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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by javableue on August 16, 2005, at 20:08:49
In reply to Re: ahh!!! gas is crazy!, posted by rjlockhart98 on August 16, 2005, at 19:51:56
No kidding! Though I dread to see how the fares will rise next year after this mess.
Posted by NikkiT2 on August 17, 2005, at 1:44:02
In reply to Ok, Gas Prices are going to passed 3.00$, posted by rjlockhart98 on August 16, 2005, at 19:43:49
Works out over $6.50 for gas here...
*shakes head*
Posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 5:29:34
In reply to Ok, Gas Prices are going to passed 3.00$, posted by rjlockhart98 on August 16, 2005, at 19:43:49
Yeah its crazy!
It works out to be something like $8.00 per gallon where I live.
Thing is over here as well, as soon as you get in the car to drive somewhere ~ theres too many cars on the road.. its like a grid lock for half of the day. All that money spent just to sit in traffic and not get anywhere?! lol
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by NikkiT2 on August 17, 2005, at 6:01:07
In reply to Re: Ok, Gas Prices are going to passed 3.00$ » rjlockhart98, posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 5:29:34
Not as bad as $8 luckily for us in UK Nick.. US Gallons are a different size to UK Gallons, so once you take that into account, it drops down to $6.50 odd...
Nikki x
Posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 6:19:35
In reply to Re: Ok, Gas Prices are going to passed 3.00$ » Nickengland, posted by NikkiT2 on August 17, 2005, at 6:01:07
You learn something new everyday lol
I never knew how gallons were different sizes from the US...interesting.
Theres another measuring system we have different to the US too..
An American 'Billion' is 1000 million - whereas a British Billion is 1000,000 million! lol (I would try to make some further examples but i'm really not very good at maths!)
I think though that the british billion is the same for all of europe - but the american one is different. Its basically far easier to become a billionare in the US though, thats for sure! lol
Wish it wasn't so confusing and all the measurements were the same :-o
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by NikkiT2 on August 17, 2005, at 6:56:22
In reply to Re: Ok, Gas Prices are going to passed 3.00$ » NikkiT2, posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 6:19:35
Actually, Britain has changed to the US billion now.. it got too confusing in IT for it to be different *L*
There are some other things, but I forget what they are now..
Nikki x
Posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 7:21:53
In reply to Re: Ok, Gas Prices are going to passed 3.00$ » Nickengland, posted by NikkiT2 on August 17, 2005, at 6:56:22
Wow lol I guess you can't ignore the fact the times are changing!
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by NikkiT2 on August 17, 2005, at 7:32:35
In reply to Ok, Gas Prices are going to passed 3.00$, posted by rjlockhart98 on August 16, 2005, at 19:43:49
OK, been doing some calculations..
UK Gas (petrol) works out (using the price at the petrol station near my flat this morning) at $6.43 per gallon.
So I investigated a little further.. We pay 48.52 pence per litre in fuel tax.. that works out at $3.31 per US Gallon - so we pay MORE tax per gallon, than people in the US pay for their gas full stop!
Then we pay 17.5% VAT (Value Added Tax) on top of everything..
*shakes head*
I'm gonna need another mortgage just to run a car soon!!
Nikki
Posted by AuntieMel on August 17, 2005, at 8:08:45
In reply to Some UK gas information, posted by NikkiT2 on August 17, 2005, at 7:32:35
At least 30% of the price of oil for us is due to the poorly performing dollar.
Meaning that if the price had only risen 30% it would be the same price to those using a different currency.
Posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 8:37:41
In reply to Some UK gas information, posted by NikkiT2 on August 17, 2005, at 7:32:35
Nikki - Tax makes me want to puke what we have to pay here! lol
I read somewhere a couple of years a go that when we buy a packet of ciggarettes ~ 75-90%? of the price is Tax..
Okay, I know I really shouldn't smoke as its bad for you and its a great reason to quit as you can save so much money and more importantly the health benefits :-)
I'm sure we must have one of the most expensive packets of Marlborough in the world though?!...When I lived out in the Canary Islands I used to buy 200 Marlborough for just €15.00!..thats like £10 pounds, which here would only buy you 40! lol
But get this ~ if you baught a really cheap brand of cigarettes out there, you could get 200 for just €5 euros!...whereas here you get about 10 for that?!...thats a difference of 190 ciggarettes!
