What a pain in the gas

[Koz]

This year has been a rollercoaster at work with a lot of ups and downs, but everything has been moving in a positive direction. As some of you know, I run hotels for a living and took over an absolute dog of a hotel. But it's on a lake, has a lot of potential, and a great owner who has been putting money into the property and has been generous with me.

 

Renovations have been a bit of a nightmare. Supply chain issues have wreaked havoc. For example, we ordered new RFID door locks last July and they were supposed to be installed last November. I just received them last week and they will be installed next week. We did get painting, carpet, custom made sofas, and window treatments done and it made a huge difference. But we're waiting on occasional chairs, bedding accessories, lamps, artwork, and desk chairs. We **hope** to have them at the end of the year.

 

The year started off slow, but March was a record March for us. April was down to budget because Master's Week crowds were still limited and we didn;t see compression. May has been an outstanding month and we beat our May record for revenues over a week ago. Fall pace is ahead of previous years, but the summer is a dud so far. We set record June and July revenues last year, but booking pace is off this year.

 

And this Memorial Day weekend is weird. Normally we fill up with three night stays, but right now we're close to filled but we have an inordinate number of two night stays. It seems with inflation and gas prices, a lot of people are dropping one day of vacation this weekend. We should be close to sold out for the 4th of July right now and we're not even close.

 

So I'm wondering, how many of you are cutting back your planned vacations or planning to make a last minute decision because of gas prices and inflation?

[gim]

10 minutes ago, Koz said:

So I'm wondering, how many of you are cutting back your planned vacations or planning to make a last minute decision because of gas prices and inflation?

I will probably fish closer to home this season.

[Skunkmaster-k]

I’ve been dipping into my savings more than most years, so vacation is out this summer. 

[Basser2021]

8 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I will probably fish closer to home this season.

Same here

[MN Fisher]

10 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I will probably fish closer to home this season.

 

I don't fish anywhere but close to home

 

5 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

I’ve been dipping into my savings more than most years, so vacation is out this summer. 

What's this unknown thing called vacation?

 

(I haven't been on a vacation in over 15 years)

[Skunkmaster-k]

8 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

 

I don't fish anywhere but close to home

 

What's this unknown thing called vacation?

 

(I haven't been on a vacation in over 15 years)

15 years? 

[Bird]

Wife and I book all trips well in advance, through the whole calendar year so all accommodations have been paid for....... except gas to get there ?

[GTN-NY]

We went to Puerto Rico for 2 weeks in March so I’m done until next March. 
My wife on the other hand is going to FL this Sat for a week and will probably do it again in Sept

[schplurg]

About 2 months ago I stopped my beer drinking, partly to save money for fishing.

 

I buy a 6 pack of beer for say $11.00 out the door.

 

I drink 2 beers a night, Sierra Nevada IPAs, about 7% Alc. I shop by alcohol content and these are a good buy!  

 

So that is 10 six packs per 30 day month. $110 a month in beer. Not a lot really. If I cut that in half (which I didn't) that is $55, which is about 10 gallons of the cheaper gas, and I can still drink some beer!

 

What? That's hardly worth it is it? No! I went back to spending $110 a month on beer last week. At least I know I can do without it!

 

Next money saving scheme:

 

Okay, I started grocery shopping at Walmart. Sorry, hate to do it but times are tough. I save over 40% on groceries. 

 

Asparagus at Safeway = $6 lb!!! (up yours!)

Walmart = $2

 

I hate asparagus but that's an example!

 

I order online and they bring it out to the parking lot to me. No extra fee. I don't even have to go inside. I don't even have to help load it into my van, but I do. I dread going inside Walmart! It is one of my top favorite things to hate!

 

That saves me more money than the beer plan and that is where I have cut my costs. And I have lost nothing, unlike the "beer plan" where I lose all my beer  

 

I just spent maybe $800 in backpacking gear. I don't need fishing gear and haven't bought any.

 

Enjoying life has become more important the older I get. Cutting back on enjoyment is a last resort for me. I have no family so I can afford this attitude though. Barely!

[Koz]

24 minutes ago, schplurg said:

I buy a 6 pack of beer for say $11.00 out the door.

 

Is beer really that expensive? Obviously, I haven't purchased beer in a long time.

 

Quote

Okay, I started grocery shopping at Walmart.

 

I always feel the need to shower after leaving Walmart. But where I live it's a necessary evil. It's teh only department store around, and we have only 2 other grocery stores.

[schplurg]

18 minutes ago, Koz said:

 

Is beer really that expensive? Obviously, I haven't purchased beer in a long time.

