Here are the highlights:

How Many Miles to the Gallon is That?
http://www.doingbizabroad.com/how-ma…gallon-is-that

Toll Hopping at the Pump
http://www.talkstocktrading.com/toll…n-the-weekend/

How Much is Gas Hitting You at the Pump?
http://www.taxgirl.com/how-much-is-g…u-at-the-pump/

Have Your Driving Habits Changed?
http://www.bizzia.com/yieldingwealth/fun-fr…abits-changed/

Gas Prices Are Still Rising and It’s Time for Commuters to Revolt
http://www.bizchicksrule.com/fun-fri…ers-to-revolt/

Typical Short Team Corporate Thinking Enhances Gas Pain
http://www.leadershipturn.com/fun-fr…nces-gas-pain/

Rising Gas Prices in Australia Affect Business Owners: Where Will It Stop?
http://www.homebiznotes.com/rising-g…-will-it-stop/

Increasing Fuel Costs… Ban or Boom to Life & Business in the US?
http://www.homebiznotes.com/increasi…ess-in-the-us/

Want to be Free From Gas Price Worries?
http://www.contract-worker.com/want-…price-worries/

Are You Willing to Commute?
http://www.interviewchatter.com/fun-…ng-to-commute/

Post from: EveryJoe

Fun Friday Wrap Up: B5 Business Channel Looks at Gas Prices

Happy Friday!

Post from: EveryJoe

Friday Fun Video: Gas Prices Keep Rising

On average, I drive about 50 miles a week. I’m driving more than last year because we recently bought a house and moved. We now live more than a mile from the nearest bus stop — which won’t be so bad now that the weather is nicer — and town is further away. So we do more driving than when we lived close to everything (but rented) and didn’t have to rely on the car as much. Heck, I used to be able to walk to the Dr.’s office.

This whole having to drive more is inconvenient, since gas prices are going up with no end in sight. But we are cutting back on the vacations. Last year we went to Yellowstone National Park (my husband had never been) and visited my parents more frequently. Now we’re sticking closer to home (having a “staycation” this year) and cutting trips to my parents’ house by a third.

Have your driving habits changed over the last few months?

image credit: US government

Post from: EveryJoe

Fun Friday Post: Have Your Driving Habits Changed?

As oil prices skyrocket, expect such inconvenient changes as airlines try to offset costs. How long before other airlines, like Delta, follow suit?
You know your ticket isn’t going to get any cheaper…

Post from: EveryJoe

$15 to Check Your Bag, Please

But why are oil prices climbing? Didn’t the Saudis up production at the request of President Bush? Isn’t the US going to stop stockpiling? Shouldn’t this supply help keep oil prices lower?

Not necessarily. Oil prices are rising on what is likely to happen in the future. Demand from developing nations (like India and China) is expected to explode as those countries see an expansion to their middle classes (read: more people can afford cars). Future strain on supplies are expected to, in the future, limit the availability of oil.

And don’t forget that many expect things to go really bad in the Middle East at any time.

Additionally, speculators — including the venerable Goldman Sachs — expect oil prices to reach $200 a barrel in the relatively near future. Those kinds of expectations tend to drive prices higher. Speculators keep investing in oil, and as long as there are buyers, oil prices will continue to rise.

So, here are 5 tips for saving money on gas as oil prices rise:

1. Proper car maintenance reduces energy needs: Inflate tires properly, tune the engine, change oil regularly, take unnecessary items out of the trunk.
2. Check the lowest grade octane that is appropriate for your car. Hint: In mountain west states, most cars run fine on 85 octane, thanks to the high elevation.
3. If the gas station offers a cash discount, take it!
4. Drive smart: Start and stop smoothly, without sudden moves. Don’t rev the engine, and don’t drive fast. You can improve fuel economy by driving the speed limit (or even a little under), rather than being a lead-foot. Air conditioning tip: Use air conditioning only on the highway. In town — stop and go traffic — turn it off and roll down the windows.
5. Trip consolidation: Plan your errands. Do them at once rather than going out multiple times. Plan an efficient route.