The Canary Islands are an amazingly cheap place for cigarettes an alcohol though..slightly cheaper than other european countries, which in turn are again cheaper than us.
Now I need a cigarette.. lol
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by sunny10 on August 17, 2005, at 9:02:06
In reply to Taxes » NikkiT2, posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 8:37:41
I still say the whole thing works out as even in the end with the possible exception of those billionaires....
The amount we get paid vs cost of living (food, energy utilities, real estate, health benefits, et cetera)seems to break us all even.
Of course, my theory doesn't include third world countries...
Posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 9:38:02
In reply to Re: Taxes, posted by sunny10 on August 17, 2005, at 9:02:06
Yeah I guess in some respects it does break even at the end of the day...but its difficult to generilise as you have to take into account the individual income of the person vs the cost of living of that particular country vs the cost of living in other countries etc.
The whole thing works out even, but some places are more even than others ;-)
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by rjlockhart98 on August 17, 2005, at 9:57:06
In reply to Re: Taxes, posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 9:38:02
Well i havent been in mist of this commotion....
8.00$ for a gallon !!!!!!!!
--Mouth drops to floor--Goodness i would not be taking any road trips in London......
I dont know what going to happen to petroleum. Hydrogen or some else needs to come out and blow these oil companies into space.
Matt
Posted by AuntieMel on August 17, 2005, at 10:06:12
In reply to Re: Taxes, posted by sunny10 on August 17, 2005, at 9:02:06
It even works for a lot of third world countries.
I wish things would get reported in the news as buying value instead of dollars.
I learned this lesson on my first trip to Poland. I had heard the average wage was only a few hundred dollars a month and thought poverty. But when I got there and saw how much a few hundred dollars could buy I realized that the quoting was not fair.
Costs should be reported as week's wages. So, instead of talking about what a car or a prescription would cost in dollars, say a car costs 40 weeks wages or something like that.
We always hear stories about Nike or someone paying pittances in third world countries, but we hear it reported in terms of dollars instead of what that money can buy. I would rather have it reported in standard of living, and compared to other jobs in the area.
Posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 10:09:10
In reply to Re: Taxes, posted by rjlockhart98 on August 17, 2005, at 9:57:06
Hi Matt!
>Goodness i would not be taking any road trips in London......
I really don't blame you mate!..you wouldn't get very far lol..there was this experiment 'race' done afew months ago just to show how bad the traffic is in London...It was 1 man *running* vs 1 man driving a car. The race through London was the London Marathon route (so 26 mile race.)
Anyway..they set off at 8:15am or something on an average weekday morning ~ and yep the man *running* beat the man driving the car!...that was a 26 mile race and the man on foot wasn't even an athlete or any special kind of long distance runner lol..although he must of had a pretty good stamina!
Just goes to show the average speed of which you travel through London in a car though..and at quite a cost lol
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by AuntieMel on August 17, 2005, at 10:09:48
In reply to Re: Taxes, posted by sunny10 on August 17, 2005, at 9:02:06
I'm not meaning to imply that Poland is a third world country. I love the place. It's just the place I learned that lesson.
I found it true in China and Kazakhstan as well. And where I was in Kazakhstan *does* qualify as third world. Or did in 1994.
Posted by AuntieMel on August 17, 2005, at 10:11:58
In reply to Re: Taxes, posted by rjlockhart98 on August 17, 2005, at 9:57:06
The oil biz puts beans on my table.
And they are not to blame. The volitility all started when oil futures became publicly traded. That's how we got the "fear factor" that boosts the price.
Posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 10:14:36
In reply to Re: Taxes » sunny10, posted by AuntieMel on August 17, 2005, at 10:06:12
Thats very true what you say there Aunt Mel..
I actually earnt more money out in Gran Canaria ~ than I did in England.
Things were alot cheaper out there and cost of living was so much less expensive. I was earning what was considered an 'average' wage out there too..
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by rjlockhart98 on August 17, 2005, at 10:19:52
In reply to Re: careful there » rjlockhart98, posted by AuntieMel on August 17, 2005, at 10:11:58
Well so i guess that means the average speed of a car is 10 miles per hour?
I cant belive that!
I would have a megaphone installed in my car : MOVE ALONG!
Well nick, that is shocking for a 8.00$ per gallon. My wallet would drop dead if it was in the US, and the places we have to drive!
Best Wishes
Matt
Posted by ed_uk on August 17, 2005, at 10:31:56
In reply to Re: Taxes » AuntieMel, posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 10:14:36
Hmmm, maybe I should move to Gran Canaria!
