Gas Prices

dirtfan21 · February 23, 2016

Don't expect too many "sorry to hear that". And that is because too many people only see that they're saving on gas money so why would they care about a / your job....This is sad!!

Too many are too blind to see the consequences in the long run.

Looking at Alberta ... I'm glad to not be in their shoes... first they made big bucks, lived the crazy life like there is no tomorrow and today their once expensive houses bite them in the ass. No one wants to buy them because no one wants to live where workers have been laid off for months, now they're stuck with their families....but hey I get my tank fuel for a buck/litre right?

Daryl, I hope you & your family get through this the best you can - best wishes!!

I'm not going to get into this whole thing again with you, but I cannot hold back a one comment. For one, I didn't hear all you oil workers feeling sorry for the middle class folk paying $5 a gallon to get to work. While you were out living the big life we were all pinching pennies, not going on vacations, picking whether we wanted to put fuel in our vehicles or take or wifes out to dinner. So no, if you didn't put money in the bank during the boom to hold you over when the boom went away, I don't feel sorry for you. It isn't my fault you expected the crazy money to last forever and didn't plan for the future.

I never hope for folks to get laid off or lose their jobs, that is ridiculous if you do. And yes, believe or not, I feel terrible for those that are struggling right now. I think gas prices are too low right now and that is mostly because of the glut we have from OPEC purposely not cutting production. With that sad, we are saving the extra money we have a month, not spending it wildly like gas prices will be low forever.

Daryl LBZ · February 23, 2016

I'm sorry to hear that Daryl!

I filled up with 20 gallons of Shell 91 for $38 on Saturday, pretty surreal. And if I didn't have to drive out to Tempe every weekend that tank might even last me a month or more! Right now I'm filling up every two weeks or so.

My commute is now 10 miles round trip and I only use the truck a few time's per week.

Thanks. Hopefully going to be able to get schooling now.

BRay'sGirl · February 23, 2016

I'm not going to get into this whole thing again with you, but I cannot hold back a one comment. For one, I didn't hear all you oil workers feeling sorry for the middle class folk paying $5 a gallon to get to work. While you were out living the big life we were all pinching pennies, not going on vacations, picking whether we wanted to put fuel in our vehicles or take or wifes out to dinner. So no, if you didn't put money in the bank during the boom to hold you over when the boom went away, I don't feel sorry for you. It isn't my fault you expected the crazy money to last forever and didn't plan for the future.

I never hope for folks to get laid off or lose their jobs, that is ridiculous if you do. And yes, believe or not, I feel terrible for those that are struggling right now. I think gas prices are too low right now and that is mostly because of the glut we have from OPEC purposely not cutting production. With that sad, we are saving the extra money we have a month, not spending it wildly like gas prices will be low forever.

First of all I am not an oil worker nor am I an oil workers wife.

And you're right....making big bucks during the oil boom and not putting money aside is stupid as can be. No question about it.

Living the big crazy life is not only done by oil workers. These days people feel like they derserve everything and they don't get the difference between normal life and luxury.

How many actually don't have the money for getting by without living from one paycheque to the next? But still buying stuff / cars they don't need...

Saying they didn't feel sorry when you couldn't go out with your wife....give me a break.

Don't read something into my post thats not here! Just don't.

Saving on gas money is giving people a break I know but again in the long run it won't make things better. And it won't stay that way anyways and watch out, oil prices may go up way more than you imagine....but as long as you got a job you should be fine.

desrtrat · February 23, 2016

.but as long as you got a job you should be fine.

well i have a job, and it's not fine. i have lost more work with the low fuel prices than when fuel was $5.00 per gal. i work for a contractor for a major rail road. when diesel prices dropped below $2.50 per gal. it is cheaper to ship freight by truck than train, less trains less work for us, and the rail crews. most of us have taken a 50-60% pay cut over the last 1.5 years. not many people can afford that kind of loss ..lucky for me every thing, what little i have is paid for. with the high cost of food, gas taxes, insurance, utility's, there is not much left over for anything more. come down here to CA being a single parent and only my income and see what it's like..find another job, we are still trying to recover from the recession, and probably never will

Shawn5800 · February 23, 2016

First of all I am not an oil worker nor am I an oil workers wife.

And you're right....making big bucks during the oil boom and not putting money aside is stupid as can be. No question about it.

Living the big crazy life is not only done by oil workers. These days people feel like they derserve everything and they don't get the difference between normal life and luxury.

How many actually don't have the money for getting by without living from one paycheque to the next? But still buying stuff / cars they don't need...

Saying they didn't feel sorry when you couldn't go out with your wife....give me a break.

Don't read something into my post thats not here! Just don't.

Saving on gas money is giving people a break I know but again in the long run it won't make things better. And it won't stay that way anyways and watch out, oil prices may go up way more than you imagine....but as long as you got a job you should be fine.

I like how you said, "These days people feel like they derserve everything and they don't get the difference between normal life and luxury." Here is my response to that.

