gas prices on the rise again..

[expat]

American petrol prices are to go up. ....thank god for that ...thought for a second the Uk prices were going up even more!

[Swager]

Has the change-over from "winter" gas for "summer" gas been completed yet?

They must be having a problem in the change over because the gas prices here continue to rise.  I do hope our administration gets a handle on this.

[BlueJ1]

Up to $2.80 around here.

Even on the res I think its only $2.50.

[Dowding]

Blame that on the little suit wearing goobers infesting offices all over the world, speculating on oil, hoping to make a fast buck, for no work at all, regardless of the cost to the world economy.

No work at all? Unfortunately, prices don't always increase. What if the price goes down...?

Sounds to me like quite a risky business.

[Urchin]

Originally posted by Holden McGroin
Free market supply and demand allows for a overall price rise.  If demand remains heavy the price goes up until demand levels off.  If demand remains strong the price continues to rise.

If my gas station is across the street from yours I cannot ask 10 cents a gallon more than you without effecting my sales volume, but a couple of cents won't make that much difference.  Especially when you look at my price sign and realise you can raise your prices and make more money too.

We have just conspired to raise gas prices without planning to or even speaking to each other about it.

Except gasoline is an inelastic good... when you need gas you need gas.  Most cars don't run on blood or corn oil.  So the price goes up, demand stays the same, profits increase.  Price goes up even more, demand stays the same, profits increase even more.

I'd love to get my hands on profit MARGIN data.  Profit data isn't all that useful, of course gas companies are posting record profits.. there is more gas being used around the world.  The profit margins tell the story of how bad we are being gouged.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Urchin
Except gasoline is an inelastic good... when you need gas you need gas.  Most cars don't run on blood or corn oil.  So the price goes up, demand stays the same, profits increase.  Price goes up even more, demand stays the same, profits increase even more.

I'd love to get my hands on profit MARGIN data.  Profit data isn't all that useful, of course gas companies are posting record profits.. there is more gas being used around the world.  The profit margins tell the story of how bad we are being gouged.

The profit margin is very good. My stock portfolio would show you.

Sure I pay more for fuel, but the mutuals that are diversified with stock from oil companies are doing very well and outweigh the cost that I spend on fuel.

Here is a tip, invest in companies that do exploratory oil research or those companies that  supplies raw material to building more refineries and oil platforms. Good money to come in the future with those companies.  They'll be looking for more oil before a significant alternative fuel becomes available so you might as well reap the benefits.

I remember the  early 90's when everyone hated Microsoft because they were more or less forced to use their products.  MS stock was VERY good to me during their run

[Urchin]

Well, I'm happy you are doing so well, but unfortunately I'm in the 60% of the population who doesn't own any stock.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by WhiteHawk
And the looting of the america continues....Now we know why monop[olies are illegal.

Technically, it's not a monopoly. It's an oligopoly.

I think the only real monopoly in this country is the U.S. Postal Service.

[eagl]

Urchin,

Try investing.  I started with an investment management company that let me start with $200 deposit and $50/month additional, as long as it was a direct automatic withdrawl from my checking account.  If you've bought any "luxury" goods in the last year (tv, vcr, whatever), then you have no excuse to not have any investments.

Everyone whines about not being able to invest, but 99% of those whiners own a tv.  Well, duh.  If you buy luxuries before taking care of your financial security, you deserve to remain poor.  Nothing personal Urchin because you're not any different from about 80% of the people in the US, but unless you are on welfare and rely on food stamps and subsidized housing to live, or you have suffered a personal disaster such as a long term health problem or a massive financial loss not covered by insurance (uninsured home burning down for example) there really are few legitimate excuses for not having SOME investments, even if they are small.

I started with that $200 plus $50/month...  My parents started with less using a regular savings account until they had enough to invest.  Yea they used a really old crappy TV that they bought used, we ate whatever happened to be on sale because they'd stock the freezer with discount ground beef and chicken whenever the monthly sales hit, and they didn't buy a new car until they'd been married for 12 years, but the sacrifices kept them out of debt and let them start investing.  A few years of sacrifices and by the time me and my siblings were ready for college, they were financially set to help us get college educations.

Nobody on this board should be complaining about not being able to invest...  If you're that strapped for cash, sell your stinking computer and put the money in the bank.  Then get another job using the time you used to spend online.

Or not, because it's too easy and fun to join the herd and blame boosh or whatever the current whiner's excuse is.

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by Sandman


I think the only real monopoly in this country is the U.S. Postal Service.

Not really, they have Fed Ex and UPS for competition.

But their real competition is the one they will never be able to compete with the very medium you are using now.

Couldnt tell you the last time I wrote a letter and sent it to anyone by snailmail. There are now one or two bills or other paper based other items  I send out by Postal mail per month now as opposed to even a year ago. For me personally thats a 75% drop.
Everything else is done electronically.

To get slightly back on topic.
Notice all the coverage the rising gas prices are and will be getting in the media.

Then when prices flatten or drop off. Notice the curious absence of media coverage it will get.
Oh you may see an article here and there. But there will be far far far less coverage from any media outlet of dropping gas prices then rising ones.

Not exactly fair and balanced

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by eagl
Urchin,

Try investing.  I started with an investment management company that let me start with $200 deposit and $50/month additional, as long as it was a direct automatic withdrawl from my checking account.  If you've bought any "luxury" goods in the last year (tv, vcr, whatever), then you have no excuse to not have any investments.