~ed
Posted by NikkiT2 on August 17, 2005, at 12:10:23
In reply to Re: Some US gas information » NikkiT2, posted by AuntieMel on August 17, 2005, at 8:08:45
Not really.. as UK prices are over 100% more than yours..
Last time gas here was what you'r epaying was before I passed my driving test 14 years ago!!!
Nikki
Posted by NikkiT2 on August 17, 2005, at 12:11:31
In reply to Taxes » NikkiT2, posted by Nickengland on August 17, 2005, at 8:37:41
Canada was slightly more expensive for ciggies than here..
Now, Thailand at 50p a pack for Malboro was heaven!!
nikki x
Posted by NikkiT2 on August 17, 2005, at 12:17:16
In reply to Re: Taxes » Nickengland, posted by ed_uk on August 17, 2005, at 10:31:56
London is the 2nd most expensive city in the world to live.. And the average persons wages don't really even it out for them..
I could earn more for the job I do in the US, and my cost of living would halve in most areas.. OK, not NYC, but it would still go down considerably there..
I've seriously considered moving to Canada to lower my cost of living, and improve my quality of life!To drive in central London costs £8 a day n "congestion charge". To park on the road outside of my flat, costs £12 a day (though I can buy a years permit for £110)..
But, I love London really.. *l* I love working in historic areas.. I love that its MINE!
nikki x
Posted by AuntieMel on August 17, 2005, at 14:42:48
In reply to Re: Some US gas information » AuntieMel, posted by NikkiT2 on August 17, 2005, at 12:10:23
Very true. The prices over there are much higher. I was talking about the percentage rate of price increase.
Last time I was there I was calling it "a buck a quart."
Actually it was 79p/litre.
At 79p/litre in the 2002 currency exchange rate (.68) it was actually 1.16 USD/litre or 1.10/quart.
If (really big if) you could find petrol over ther at 79p/litre at today's exchange rate (.55) it would cost 1.43 USD or 1.36/quart.
That's - for an American traveler - an increase of 30% in dollars without a rise in oil prices.
Since oil is sold on the world market and it is quoted in USD and we are competing with other countries (and currencies) the quoted price of oil looks like it jumped more than it would look in countries with a better currency.
The almighty dollar isn't almighty.
Posted by sunny10 on August 18, 2005, at 9:20:30
In reply to Re: Some US gas information » NikkiT2, posted by AuntieMel on August 17, 2005, at 14:42:48
Problem with assigning a cost value is that I (lower middle class... ever closer to poverty every year with no raises, but cost of living still increasing) don't make as much as a billionaire. Though wage vs expenditures, I "made" more money last year...
So a cost of 40 weeks wage value for a car wouldn't actually be true for neither me nor the billionaire...
I've seen futuristic novels which speak of a point system rather than money, which would be adopted worldwide. Wages/points for the same job would be the same in every country- points for consumer goods would be the same in every country.
That would be the only way to say for SURE that everything evens out.
But whoever wants to test it out can use me as an example.
My monthly wage is USD 2798.46
My monthly rent is USD 875.00 (for a junior one bedroom apartment in a dumpy complex)
My monthly utility bills are USD 268.00 (and my heat and hot water are part of my rent- thus not included here)
My monthly car payment is USD 433.91 (for a Jeep)
My monthly insurance is USD 218.00 (as a loyal, long term customer with no accidents/tickets)
My monthly food bills are USD 450.00
My monthly gasoline expenditure is @ USD 140.00 (based on four week month)
My prescription insurance co-pays are USD 120.00
My onthly cigarette expenditure is USD 150.00
Which leaves me with a grand total of USD 143.55 a month for any savings, clothing, or leisure activities (which includes extra money to drive to a beach two and a half hours away- the gas expenditure I mentioned was a two mile commute to work, driving 30 miles to significant other's apartment once a week, and driving around town to buy groceries, et cetera. if my commute were longer, that gas expenditure would be increased!)All that from a base salary of $46,500/yr. I get $143.55 per month that is not already spent before it is paid out to me- a single person living alone.
So I challenge those in other countries to work the calculations. Wages vs out of pocket expenditures. USD vs whatever your monetary unit is.
Then let me know. I'd be very interested to hear the results. And if there's somewhere cheaper to live, maybe I'll move !!!!!
-sunny10
My guess is that they come out very similar
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