I just paid $1.17 for gas

Now, Americans, before you get excited let’s do some math.

$1.17 CDN = $1.17 USD (www.xe.com)
1 litre = 0.264 gallons (google)

$1.17 USD divided by 0.264 = $4.43 USD/gallon.

That’s right. I just paid $4.43 USD for one gallon of gas. Think that’s going to have an impact on my budget this summer? You bet it is. Less room in the budget for “extra” things and a bigger chunk of my budget taken up by necessary things like food and clothing which will inevitably increase in price because of the increase in the price of gas.

What does this have to do with culture? Lots. As families are required to spend more on gas, food and clothing it leaves less space in their budget for involving themselves in culture in a way that costs money – movies, concerts, art galleries, theatre, etc. It will either force people to get creative in how they are spending their “culture” money or they will leave those things behind altogether.

Either way, it’s going to have an impact on the cultural scene in North America this summer. And I can’t say I’m excited about it.

————————————————–

This is my Watercooler Wednesday post. Check out my other posts in this series -
Songwriters Forum
If I Was Commissioner Of The NHL
Worship Leader Magazine Thoughts
Productivity Helper
Oscar Peterson & Count Basie
Fredo Viola – The Sad Song
Absolut Quartet

7 Responses to “I just paid $1.17 for gas”

1. cool dad says:

   April 16, 2008 at 11:46 am

   I think a lot of us (me included) continue to fill up and then finally realize “The bank account’s looking kind of lean.” And we drive two 30+ mpg vehicles.

   The US economy is sinking, the dollar is eroding, and that’s affecting my culture quite a bit!

   Reply
2. Audra Krell says:

   April 16, 2008 at 2:58 pm

   You are right on. This is definitely going to affect the culture.I live in Arizona and it is so hot here, hate to let the car sit and idle while it burns gas, but it’s too hot to shut it off! I try to htink of ways to drive less places, but with 3 children in sports and music there isn’t a lot of places to cut.

   Reply
3. Susan says:

   April 17, 2008 at 5:44 am

   I feel your pain – enormously. We are US expats in Switzerland. Paid in US $. The SwissFranc is also 1chf to $1 and I just paid 1.74chf per litre the other day. Doing the math that is approx. $6.60/gallon. Fortunately we are in a country that has excellent public transit and I can actually walk to the store if I want (should it ever quit snowing! or rise over 10 c.).

   It will affect our culture – it has to – but how willing are people to adapt? It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

   Popped over from Randy Elrod’s blog – Have a very nice day!

   Reply
4. Travis Thompson says:

   April 17, 2008 at 10:33 am

   I hear you bro!

   I’m really uncertain about the types of impacts this is going to have on society . . .

   Reply
5. Ben says:

   April 17, 2008 at 5:58 pm

   Open ANWAR!!!

   Reply
6. Chris From Canada says:

   April 17, 2008 at 8:32 pm

   Haha – for those who may be in the dark on Ben’s comment – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Refuge_drilling_controversy

   Reply
7. nate says:

   April 21, 2008 at 3:48 pm

   I feel your pain… work non profit, as people pay more for gas, they give less to charity…argghhhh!
   Here is my solution:
   https://aptera.com
   $300 mpg, and I will feel like George Jetson

   Reply