The credit crisis has been going on for some time now. To
put the crisis simply, banks encouraged potential homeowners to purchase
above their heads, and now the owners are falling desperately behind on
their mortgage payments. The majority of homeowners are doing just fine.
But those who have been connected with the dreaded subprime loans have
found themselves drowning in a sea of never-ending interest. Subprime
loans have frozen the credit markets, sent stock markets spiraling
downward, and left the U.S. economy on the brink of the worst recession in
over 50 years.
The fuel crisis is more evident to the majority as we watch
every gas station in town raise their prices weekly. Only 20 short years
ago, we were disgusted at the $1.08 per gallon gas prices. How could they
charge us over a dollar for gas!? Now we long for those days to return as
gas prices soar to over $4 a gallon. Sadly, there is much more talk about
what the fuel crisis actual is than there are solutions to fix the
problem. Everyone loves to spout their conspiracy theory, claiming that
it's the fault of republicans, big oil is taking over the world, they're
trying to intentionally break the back of American, etc. The truth is,
we're simply running out of oil in the world.
It is true that there could be more done to explore means of
alternative fuel, but common sense doesn't seem to resonate with a
government trying to pull itself out of crisis, out of a war, and put
itself back in favor with the American public. As citizens, all we're
currently able to do is save money, try to stay away from shoddy
situations that put us further in debt, and keep on keeping on. If the
historic standard stays true and the days of old do repeat themselves,
then we can all expect to climb out of this hole. America has bounced back
from worse recessions, depressions, wars, and any other crisis we've dealt
with.
Until the people we entrust with the running of our country
correct this problem, we're left to fend for ourselves. In order to save
money on gas, you should try walking or riding a bike, taking the bus,
joining a carpool, etc. If at all possible, try to reduce your commute. Do
everything you need to do in one trip: grocery shop, pick up the kids, pay
the bills, etc. If you're going to a shopping center or in town, park the
car in a safe location and walk.
Other things you can do to save money on gas include finding
the cheapest prices around (obviously), apply for a gas card, join a
loyalty club, use the recommended gas for your automobile, and always fill
your gas tank at night. During the day, the heat causes the gas to bubble
and you're getting less than you pay for.
