energy, we all do.
Now is the time for everyone to consciously acknowledge that we must all prepare for winter 2008 and perhaps far beyond. Miracles happen daily, and the entire situation could change, but will it?
I heard today that it will take 10 years just for the rising food prices to equal out to our salary increases, and those prices are no where near peak. Due to the ever increasing costs to produce, maintain, and ship foodstuffs no one can predict what a gallon of milk will cost in a few months or the rest of your groceries.
Everything is going up. Except your salary.
Uncertainty over the future can be used to our benefit in the long run.
My concern for my own family prompts me as your neighbor to ask you to give some thought to what preparations or changes you can make to your home or life style.
The unsettled nature of today's world doesn't mean we'll be blindsided unaware.
I'll be posting some links to this thread, and I hope you'll share your thoughts and ideas, too.
Forwarned IS forearmed.
As long as we use our knowledge and prepare.
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8 comments:
A lot of folks can't understand how we came to have an oil shortage here in our country.
Well, there's a very simple answer. Nobody bothered to check the oil. We just didn't know we were getting low. The reason for that is purely geographical.
Our OIL is located in Alaska, California, Coastal Florida, Coastal Louisiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas
Our DIPSTICKS are located in D.C.
Usually our parish sold food to pay for the oil.. when they had their stand at the Dogwood each year for 20+ years. Wonder how they will pay for this high cost of oil now ? Hopefully not selling off more of the property.
See if you are eligible.
The mission of the Low Income Home
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is to assist low income households, particularly those with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy, primarily in meeting their immediate home energy needs.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/
Do what I do...walk.
I own a big clunky gas-guzzling Jeep, but I walk everywhere. I save money, I don't pollute, I've got great color, I've dropped all the fat off my body and I seem to smile more!
The only problems are bad thunderstorms and idiot drivers on cell phones who seem to have a propensity for wanting to run me over in their SUV's
kw, there is no "shortage" of oil. That's not why the prices are up. No offense, but you need to get informed.
Additional supply would help, but for years the environmentalists/Democrats have been closing off vast areas of the country for harvesting our own oil, while hypocritically bellyaching about "dependence on foreign oil".
They've also spoken enviously about the high gas prices in Eurpoe (because they though they were going to artificially raise them through taxes). Now they feign shock.
To the post ref:"Democrats & Environmentalist's fault..."
You guys really crack me up! We've just trudged through eight of the worst years in U.S. History with the worst president in U.S. History, and a natioanl out-look that seems to be the worst in U.S. history and all you can do is blame the Democrats!!!
Your delusional partisanship blows me away!
So tell me...did you vote for Bush both times or just once? I'm dying to know!
signed,
Seriously Amazed
to anonymous 6/1:
what kw posted was an email JOKE that has been circulating on the internet recently. LOLOL!!!
its not about being uninformed, lol.
I make a fair amount of money (~$75000)for a single person. I drive a small car and use oil to heat my small home. I am stressed at the thought of a cold winter.
I naturally conserve and I will be able to afford the oil with a little squeeze, though I know many people may be severely affected by the outrageous price of oil and now the 20% (!!!) hike in natural gas.
I enjoy dining out, shopping, travelling, etc. I've decided to STOP spending my money on things I don't need. Screw the "Stimulus Plan". Our economy depends heavily on our wasteful spending.
I will do my best not to support Mexico, China, Indonesia, etc. If I don't absolutely need it I won't buy it. I got lazy in recent years with the new restaurants in town. I was frequenting them at least twice a week. I am an excellent cook. I will learn to like my own backyard again. Though I can't really walk to a grocery store I will not drive specifically to a market 'daily' for one item. Perhaps not hopping in my car like that will make me think twice about what I really need.
I can cut back- Waaaay back. I'll keep my hard earned money in my pocket. I believe we are slaves to the greed of big business. We are marketed to to believe we need to buy all kinds of gadgets to keep up. We don't need half of what we have and we don't realize how much we are brainwashed to do nothing in life but work and spend. We can turn it around and hold out for the necessities only. The law of supply and demand will bring prices down. Until then-forget it. I'm not buying in to it anymore.
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