Who cares about gas prices?
therealbrandonwilson • 23 Nov 2024 •
In 2007, when the original iPhone was finally in my grubby hands, one of the first web pages I used on the go was a map that tracked gas prices in my area. Here I had what former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer called "the most expensive phone in the world," yet I was racing all over town to save a few pennies on gas. The phrase for such a behavior is "penny wise, dollar foolish."
In the early 90s, my high school job was as an attendant at a gas station. If you want the full lowdown, I wrote about my experience in this post on Adagia, which some have considered rather entertaining. The cheapest I remember regular unleaded gas was $0.84 per gallon. People love complaining about gas prices, especially when they exceed a subliminal threshold such as $4 or $5/gallon. At some point, I was resigned to the idea that fuel costs are an integral part of the privilege of owning and operating a vehicle, and I stopped paying attention to gas prices. Sometimes I might spend more, and sometimes I might pay less. I figure it will all come out in the wash.
I feel like I should propose some sort of "Haider-style" reader question to conclude, but I got nothing.
Comments
If you’re not adding a question, then I will!
“In what ways are YOU penny wise and dollar foolish? Are there areas of your life where you spend abundantly and other areas where you pinch pennies?”
@haideralmosawi That is most certainly a “Haider-style” question! People spend a lot on their hobbies. I certainly do when it comes to biohacking. I would say a vehicle is where I have pinched pennies. No need for anything fancy–just get me from A to B.
I think people get obsessed because it can be so variable and random. Should I get gas today or wait a few days? And then you fill up the tank and drive down the road only to see you could have saved a dollar. The only way to win is not to play that game.