What are you doing to save money on gas?

image credit: sxc.hu

Post from: EveryJoe

Oil Prices Keep Climbing: 5 Tips to Save Money on Gas

Is it possible to save money while going green? So many environmentally friendly actions seem to cost a lot of money.

This is a valid point. It does seem like every time you turn around being friendly to the environment costs money. But it doesn’t have to. There are some small things you can do every day to save money and the environment, too.

1. Prepare your own foods. Rather than buying pre-packaged and pre-prepared foods, make more meals at home with fresh ingredients. Web sites like allrecipes.com offer fast and easy dinner ideas. Plus, if you plan your meals you’ll shop with a list, which cuts down on impulse buying.
2. Grow your own food, or buy local produce. We try to buy local produce when we can, and we have a garden. With food prices inflation, this is an important consideration. After all, if you can grow it yourself — or get it locally instead of paying for transport costs — you’ll save money as well as help the environment.
3. Cut back on fuel use. Oil prices have hit new records every day for the past four days. This is driving up gasoline costs and starting to hit many a household budget where it hurts. If you can, use public transportation and carpool. Trip consolidation means that you don’t have to go out as much. And when you cut back on fuel use, it’s better for the environment as well as money-saving.
4. Drink tap water. Bottled water is expensive and the plastic is bad for the environment. If your tap water is icky, get a filter. My family bought an under the counter filter that vastly improves the taste of the tap water. And even though the initial outlay was a little pricey, it only took two months for the filter to “pay for itself” in terms of mone not spent on bottled water. Now we’re saving each month.

And, of course, you can always make money in environmentally friendly ways. If you have solar panels, you can sell extra power that you have back to the grid. And there are environmentally friendly investing opportunities that can improve your income.

image credit: NASA

Post from: EveryJoe

Ask the Piggy Bank: Can I Save the Environment and Money at the Same Time?

Right now, the big story is that oil prices hit $114 a barrel yesterday. People are talking about gas prices. And it’s true that gas prices are going to take a toll on many a household budget. They probably already are.

But with the release of the latest inflation data from the Labor Department, it’s apparent that we all need to be mindful of food prices inflation as well. AFP reports on wholesale costs:

“Wholesale costs are rising and the consumer should expect more shocks at the supermarket and the gas station,” said Joel Naroff, the president of Naroff Economic Advisors.

What does this mean for you? It means it’s time to prepare. If you can,  plant a garden. Even a container garden can be helpful in terms of providing fresh, low-cost produce for your table. Try to plan your trips, and consider the types of things you buy. It may be time to cut back on some of the unnecessary items that you purchase each month.

Core inflation takes out food and energy costs, and it shows a very manageable 0.2 percent. But that doesn’t represent reality for most American families. Energy and food are the biggest expenditures — and they have the biggest impact on the household budget.

What are you doing to prepare for gas and food prices inflation?

image credit: Tijmen Stam

Post from: EveryJoe

Household Budget: Watch Out for Food Prices Inflation

Maybe look for some alternative energy investments to diversify your portfolio. They’ve been doing well, some of them, but with oil prices back down, the fervor over funding alternatives to the “black gold” will subside. Meaning you can get bargains on alternative energy investments before they gain again during the next oil price spike.

Just remember: alternative energy investments are risky, and you should be prepared for that.

Disclaimer: I am not an investing professional. All investment carries the risk of loss. Research on your own, and/or consult an investment professional before making investing decisions.

Post from: EveryJoe

$100 Oil Fears Subside — For Now

Well here are some ways that $100 oil may affect you:

• Higher gas prices (CNN Money reports that we might see them closer to $4 a gallon by next spring)
• Heating prices this winter
• Higher airfares, as airlines boost prices to cover fuel costs
• Higher prices for food, since it has to be transported somewhere (in some places the prices of out of season produce and milk are already going up)

But even for the investors, it might be a good idea to watch out. $100 oil is expected sometime within the next year or so, but in the short term, some analysts foresee a correction in oil prices. And that could mean that the economy (and your pocketbook!) still has time before the squeeze actually sets in.

Post from: EveryJoe

How Will $100 Oil Affect You?