fuel prices start to bite

nigel_s · Post by **nigel_s** » 22 May 2008, 6:30pm

jan19 wrote:Nigel,

if you want a cheap but fun holiday, try camping.
...

You can camp for a lot less if you are prepared to compromise on the site and you don't need fancy meals.

If you have kids, they love camping!

Thanks for this - we've cycle-camped since the kids were little. Having been "spoilt" by the superior conditions of campsites on mainland Europe (as well as better roads and nicer drivers to share them with) we gave up UK camping some time ago - seems like slumming it" in comparison! However, needs must, "slumming-it" it is. :roll:

eileithyia · Post by **eileithyia** » 22 May 2008, 10:30pm

[quote="nigel_s"][quote="jan19"]Nigel,

if you want a cheap but fun holiday, try camping.
...

we gave up UK camping some time ago - seems like slumming it" in comparison! However, needs must, "slumming-it" it is. :roll:

[/quote

Well like I said, sometimes needs must and moving on camping can be cheaper than not going away, cos you end up having to fill the days with activities...
Wild camping on a mossie infested bog in Scotland is not my ideal of a holiday, prefering hostels/b&b, but slumming it was the only way to have any sort of holiday

Peter Rowell · Post by **Peter Rowell** » 23 May 2008, 7:54am

The price rise in fuel may influence some people to drive slower, but still a majority are speeding on our roads. Obviously, the price is not yet high enough to make a real difference.

The trouble is that the rise in fuel prices will increase inflation far beyond the government's imaginary figures. The price of food, heating and travel will rise.

I can avoid some of it, as I live in a semi-rural area.
Food: I have a 1/4 acre of land but at 79 it is not easy to grow-your-own.
Heating: Although we all have to use electricity, gas etc. at least I can use wood to heat my home. My neighbour cleared 2 acres of thorn trees last year and I now have a stack of cordwood about 3.5m x 1m x 0.8m, that should last about two winters (if they are like the last one).
Travel: Do less of it, use the car as little as possible and use the bike more. Plan the car use so that several collections can be done in one journey, use the bus more (after all, it's free for pensioners).

Somehow, we shall survive.

Post by Si » 23 May 2008, 9:36am

As I've said on here before, alcohol costs more than fuel, yet people haven't stopped drinking, in fact alcohol consumption is on the up.

It's not that people (for the most part but certainly not all) can't afford fuel, it's that they are just used to lower prices, like having a moan, are being stirred up by the media, too ingrained in their ways to use alternatives and in a few cases - lazy.

JQ666 · Post by **JQ666** » 23 May 2008, 11:34am

If you consider the true cost of oil consumption, in terms of destroyed environment (e.g. the rain forests of South America), destroyed communities (especially displaced indigenous populations of many countries rich in oil), and loss of life (many wars have been fought over land, oil, and other resources), then the cost of oil should be many, many times higher than it is today! - But, that would give the bent oil companies and governments even more revenue!!

Bodie · Post by **Bodie** » 23 May 2008, 11:55am

The weakness of the Pound against the Euro is starting to affect my holiday plans. We has a shared ownership appartment in Tenerife but have sold it as it was getting more and more expensive to eat & drink, never mind the cost of the flights.

To go from 1.55 to 1.20 to the pound is quite a lot in a couple of years....add rising prices reducing disposable income and we will have some hard choices to make....I just hope it doesn't get any worse but I fear it will.

Manx Cat · Post by **Manx Cat** » 23 May 2008, 3:00pm

Well, the nip has become a bite to us now.

So much so, that CHas has now suggested (at last, Ive been seriously nagging for ages) to get rid of the oil burining Agas.

Celebrating emotion!!!

At last, Ill be able to cook a meal on time!

Anyone any suggestions for a replacment... a sort of range type oven to fill the gaping hole it will leave.... Im happy to put an axe to this useless piece of victorian ironware.

Mary

Post by Si » 23 May 2008, 3:01pm

Anyone any suggestions for a replacment... a sort of range type oven to fill the gaping hole it will leave.... Im happy to put an axe to this useless piece of victorian ironware.

I could be wrong but I thought that they were worth a bit!

I'd go for small multifuel burner and additional bike storage space :wink:

glueman · Post by **glueman** » 23 May 2008, 3:59pm

nigel_s wrote: However, needs must, "slumming-it" it is.

Try Cool Camping sites. All your earthly desires under canvas (or steel).

nigel_s · Post by **nigel_s** » 23 May 2008, 6:36pm

glueman wrote:
nigel_s wrote: However, needs must, "slumming-it" it is.

Try Cool Camping sites. All your earthly desires under canvas (or steel).

Thanks for the link. Looks fun!

eileithyia · Post by **eileithyia** » 23 May 2008, 7:20pm

Apparently the icelandic krona has dropped 26% against the euro so could be a cheaper holiday destination this year?????

JohnW · Post by **JohnW** » 24 May 2008, 10:31am

thirdcrank wrote:We have an economy that is based on road distribution of goods and road travel by people who provide services.

Except for anybody engaged on a latter day version of the Good Life, a 25% increase in the price of fuel is going to trigger inflation last seen in the days of silly billy Healey and Crisis what crisis Callaghan.

Actually tc, I do believe that it was during the days of the Thatcher (pardon the bad language) regime that inflation hit it's peak during my lifetime.

You remember Thatcher, it was she (or should I say it?) that shut down the pits and left us dependant upon imports, much of it from our enemies, for our energy.

The worrying question for us chaps and chapesses is, what will the motorists do for getting about when they can no longer afford their jungle juice? We know their ethics and morality from their behaviour. Lock up your bikes.

diapason · Post by **diapason** » 24 May 2008, 11:17am

Manx Cat wrote:Well, the nip has become a bite to us now.

So much so, that CHas has now suggested (at last, Ive been seriously nagging for ages) to get rid of the oil burining Agas.

Celebrating emotion!!!

At last, Ill be able to cook a meal on time!

Anyone any suggestions for a replacment... a sort of range type oven to fill the gaping hole it will leave.... Im happy to put an axe to this useless piece of victorian ironware.

Mary

Can't you get it converted to burn wood and then collect driftwood from the beach? I heated my flat free with driftwood a few years ago.

N

thirdcrank · Post by **thirdcrank** » 24 May 2008, 11:49am

RPI 1976 - 19995

This was the top of google. Shows inflation figures at beginning of 1976 exceed Thatcher's 1980 high. It was even worse in 1975. I'm no fan of Thatcher, but the inflation at the start of her government was all inherited from the Wilson, Calaghan, Healey era. As in 'Crisis? What crisis.'

Plax · Post by **Plax** » 28 May 2008, 10:41pm

Since we're on the subject of camping, I recommend "Shell Island" in Harlech. http://www.shellisland.co.uk/
I've been a few times when my dad has gone (he loves it there as he can take the dog with him). Costs around £6 pp per night depending on the time of year. They always go out of season as my step-mum has an aversion to small children.

With regards to Petrol I've halved my petrol spend by cycling to work most days and I've just recently dropped my speed by 10mph. Waiting for my panniers to arrive and I might even attempt to do the weekly shop.

The main thing that concerns me about the increase in petrol is going to be the increased incidence of crime. Inevitably you're going to get people syphoning other peoples petrol, and if there is an increased demand in small cars you're going to get more stolen. They've already started pinching pensioners oil from domestic oil tanks;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7424272.stm