Everyone whines about not being able to invest, but 99% of those whiners own a tv.  Well, duh.  If you buy luxuries before taking care of your financial security, you deserve to remain poor.  Nothing personal Urchin because you're not any different from about 80% of the people in the US, but unless you are on welfare and rely on food stamps and subsidized housing to live, or you have suffered a personal disaster such as a long term health problem or a massive financial loss not covered by insurance (uninsured home burning down for example) there really are few legitimate excuses for not having SOME investments, even if they are small.

I started with that $200 plus $50/month...  My parents started with less using a regular savings account until they had enough to invest.  Yea they used a really old crappy TV that they bought used, we ate whatever happened to be on sale because they'd stock the freezer with discount ground beef and chicken whenever the monthly sales hit, and they didn't buy a new car until they'd been married for 12 years, but the sacrifices kept them out of debt and let them start investing.  A few years of sacrifices and by the time me and my siblings were ready for college, they were financially set to help us get college educations.

Nobody on this board should be complaining about not being able to invest...  If you're that strapped for cash, sell your stinking computer and put the money in the bank.  Then get another job using the time you used to spend online.

Or not, because it's too easy and fun to join the herd and blame boosh or whatever the current whiner's excuse is.

Everything is Booshes fault. Dont you know that by now? (insert old eyeroll emoticon here)

But really I think the problem isnt as much not being able to invest as not knowing how to get started. Or how little money you can get started with
(note I didnt say how much money you need to get started)

I know outside of my Vanguard account which was set up bythe last real job I had, I've been wanting to invest a small amount and buy some stocks just to get started with.
I just dont know how to go about it or how it works.

I think that is the problem most people have.


Remember. for some folks here $100 or even $1,000 is pocket money.
For a good deal more and probably the vast majority $100 or $1,000 is the difference between being able to pay the bills and buying food for the month or going hungry or further into debt.


I've been on both ends of the spectrum. I had a period in time about 20 years ago where I could simply walk into a store and if I saw something I wanted all I needed to do was point at it pay cash and say "mine"
Just too bad I was too young and inexperianced ot realise that in my line of work that kind of prosperity doesnt always last and often comes in waves. Also I didnt have the added expence of a house and two kids either or I would have invested and pissed my money away more wisely then.

But speaking from that experiance. I know that when you are parth of the haves, that is when you have  money to blow like that. ITs hard to see or relate, or understand how other people might not.
Its not intentional thoughts but you feel like. "when I have it to spend, Why dont you?"
And its harder to see how what only seems like a few dollars to you, can be such a burdon for someone else

I'd almost be willing to bet you could start with less then $100 and just buy some basic stuff for starters and go on from there. But few people know how to go about it.
I know I am one of them.

Now if you telll me that your going to need at least $1,000 to get started then I'd have to say its a safe bet that not alot of people can do it as there are alot of people that simply dont have an extra grand laying around at once to invest and if they do come into a thousand dollars its usually going to be used to pay off old bills. Or almost as likely Buy some luxury item which everyone should be able to do at least a little of just to feel human and to get some pleasure out of life rather then feel like all they are doing is working to pay bills.

But reguardless of the amount of money anyone has who isnt investing. I think the larger problem oputside of opening a regular bank account is simply knowing how to go about getting started

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by eagl
Urchin,

Try investing.  I started with an investment management company that let me start with $200 deposit and $50/month additional, as long as it was a direct automatic withdrawl from my checking account.  If you've bought any "luxury" goods in the last year (tv, vcr, whatever), then you have no excuse to not have any investments.

Everyone whines about not being able to invest, but 99% of those whiners own a tv.  Well, duh.  If you buy luxuries before taking care of your financial security, you deserve to remain poor.  Nothing personal Urchin because you're not any different from about 80% of the people in the US, but unless you are on welfare and rely on food stamps and subsidized housing to live, or you have suffered a personal disaster such as a long term health problem or a massive financial loss not covered by insurance (uninsured home burning down for example) there really are few legitimate excuses for not having SOME investments, even if they are small.

I started with that $200 plus $50/month...  My parents started with less using a regular savings account until they had enough to invest.  Yea they used a really old crappy TV that they bought used, we ate whatever happened to be on sale because they'd stock the freezer with discount ground beef and chicken whenever the monthly sales hit, and they didn't buy a new car until they'd been married for 12 years, but the sacrifices kept them out of debt and let them start investing.  A few years of sacrifices and by the time me and my siblings were ready for college, they were financially set to help us get college educations.

Nobody on this board should be complaining about not being able to invest...  If you're that strapped for cash, sell your stinking computer and put the money in the bank.  Then get another job using the time you used to spend online.

Or not, because it's too easy and fun to join the herd and blame boosh or whatever the current whiner's excuse is.

My father gave  this speech to me for several years! I finally started investing when I was 30 (Wish I'd done it earlier!)  Instead of a car payment, I had an "Investment payment" whether it was property or a voluntary investment plan with my employer. Good advice, Eagl.  

The top rung of the financial success ladder is out there for everyone to achieve, you have to be willing to make sacrifices and take that first step.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by DREDIOCK
Not really, they have Fed Ex and UPS for competition.
 

Except for 1st Class postage, you're right.

It is illegal for anyone other than the USPS to use your mail box for delivery. Rather odd because we bought the mailboxes with our money and it's on our property.

... but that's another topic.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Sandman
Except for 1st Class postage, you're right.

It is illegal for anyone other than the USPS to use your mail box for delivery. Rather odd because we bought the mailboxes with our money and it's on our property.

... but that's another topic.

BUSH'S FAULT!
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sorry, too tempting.

[Flit]

Don't invest in "stocks" if your just starting out, invest in a "fund".
Fund's will diversify your investment into more then one "stock", which will reduce  your risk.
 Always reinvest any dividends, as this is what really adds up after time.
  You would very suprised to find out how little it takes to get started.