 

 

I always feel the need to shower after leaving Walmart. But where I live it's a necessary evil. It's teh only department store around, and we have only 2 other grocery stores.

It's a "Premium beer" I guess. Not sure how much Bud and all that costs. Definitely cheaper.

 

Uh duuuh I have the internet at my fingertips! $8 for a 6 pack of Bud bottles at BevMo. Mine is as cheap as $10 at another store. Well worth the price diff in my opinion.

 

When I was 17 a case of bud was $10. I remember clearly  

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

15 years? 

Ya, wife and I use to go to a camping gather over Memorial weekend - leave Wed, come back Tues. Then she became partially disabled - on SSDI. With her on disability - our income took a dramatic down-turn so we couldn't afford to pay someone to watch over her so I could at least go. So the last one we went to was 2006 - so this weekend will make it 16 years actually.

[roadwarrior]

No big plans, but several "little" trips scheduled. Off to Bull Shoals with my brother

next week. Family reunion over the 4th of July including three days at Pickwick.

Weekly adventures on the Tennessee River.  Gas is a small part of the overall cost.

[padlin]

For us it's a combination of inflation, gas, and the market downturn. We're retired living off our 401k till SS kicks in. Holding off on making winter travel plans, which includes driving to FL, till we see how it goes. Any vacation reservations will be last minute, more or less.

[Mike L]

This year has been tough for us as well. 
 

A granddaughter graduated college, a grandson graduated HS, niece getting married in August, first great grandchild due in September!!!

 

Mrs Mike booked a cruise to Bermuda in October just to get out of here for awhile 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike 

[Jigfishn10]

My boat will be moored in the bay for the summer and thankfully it's pretty economical for a 70HP. Will mostly drift fish and make occasional boat trips with the family this year. I think last year boat gas was around $300, so if I can keep it to $500, I'll be happy. Gas to my house in Maine is a different story though. 

 

Gotta just grin and bear it.

[gim]

24 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

thankfully it's pretty economical for a 70HP

 

24 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Gas to my house in Maine is a different story though. 

 

Same here, the merc 4-stroke sips fuel and I go through less than 2 tanks all season.  The fuel I burn is in the truck getting to and from the lake.

[Skunkmaster-k]

10 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya, wife and I use to go to a camping gather over Memorial weekend - leave Wed, come back Tues. Then she became partially disabled - on SSDI. With her on disability - our income took a dramatic down-turn so we couldn't afford to pay someone to watch over her so I could at least go. So the last one we went to was 2006 - so this weekend will make it 16 years actually.

That’s the drizzles. 

[Choporoz]

No adjustments yet.  But the 220 mile weekly commute in my 5.7 Dodge has me considering whether to look for something that gets more than 17mpg

[Darth-Baiter]

I never thought about it, but I also quit drinking beer!!  never thought about the money savings.  for me it was a social event.  happy hours with friends and coworkers.  that gets expensive!!  3 $10 pints and "let me get this round". adds up.

 

if I think about it, I am making money!!  I dont go to happy hour anymore.  I am Booze free because I have the liver of an 80 year old.  sucks.  but whatever.

 

I am a life balance guy.  I spend money, but with thought.  it is just as important to know how to spend money as it is to save it.  I need money to retire.  life isn't free.  

[Jigfishn10]

3 hours ago, gimruis said:

The fuel I burn is in the truck getting to and from the lake.

I lose at least 2 miles to the gallon towing the boat. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but it adds up on a 2 hour ride, 1 way. 

[gim]

40 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I lose at least 2 miles to the gallon towing the boat. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but it adds up on a 2 hour ride, 1 way. 

Sure does.  My full size truck doesn't really lose any mileage when I tow my boat, luckily.  That's part of the reason I went from a mid-size SUV to a full size truck a few years ago.  I'm considering down grading to a Ford Ranger instead of an F-150 and I am trying to figure out if my mileage would sink like a stone if I did that when I was towing.

[Team9nine]

I lose 6-7 mpg just pulling my small aluminum around (Honda Ridgeline), but 80% of my boat fishing is less than 20 miles round-trip, and the other 20% is within an hour or less from the house, so it’s not too terrible - plus I offset a lot of that with my smaller 10hp 4-stroke boat engine. 

[TnRiver46]

I pull with a full size v8 and still get the mileage drop, 18 ft aluminum boat 

[Bluebasser86]

I'm working 8 hours of OT Saturday and 4 more hours on Monday, so no holiday vacation for me this weekend. If I do get to fish, it will be close to home.