Gas Prices

[CateP]

I know that every now and then one of these gas prices threads gets started and quickly becomes out dated, but I thought folks would like to know that I bought gas at Fullers in Center Harbor(or is it in Moultonboro?) last night for $3.19 a gallon (regular). There were some other gas stations around that were selling regular for $3.24 and $3.29.

Then when I came down to Wolfeboro, prices were around $3.56+

Hmm. Looks like gas prices are taking a tumble around the nation, but not in certain towns in the lakes region...yet...:cool:

[brk-lnt]

I've never understood peoples obsession with gas prices, as opposed to say the price of milk, or chicken, or blue jeans.

The price of gas is certainly a variable cost item, and for multiple reasons (taxes, supply, demand) it will be priced differently across the state, or country.

Sure, we all like to save money, but the obsession over a few cents per gallon, which on the typical fill up usually amounts to $2 or $3 doesn't make sense to me. Going 15 minutes out of my way to save $3 hardly seems worthwhile.

[robmac]

well when you nees a couple of hundred gallons I for one look

[Argie's Wife]

NH Gas Prices - http://www.newhampshiregasprices.com/

We don't go out of our way to get gas, but if I know I can save $, I'll put off filling up for the week or only do a partial fill just to get by. We generally get our gas at BJ's Wholesale, but that's along the way with grocery shopping for us...

[RLW]

well when you nees a couple of hundred gallons I for one look

I don't mean it to be funny, but what the heck are you driving a gas driven 18 wheeler to get a couple hundred gallons at one time I assume as you didn't specify differently.:)

[brk-lnt]

well when you nees a couple of hundred gallons I for one look

Let's say you needed 200 gallons, and the delta was 15 cents. That's 30 bucks. Still not by most accounts a significant amount of money.

If you're going through 200 gallons a week, it would seem like something either commercial (landscaping crew, etc.) or a "Travelling salesman" type of thing. In both scenarios $30 is still commonly a rounding error.

200 gallons, at even 12 MPG is 2400 miles, we're not talking about the common case here.

Sure, take the savings if it's on the way, but going out of your way, for what would most likely be multiple times, it's still most likely a net-loss or zero-sum endeavor at best.

At 800 gallons a month it might even make sense to look into private delivery instead of chasing nickels.

[old coot]

It's a long standing fact of life in Wolfeboro that gas prices are much higher than are gas prices in other nearby communities. Station operators in Wolfeboro pay more per gallon than do their out of town competitors, so it's not entirely their fault.
Unfortunately, I can't think of any commodity that isn't more expensive in Wolfeboro and some things in Wolfeboro are downright unreasonable.

[barefootbay]

Speaking of unreasonable,the price difference in a half gallon of OJ of the same brand between Wolfeboro supermarkets an Hannafords is over $2.00.This is one item. Shop locally? Give me a break.

[CateP]

I've never understood peoples obsession with gas prices, as opposed to say the price of milk, or chicken, or blue jeans.

The price of gas is certainly a variable cost item, and for multiple reasons (taxes, supply, demand) it will be priced differently across the state, or country.

Sure, we all like to save money, but the obsession over a few cents per gallon, which on the typical fill up usually amounts to $2 or $3 doesn't make sense to me. Going 15 minutes out of my way to save $3 hardly seems worthwhile.

I'm not obsessed with gas prices, but thought it would be helpful if people knew where there was a low gas price. I also didn't mean to diss Wolfeboro, just wondering why their prices were not the same. Usually they are pretty close.

BTW-I didn't go out of my way to get gas at Fullers. I happened to be driving by.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

I live by Fullers and I am glad that I do.

[Kamper]

I have a name-brand gas station .1 mile from me and a generic station about a mile away that is usually at least 10cents cheaper. If I'm in any kind of a hurry I use the closer station otherwise I try to work re-fueling into my errands schedule that takes me past the generic pumps. Keep in mind, the generic stuff does not contain any of the "detergent" additives so every 5th tank or so you should use a name-brand gas that does, or add your own.

[Lakesrider]

Usually the gas stations at exit 23 are the cheapest around. But not lately. The Citgo at exit 23 is still at $2.64 while the other two were at $2.35. Not sure what Citgo is thinking. There is never any cars in there getting gas.
The Irving in Moultonborough is at $2.24 reg. and $2.49 Special. While Skelly's is $2.35 reg and $2.89 Special. Huh? $.40 higher for special, which is what I usually buy for my truck. @ 20 gallons around $8.00 difference. enough for some lottery tickets. :laugh: I usually support Skellys for pretty much all my gas but their pricing structure makes it hard to keep track of in my head.
Like said it really depends on if I am out doing errands or just need to go get gas to get to work or not. I never buy anything in Wolfeboro if I can help it. They think everyone there is a tourist, and price accordingly. Well I do go to Harvest as I like the fact they usually have good bananas, and apple turnovers which are great.:D

[DickR]

...Sure, we all like to save money, but the obsession over a few cents per gallon, which on the typical fill up usually amounts to $2 or $3 doesn't make sense to me. Going 15 minutes out of my way to save $3 hardly seems worthwhile.

