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I think about myself as a pretty standard middle class person who's obviously empathetic to those who have less. But this proves how easy it is to be out of tou

I think about myself as a pretty standard middle class person who's obviously empathetic to those who have less. But this proves how easy it is to be out of touch an not even realize it. I really had no idea. I just assumed when you filled, you filled all the way.

mattowen_uk 5y ago
Unless your petrol station is on one of your regular routes, it's false economy not to fill up completely when you have an empty tank, otherwise you are incurring an extra trip to the petrol station. Of course if you can't afford a full tank, and are living hand to mouth each month/week, then you are in the poverty trap where everything is a percentage more expensive for you overall.
- gifnamething 5y ago
  But the efficiency is lower driving around with a full tank.
  - effingwewt 5y ago
    I think not. With a full tank there is less room for fumes to expand. I believe less fuel in the tank means worse fuel economy. Found this[1] from a quick search. [1] https://www.carsforsale.com/how-to/5-simple-reasons-to-keep-your-gas-tank-full/#:~:text=A%20lighter%20load%20does%20require,fuel%20tank%20is%20not%20significant.&text=per%20gallon)%2C%20so%20even%20in,tank%20can%20increase%20fuel%20evaporation https://www.carsforsale.com/how-to/5-simple-reasons-to-keep-....
  - stinkytaco 5y ago
    In addition to my sibling comment, I'd point out that the weight of fuel is negligible in this application, especially in a smaller car. A full 14 gallon tank weighs half of an adult male. You'd save more fuel in the long run by losing some weight, but it still wouldn't be that much.
- killingtime74 5y ago
  It’s expensive being poor. They also pay more fees for financial products and the like. For example poor people use expensive Western Union and rich people use wire transfer
- dsq 5y ago
  Found this: https://theconversation.com/can-you-save-money-at-the-bowser-by-only-half-filling-the-fuel-tank-36260 https://theconversation.com/can-you-save-money-at-the-bowser... Very nice calculation. The results were that by filling up two half tanks as opposed to fully topping off one can get an extra 3.5 kms, albeit with a time penalty for going twice to the gas station. Hardly worh it as just making the round trip to the gas station would probably eat up those kms. To this I would add the wear and tear on the car by having it run longer with a nearly empty tank, something which is not recommnded.
lpapez 5y ago
Well-off people are usually quick to criticize the decisions of "the poor", but they rarely understand the context. For example, why do poor people stand in line for a new iPhone just to sell it immediately upon exiting the store? Its often because they can get it on a telecom-contract, sell it unopened immediately for less than it usually costs to someone else and pay it off across two years. It effectively serves as a quick cash loan with a moderate interest fee in case you can't get one from a bank and are smart enough not to contact the mob. Every time the iPhone gets more expensive, people with a dire need for cash rejoice...
- nly 5y ago
  I know this sounds strange and privileged, but I'd love to see a compilation of tid bits like this (alongside a myth busting element of whether it's really true)

mattowen_uk 5y ago

Unless your petrol station is on one of your regular routes, it's false economy not to fill up completely when you have an empty tank, otherwise you are incurring an extra trip to the petrol station. Of course if you can't afford a full tank, and are living hand to mouth each month/week, then you are in the poverty trap where everything is a percentage more expensive for you overall.

gifnamething 5y ago
But the efficiency is lower driving around with a full tank.
- effingwewt 5y ago
  I think not. With a full tank there is less room for fumes to expand. I believe less fuel in the tank means worse fuel economy. Found this[1] from a quick search. [1] https://www.carsforsale.com/how-to/5-simple-reasons-to-keep-your-gas-tank-full/#:~:text=A%20lighter%20load%20does%20require,fuel%20tank%20is%20not%20significant.&text=per%20gallon)%2C%20so%20even%20in,tank%20can%20increase%20fuel%20evaporation https://www.carsforsale.com/how-to/5-simple-reasons-to-keep-....
- stinkytaco 5y ago
  In addition to my sibling comment, I'd point out that the weight of fuel is negligible in this application, especially in a smaller car. A full 14 gallon tank weighs half of an adult male. You'd save more fuel in the long run by losing some weight, but it still wouldn't be that much.
killingtime74 5y ago
It’s expensive being poor. They also pay more fees for financial products and the like. For example poor people use expensive Western Union and rich people use wire transfer
dsq 5y ago
Found this: https://theconversation.com/can-you-save-money-at-the-bowser-by-only-half-filling-the-fuel-tank-36260 https://theconversation.com/can-you-save-money-at-the-bowser... Very nice calculation. The results were that by filling up two half tanks as opposed to fully topping off one can get an extra 3.5 kms, albeit with a time penalty for going twice to the gas station. Hardly worh it as just making the round trip to the gas station would probably eat up those kms. To this I would add the wear and tear on the car by having it run longer with a nearly empty tank, something which is not recommnded.

lpapez 5y ago

Well-off people are usually quick to criticize the decisions of "the poor", but they rarely understand the context. For example, why do poor people stand in line for a new iPhone just to sell it immediately upon exiting the store? Its often because they can get it on a telecom-contract, sell it unopened immediately for less than it usually costs to someone else and pay it off across two years. It effectively serves as a quick cash loan with a moderate interest fee in case you can't get one from a bank and are smart enough not to contact the mob. Every time the iPhone gets more expensive, people with a dire need for cash rejoice...

nly 5y ago
I know this sounds strange and privileged, but I'd love to see a compilation of tid bits like this (alongside a myth busting element of whether it's really true)