3 ms·

Still seems odd to me. Whether it's $70 a week or $140 every two weeks the total is the same. Only difference is how many stops you have to make, and maybe a 1%

Still seems odd to me. Whether it's $70 a week or $140 every two weeks the total is the same. Only difference is how many stops you have to make, and maybe a 1% difference to the average weight of the vehicle.

dev_tty01 5y ago
It is odd to you because you have never had to live paycheck to paycheck. Many people are barely getting to the next pay day so that extra $70 the first week means less food that week.
- Ajedi32 5y ago
  True, if you have literally $0 cash on hand then it could make sense. If you ever get your hands on $70 though that seems like a worthwhile investment to spend ~50% less time at the gas station for the remainder of your life. Probably one of the more cost efficient quality-of-life purchases you could make in my opinion, which is why I find it odd that it's not more common (apparently).
  - oh_sigh 5y ago
    But "time at gas station" is only like 3 mins per visit though. Yes it's not where you want to be but in absolute time terms it isn't much, especially if a gas station is on your typical travel route
  - dev_tty01 5y ago
    Of course it is never quite that simple. When people are cash strapped and under stress, pure unemotional logic may not drive all decisions. Making a $140 purchase when you know you can get by in the short term with a smaller purchase just doesn't add up to a person in that situation.
  - maxerickson 5y ago
    You aren't addressing the situation the people are in. They are constantly choosing which need to address with the funds they have at present, not simply deferring the purchase of one half tank of gas. Building a small financial buffer would likely improve their situation a great deal. It seems likely that it isn't always the case that the lack of buffer is a choice...
rebuilder 5y ago
If you’ve spent your money on gas, you can no longer choose to use it on surprise expenses and forgo driving. Money is more liquid than gas, it turns out.
dsq 5y ago
I've had periods when the kids were small and expenses high when I would put in just enough gas to go till the paycheck came in, or even try not to drive in those gap days. Stressing and unsustainable.

dev_tty01 5y ago

It is odd to you because you have never had to live paycheck to paycheck. Many people are barely getting to the next pay day so that extra $70 the first week means less food that week.

Ajedi32 5y ago
True, if you have literally $0 cash on hand then it could make sense. If you ever get your hands on $70 though that seems like a worthwhile investment to spend ~50% less time at the gas station for the remainder of your life. Probably one of the more cost efficient quality-of-life purchases you could make in my opinion, which is why I find it odd that it's not more common (apparently).
- oh_sigh 5y ago
  But "time at gas station" is only like 3 mins per visit though. Yes it's not where you want to be but in absolute time terms it isn't much, especially if a gas station is on your typical travel route
- dev_tty01 5y ago
  Of course it is never quite that simple. When people are cash strapped and under stress, pure unemotional logic may not drive all decisions. Making a $140 purchase when you know you can get by in the short term with a smaller purchase just doesn't add up to a person in that situation.
- maxerickson 5y ago
  You aren't addressing the situation the people are in. They are constantly choosing which need to address with the funds they have at present, not simply deferring the purchase of one half tank of gas. Building a small financial buffer would likely improve their situation a great deal. It seems likely that it isn't always the case that the lack of buffer is a choice...

rebuilder 5y ago

If you’ve spent your money on gas, you can no longer choose to use it on surprise expenses and forgo driving. Money is more liquid than gas, it turns out.

dsq 5y ago

I've had periods when the kids were small and expenses high when I would put in just enough gas to go till the paycheck came in, or even try not to drive in those gap days. Stressing and unsustainable.