Except for folks with a lot of income, that $2-3 per fillup, times 52 weeks a year if it's a weekly thing, isn't small money, especially when added in with all those countless hundreds of other "small" items over the course of year that get some into serious credit card debt. It all adds up.

Most of us drive past many gas stations in our normal travels. It would be useful for everyone if everyone gave some preference to buying gas where the price is even a few cents lower. When few care about the price of something, the forces of competition don't work, and the price rises to whatever level makes people notice.

[DickR]

...Keep in mind, the generic stuff does not contain any of the "detergent" additives so every 5th tank or so you should use a name-brand gas that does, or add your own.

That isn't really so. All gasolines are required by the EPA to have detergent additives to keep fuel injection systems clean. There usually isn't any significant difference between the "generics" and name brand gasolines of the same octane rating. Here's only one of countless pieces on the subject:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Business/story?id=2978563&page=1

[Mirror Lake's BB]

I'm not obsessed with gas prices, but thought it would be helpful if people knew where there was a low gas price. I also didn't mean to diss Wolfeboro, just wondering why their prices were not the same. Usually they are pretty close.

BTW-I didn't go out of my way to get gas at Fullers. I happened to be driving by.

I would think you are. I am and many, many, many Americans are. Why? My feeling is that it is a extremely volatile, highly manipulated market.

Also, you don't have to be as defensive as you have been in this and other posts that I have read.

[Winnisquamguy]

That isn't really so. All gasolines are required by the EPA to have detergent additives to keep fuel injection systems clean. There usually isn't any significant difference between the "generics" and name brand gasolines of the same octane rating. Here's only one of countless pieces on the subject:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Business/story?id=2978563&page=1

Try doing the math on your mileage of your fill ups between the generics and name brands, you might be surprised at how many more miles you get of each tank and even between name brands.

[Belmont Resident]

well when you nees a couple of hundred gallons I for one look

But you would be surprised at how many will drive to save. Like driving to HD or Lowes to save a few bucks when you would save more buying it local after you factor in the money for gas and extra time it takes to get there.
A lot of people do not place a value on there TIME they only look at dollars and cents. I believe people who are self employeed tend to value their time more than others do.

[upthesaukee]

But you would be surprised at how many will drive to save. Like driving to HD or Lowes to save a few bucks when you would save more buying it local after you factor in the money for gas and extra time it takes to get there.
A lot of people do not place a value on there TIME they only look at dollars and cents. I believe people who are self employeed tend to value their time more than others do.

We had lunch at the Lakeside across from Walmart/Hannafords in Gilford. We were going to Tilton to shop at a variety of places, and I needed gas for my Corolla. Alton was $3.59. Mobil in front of Shaw's was $3.45 and I filled up, right at 10 gals. Going by BJ's, they were $3.40.

If I drove from Alton to BJ's to save the $.19 per gallon, I would have saved $1.90. It takes me about 35-40 minutes one way to get there. I would use at least one gallon of gas. For being so smart to go all the way to Tilton just to buy gas and go back home, I would spend at least $3.40. My Supreme Intelligence would have allowed me to spend $1.50 extra to save less than two bucks, and yes, that does not include over an hour of travel. My local gas station is less than 5 minutes from the house.

Yup, sometimes my smarts amazes me:laugh::eek:! It does sound good to save $1.90 per fill up, but at what cost?:rolleye2:

[brk-lnt]

Except for folks with a lot of income, that $2-3 per fillup, times 52 weeks a year if it's a weekly thing, isn't small money, especially when added in with all those countless hundreds of other "small" items over the course of year that get some into serious credit card debt. It all adds up.

Most of us drive past many gas stations in our normal travels. It would be useful for everyone if everyone gave some preference to buying gas where the price is even a few cents lower. When few care about the price of something, the forces of competition don't work, and the price rises to whatever level makes people notice.

By all means, pay attention to the gas stations on your local drive and select the cheapest convenient option.

But, it's not worth money for the average person to drive even slightly out of their way to save $2. Plus, the prices are volatile (as others have noted), and the "cheap" gas station may not always be so.

With the above in mind, it's of little value to have a post indicating gas prices, because the data is out of date almost immediately, and if the gas station isn't one I normally pass on my standard routes it is most likely not worth going out of my way for ("I" and "my" being used in the generic sense here).

I have also noticed (after doing multiple samples and averaging the data together), that the "cheap" gas does not always yield the most miles per gallon in my vehicles (a sample set of 4 vehicles, 2 trucks and 2 cars). So again, you may be hurting yourself overall to drive 15 minutes away to save 5 cents per gallon, even if the in-your-face-data (receipts) says otherwise.

