MyFox
 

elkahna's Blog

by elkahna from Hillsborough Co, FL

Last Post 10 days, 12 hours Ago


My Tipping Point Has Been Reached
May 21, 2008 | 3:59 PM
Category: News
Report This Post

Hi Everyone, elkahna here

This is just a little opine to the business community.

Dear Local Business Owner;

I retired from my career about 5 years ago after investing 30 years into it due to stresses and strains and bad eating habits and genes and one heart operation. (I didn't want to do that last one again)  Five years later I have had to go back to work part time.

As I was coming home from my job today I noticed that gas was 6 cents more this afternoon than it was when I went to work. It was $3.77 going in, $3.83 coming home! Oil is closing at around $134.00 a barrel today. I just want all the local business owners and restaurants to know that you will be seeing a whole lot less of me. I have to concentrate on being able to buy gas to get to work (as long as that lasts) and groceries. There is also insurance (life & health) taxes (both income and property) and sundry other bills that must take precidence.

I will not be flying anywhere as I can't afford to. I just read where one airlines is going to start charging $15.00 for the 1st bag. Vacations, well we will take one but we won't be going anywhere or spending any money. There may be some vacation deals locally as I am listening to Fox 13 news as I type and they were saying that hotels on the beaches are actually NOT FULL for Memorial Day and they are receiving cancellations every day.

Anyway, I can't be spending money on luxuries or for that fact much fun as "fun" is expensive. No Rays or Bucs tickets and I am very thankful I don't live in Pinellas Co. to have to pay for a new ball park for the next 30 years. We already have "Hello Sucker" staduim as Daniel Ruth likes to call it in Hillsborough  Co. Gasoline prices and the run up on everything else because of the fuel prices inevitably will kill the economy. Inflation will bring higher interest rates (Anyone remember the double digit interest rates)  Cant pay $200+ a night for beach stays so. How many "one less customers" can business take. The public cannot continue to absorb the costs increases of everything as wages are not even close to keeping up.

My tipping point has been reached and it tipped in the wrong direction. Farewell local business person, It was nice while I could patronize your business.

elkahna

8 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 8
Page 1 of 1
MoonOwl read my blog view my photos
May 21, 2008 | 5:00 PM

That goes for me too. My husband drives most of the day for work and isn't reimbursed for most of it.

Tho, I'm lucky. I have a family on Sanibel I can vacation with so all it costs is gas. Which is enough. But at least I've got some place where we can get away if we budget properly. hehehehehe..... which means I cook a lot more than I used to.

I think everyone except those that still have massive disposable income have had to rearrange their priorities these past couple of years.

Unfortunately, I don't see it changing anytime soon either.

MoonOwl
FloydFreak read my blog view my photos
May 21, 2008 | 5:23 PM

Good post, elkhana! Indeed, we've been feeling the effects of inflation for quite some time now. I do not profess to be an expert, but I'm betting on a severe recession.

Perhaps four dollars represents the point at which we change our lifestyles, although I'd doubt it. We shall see. And everyone berates me because I drive 60 on the interstate. (Yes, Moonie, I drive in the RIGHT lane). Whatever.

Hey, I'm staying home this weekend.
Neckcarjim read my blog view my photos
May 21, 2008 | 6:03 PM

I feel your pain. I just got a estimate on a new roof on my house and I am looking at $4000.00 and if I dont get it done by june i am looking at a another 18% price increase on material.
This summer me and the wife are still planning a trip to DC in the truck estimated fuel cost $450.00 round trip. It's a good thing that we will be staying with family or this trip would be canceled and I would be spending 10 days in the kiddie pool wjith a six pack of bush beer.
While in Dc there our a few people that i would like to pinch right in the throat. Let them feel my pain for a while.
JANICELPED read my blog
May 21, 2008 | 6:15 PM

And so it goes. The rich seem to get richer and the poor get even poorer. When you have to get into your sons piggy bank to come up with enough money to buy a gallon of milk you know you have reached the bottom. When I see people riding around with new cars and living in homes in the 100,000's I have to ask myself how? We have come very close to losing our home twice and the more gas prices go up the worse it gets. When it takes 200.00 a month out of your budget to buy gas something has to suffer. I have gone thru my medicine list twice now to figure out if there is any that I can do without and I will do without before we will let our son do without. What is it gonna take before the goverment steps in and does something to help out the average working American that dosn't make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year? When is enough enough? Why do politicans care anyway? The goverment pays for their gas and they make more money than most Americans make if they work 3 years. They aren't hurting like the rest of us poor Americans. They don't know what it's like to try to figure out what not to pay so you can get your child a new pair of shoes. If gas goes to $5 or 6 dollars a gallon they won't feel a thing. They can't make me believe they understand where the rest of us are coming from because they don't! Until they work as hard as the rest of us and make what the rest of us do they will NEVER get it either. IF the goverment wants to help us they need to step in and make those oil companies lower those gas prices before we all go under. And the rich will keep getting richer a
aschelan read my blog view my photos
May 21, 2008 | 6:43 PM

I sat on the computer today and made a bunch of phone calls trying to figure out where I am going to put my kids for the summer, I am looking at spending $800.00 to $1500. for a summer program, top that with the idea that my husband and I work in fields that require large amounts of gas. The higher the cost of gas, the less job security we have. We have been rumored to be closing down one extra day a week because the we are losing money. That would mean I would lose my 40 hours with over time. As average working joe's with a larger than the status quo family, I have always been thrifty, but now it is a necessity in order to feed my family. Maybe on my next day off I will plow some of my yard and start an even bigger garden. Something really needs to change- or can I borrow Bush's credit card????
yellowdog read my blog view my photos
May 21, 2008 | 7:25 PM

Look here guys and girls...something we all agree on!!!

The dollar is worthless in the rest of the world and big oil continues to do their shareholders proud.

You all realize that devaluing the dollar is a plan to increase exports for our fat cat companies? It's done that plus put the price of crude out of sight.

Our government (both parties) has sold us down the creek once again.

Bastards!
largocarl
May 21, 2008 | 8:42 PM

We need to reduce government and it's spending. They stick their nose into every area of our lives. We pay subsidies for people to raise tobacco, then we levy a tax, then we pay for the illnesses produced by tabacco with health insurance paid for by us in one way or another. Choose a government program, the same "tune" is played in a different key.
GeishaKat read my blog view my photos
May 24, 2008 | 2:33 AM

Well, I see I'm not the only one who has decided eating out has gone the way of the elusive DODO.. Funny, I have found that my cooking has greatly improved out of necessity. I can make lasagna and grilled chicken alfredo right up there with the rest. Okay, it's no Olive Garden..BUT PRETTY CLOSE! Add a salad with some Ken's dressing..yummy! However, I have yet to give up my weekly visit to Baskin-Robbins. GeishaKat
Page 1 of 1


Write your comment below:




elkahna

Long time area resident. Passionate about God, country, justice & motorcycles. Love spirited CLEAN debate and varying opinion.

Member Since: 5/1/2008


 

RSS: XMLWhat is RSS?