price of heating oil (to buy, median income, to live)

[Maine Writer]

From Lincoln to Bangor yesterday (March 14), I saw gas ranging from $3.90 to $4.09. High and low prices were in Bangor. Sam's was most expensive.

[mainegrl2011]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Gas tax in Maine is currently .30/gal. With a current average price of $4.26/gal, that comes out to 7% of the cost being state tax. Even at 0% tax, you would still be paying $3.96/gal.

Thank you for the math lesson.

[yaeger07]

If you have a credit card that gives you 3-5% back on gas, you're better off using that than joining any of the loyalty programs. Cumberland Farms gives members $.10 off, but with 3% back on 4.29, you get almost $.13 back.

[mainegrl2011]

Originally Posted by yaeger07

If you have a credit card that gives you 3-5% back on gas, you're better off using that than joining any of the loyalty programs. Cumberland Farms gives members $.10 off, but with 3% back on 4.29, you get almost $.13 back.

hmmm something to think about... possibly but I may beg ta' diffah on that unless you pay off your card (in full) every month and avoid finance charges and does the card have an annual fee... what credit card are you promoting?

[yaeger07]

Originally Posted by mainegrl2011

hmmm something to think about... possibly but I may beg ta' diffah on that unless you pay off your card (in full) every month and avoid finance charges and does the card have an annual fee... what credit card are you promoting?

I do pay my balances off every month. I don't actually know what my gas reward is, but my husband has a bank of america card that I think has no annual fee and you can pick gas to be your highest reward category (which is 3 or 5%, I don't recall).

[Kracer]

Originally Posted by tarragon

I was thinking that we all need to write to Wall Street or the oil tycoons here in the USA. They are the ones that are making out like a bandit. Their wallets get fatter and ours are getting thinner!

maybe reconsider the criteria used to cast a vote????

[Last1Standing]

Originally Posted by yaeger07

If you have a credit card that gives you 3-5% back on gas, you're better off using that than joining any of the loyalty programs. Cumberland Farms gives members $.10 off, but with 3% back on 4.29, you get almost $.13 back.

Sounds good on the surface, but those discounts become bit meaningless as the cost of gas rises.


Example for my subcompact car, which holds 12 gallons: Today I filled my tank for $50.76 @ $4.23 a gallon. A mile away Cumberland Farms' price was $4.13 for members. That's a saving of $1.23 to fill my tank---meaningless compared to the $50 it costs to fill the tank. Savings of 13 cents a gallon would be $1.56. Again does nothing to take the pain away of such high gas prices. The only thing that's going to feel better is a reduction of 25% to 50% in the cost of gas. I used to use one tank per week. I've cut it down to 1/2 tank per week by cutting out aimless drives around the countryside, limiting myself one longer trip per week for hiking etc., and doing all errands in the same trip. I feel bad for people who have to commute to work every day, as I do not.

[Last1Standing]

Originally Posted by yaeger07

Turned our thermostat down a degree recently. We are hoping to get to the end of the heating season on what we have in the tank.

For people on a shoestring budget I suggest your set your thermostat at 60 during the day and 50 at night. Use a small electric space heater in the room you're in. 60 is not torture. I've been doing this for the last 20 years and manage to be comfortable. However, I'm about to go out and split some wood as I don't plan to fill the oil tank again this winter at the current prive.

[mainegrl2011]

Originally Posted by Last1Standing

Sounds good on the surface, but those discounts become bit meaningless as the cost of gas rises.


Example for my subcompact car, which holds 12 gallons: Today I filled my tank for $50.76 @ $4.23 a gallon. A mile away Cumberland Farms' price was $4.13 for members. That's a saving of $1.23 to fill my tank---meaningless compared to the $50 it costs to fill the tank. Savings of 13 cents a gallon would be $1.56. Again does nothing to take the pain away of such high gas prices. The only thing that's going to feel better is a reduction of 25% to 50% in the cost of gas. I used to use one tank per week. I've cut it down to 1/2 tank per week by cutting out aimless drives around the countryside, limiting myself one longer trip per week for hiking etc., and doing all errands in the same trip. I feel bad for people who have to commute to work every day, as I do not.

I think I get why you think a mere 13 cents savings per gallon is meaningless since gas prices are SO high. I look at the longterm accumulated savings. I have saved nearly $100 since signing up with Shell. I am definitely in favor of regular gas going back to the early January 2021 price of $2.19 per gallon (Shell).

[Jellybean50]

We don't have to use the truck that much, fortunately. Trying to do all the errands at once - as many as we can think of.

We have never turned the heat up very high since we moved here, and we always dress pretty warmly in the house. It's an old house with poor insulation, UNfortunately. They came to fill the heating oil on the 14th and it was $4.80/gal.