[Mirror Lake's BB]

I have also noticed (after doing multiple samples and averaging the data together), that the "cheap" gas does not always yield the most miles per gallon in my vehicles (a sample set of 4 vehicles, 2 trucks and 2 cars). So again, you may be hurting yourself overall to drive 15 minutes away to save 5 cents per gallon, even if the in-your-face-data (receipts) says otherwise.

I believe you meant "most miles per dollar" and not "most miles per gallon".:)

[John A. Birdsall]

While I shop around for gas prices I find it humorous that people will pay .99 for 8 oz of bottled water but cry at the price of gasoline. I bought a new truck this year and it has a HEMI in it, I wasn't looking for a HEMI but this was the only 1500 RAM single cab, 2 wheel drive, I wasn't looking for a long bed either, but thats what it is. I do a lot of highway driving between CT and NH and I seem to be averaging about 18 mpg. I find the gas station in Hookset and Boscoes in Barnstead the least expensive, While I find any station in Conn. the most expensive.. and I am glad I have portable tanks on the boat, save that gas cost on the lake.

[LIforrelaxin]

Except for folks with a lot of income, that $2-3 per fillup, times 52 weeks a year if it's a weekly thing, isn't small money, especially when added in with all those countless hundreds of other "small" items over the course of year that get some into serious credit card debt. It all adds up.



This is true, it is not the weekly cost that is the concern... It is about adding up the savings over time.

enjoy the lower fuel prices while they last... as the will go up again in the spring just in time for the summer season....

[ishoot308]

We had lunch at the Lakeside across from Walmart/Hannafords in Gilford. We were going to Tilton to shop at a variety of places, and I needed gas for my Corolla. Alton was $3.59. Mobil in front of Shaw's was $3.45 and I filled up, right at 10 gals. Going by BJ's, they were $3.40.

If I drove from Alton to BJ's to save the $.19 per gallon, I would have saved $1.90. It takes me about 35-40 minutes one way to get there. I would use at least one gallon of gas. For being so smart to go all the way to Tilton just to buy gas and go back home, I would spend at least $3.40. My Supreme Intelligence would have allowed me to spend $1.50 extra to save less than two bucks, and yes, that does not include over an hour of travel. My local gas station is less than 5 minutes from the house.

Yup, sometimes my smarts amazes me:laugh::eek:! It does sound good to save $1.90 per fill up, but at what cost?:rolleye2:

Upthesaukee;

Also as of January 1, 2011, the average cost per mile to run the average American car is .51 cents! It makes almost no sense to go out of your way whatsoever to save a few cents per gallon.

Dan

[upthesaukee]

...and that figure entered into the decision to retire earlier this year. They cut my hours to an average of 12.4 hours, and I drove 21 miles one way to work.

That was a cost of over $40 just to have the pleasure of going to work.

Just a little detour on the road of gas prices, and now I turn back onto that main highway (driving at an economical speed of course:laugh:).

[Lakesrider]

They mentioned on the news the other night a figure something like $740 million has gone back into the economy from the recent drop in gasoline prices. So what seems like only pennies to most certainly added up in just one week when you factor in everybody that uses gasoline.
Man I wish I had $740 million. You wouldn't hear me complaining about gas prices......:D

[Heading4thelake]

O K so the gas prices are looking good. Great to see, then the oil prices today go up almost 5.00 a barrel and gasoline goes up 11 cents, oh and by the way heating oil went up over 8 cents, yeah let keep it on the stock market

[dpg]

Don't be so sure when you purchase the "cheaper" gas your not getting the "good" stuff at a cheaper station...Same way other brand name products are packaged for say grocery stores.

[jmen24]

Don't be so sure when you purchase the "cheaper" gas your not getting the "good" stuff at a cheaper station...Same way other brand name products are packaged for say grocery stores.

Most products at the grocery store are a different recipe between name brand and store brand. Only the items like Milk, or other "there is only one real way to make it" type of items are the same.

[songkrai]

Most of the gasoline comes from Northeast Petroleum in Chelsea, Massachusetts. No matter what the brand. Some does come thru Portsmouth, NH.

[gtagrip]

Most of the gasoline comes from Northeast Petroleum in Chelsea, Massachusetts. No matter what the brand. Some does come thru Portsmouth, NH.

Correct! And all those major brands i.e. Mobile, Sunaco, Shell, Citgo, have higher gas pricies to pay for all their T.V. advertising.

[Lakepilot]

Cate, I use gasbuddy.com to show me the prices at area gas stations. A penny saved is a penny earned. I've bought gas at all kinds of different gas stations and always check my mileage. I've rarely found any difference in milage with different brands of gas. I have had issues with contaminated gas from the bottom of a tank.