Working in a field such as the oil/energy industry, you HAVE to know that at some point markets will change and prices will fall/rise. I look at it like this, guys once making huge money in oil adjusted their lifestyle to the big price tag living knowing that someday, it could all fall apart. Well, seems as if those who were living luxury while us "normal" people were getting the bottom knocked out of us with gas prices are now down to our "normal" level. Now, we are enjoying just a TASTE of luxury as we can afford to treat our families to an extra dinner out every week or a weekend trip out of town.

It sounds as if you are inferring that I should feel bad about this temporary lifestyle boost

I would never wish upon anyone a struggle to survive and support their families but I would also not be waiting around for gas prices to shaft us again in hopes that jobs will come back. I would make a career change or work multiple jobs!

My union friends say it best, "Making $100+ an hour on rate is great but to let it fool you? Your in trouble."

BRay'sGirl · February 23, 2016

.but as long as you got a job you should be fine.

well i have a job, and it's not fine. i have lost more work with the low fuel prices than when fuel was $5.00 per gal. i work for a contractor for a major rail road. when diesel prices dropped below $2.50 per gal. it is cheaper to ship freight by truck than train, less trains less work for us, and the rail crews. most of us have taken a 50-60% pay cut over the last 1.5 years. not many people can afford that kind of loss ..lucky for me every thing, what little i have is paid for. with the high cost of food, gas taxes, insurance, utility's, there is not much left over for anything more. come down here to CA being a single parent and only my income and see what it's like..find another job, we are still trying to recover from the recession, and probably never will

looks like I got you wrong - sorry.

I hope things get better soon for all of you. Looks like someone has to be in that position to understand the whole thing.

BRay'sGirl · February 23, 2016

I like how you said, "These days people feel like they derserve everything and they don't get the difference between normal life and luxury." Here is my response to that.

Working in a field such as the oil/energy industry, you HAVE to know that at some point markets will change and prices will fall/rise. I look at it like this, guys once making huge money in oil adjusted their lifestyle to the big price tag living knowing that someday, it could all fall apart. Well, seems as if those who were living luxury while us "normal" people were getting the bottom knocked out of us with gas prices are now down to our "normal" level. Now, we are enjoying just a TASTE of luxury as we can afford to treat our families to an extra dinner out every week or a weekend trip out of town.

It sounds as if you are inferring that I should feel bad about this temporary lifestyle boost

I would never wish upon anyone a struggle to survive and support their families but I would also not be waiting around for gas prices to shaft us again in hopes that jobs will come back. I would make a career change or work multiple jobs!

My union friends say it best, "Making $100+ an hour on rate is great but to let it fool you? Your in trouble."

I didn't mean to upset you guys but I still think it's not in the interest of anyone that the gas price is that low.

It will bite us in the ass sooner or later. It did already not only the oil workers.

Daryl LBZ · February 23, 2016

From what they told us before I got laid off, with opec flooding the market with oil, and all of the things that the White House is and isn't doing there's just no demand for our product at the moment. (We make high pressure steel fittings)

From what I gather once Opec makes x amount of US oil drilling companies etc go out of business then they are going cut production again and guess what will happen to the price of oil? It's going to rise, maybe higher then it has ever been.

white1500 · February 24, 2016

Daryl, if I recall correctly you're single and without children so take advantage of it and prepare yourself for a better future. Enjoy the freedom while you can...

Daryl LBZ · February 24, 2016

Daryl, if I recall correctly you're single and without children so take advantage of it and prepare yourself for a better future. Enjoy the freedom while you can...

I plan to for sure!

The Zip · February 27, 2016

California has been enjoying a 70 cent dip in prices as compared to last year around this time, but tomorrow is the changeover from the winter blend to the summer blend, at least a 30 cent jump overnight.

white1500 · February 27, 2016

Winter blend in California? Is it specific to a high altitude region?

The Zip · February 27, 2016

Winter blend in California? Is it specific to a high altitude region?

Nothing to do with altitude, California changes to a summer blend because it evaporates less in the warmer months. Don't know the specifics why, but that's one of the reasons California gas prices maintain a higher rate than the rest of the country. Another reason for the higher prices in Ca, that state does not import or share gasoline from other states. Usually Ca prices are based on refinery output, if a major refinery is down for an extended period the gas prices will go through the roof, even if they are dropping in the rest of the country.

white1500 · February 27, 2016

Thank you for the insight!

desrtrat · February 27, 2016

Nothing to do with altitude, California changes to a summer blend because it evaporates less in the warmer months. Don't know the specifics why, but that's one of the reasons California gas prices maintain a higher rate than the rest of the country. Another reason for the higher prices in Ca, that state does not import or share gasoline from other states. Usually Ca prices are based on refinery output, if a major refinery is down for an extended period the gas prices will go through the roof, even if they are dropping in the rest of the country.

CA refines it's own gas in it's contracted refinery's . per CA EPA and tree huger laws. only gas refined in here can be sold here..as stated NO IMPORT OF NON CA GAS, and no export. other states do not want this piss water they call "gas" agree a refiner goes down just when peak travel season starts..how convent ..