4 ms·

Measuring fuel economy in miles per gallon is like setting up a budget in months per thousand dollars. Big improvements to inconsequential expenses would resul

by frankus 14y ago

Measuring fuel economy in miles per gallon is like setting up a budget in months per thousand dollars. Big improvements to inconsequential expenses would result in huge mpkd improvements, but they wouldn't save you a lot of money.

lotharbot 14y ago
> "setting up a budget in months per thousand dollars" A lot of people actually do that: given the amount of money they have saved up, they figure out how many months they could get by without a paycheck. Big improvements to inconsequential expenses aren't going to help you save a lot more money if you're gainfully employed, but they can help you last a lot longer if you're unemployed. Huge mpkd improvements matter in that situation. Similarly, with the MPG or GP100M question, use the measurement that's most convenient for answering the question at hand. If you want to know how much fuel/money it'll take to go to Chicago, use GP100M. If you want to know what destinations are within reach for a certain amount of fuel/money, use MPG.
- orangecat 14y ago
  Similarly, with the MPG or GP100M question, use the measurement that's most convenient for answering the question at hand. If you want to know how much fuel/money it'll take to go to Chicago, use GP100M. If you want to know what destinations are within reach for a certain amount of fuel/money, use MPG. Right, and the first is way more common.
  - lotharbot 14y ago
    > "the first is way more common." Is it? Figuring out total fuel costs is the sort of calculation I run once in a while. When I buy a new vehicle, or when I'm planning a long trip, I figure out how much I can expect to spend in fuel. I'm almost always at a computer when I make this sort of plan, though. But when I'm actually driving and having to do calculations in my head, the range calculation is far more useful. Am I going to have to stop for gas between here and there? Should I fill up today or can I wait until tomorrow? Can I make it to Colby or should I fill up in Goodland? This subject comes up every time I take a medium length trip, and several times on a long trip, as compared to the other calculation which comes up only rarely.

by frankus 14y ago

lotharbot 14y ago

> "setting up a budget in months per thousand dollars" A lot of people actually do that: given the amount of money they have saved up, they figure out how many months they could get by without a paycheck. Big improvements to inconsequential expenses aren't going to help you save a lot more money if you're gainfully employed, but they can help you last a lot longer if you're unemployed. Huge mpkd improvements matter in that situation. Similarly, with the MPG or GP100M question, use the measurement that's most convenient for answering the question at hand. If you want to know how much fuel/money it'll take to go to Chicago, use GP100M. If you want to know what destinations are within reach for a certain amount of fuel/money, use MPG.

orangecat 14y ago
Similarly, with the MPG or GP100M question, use the measurement that's most convenient for answering the question at hand. If you want to know how much fuel/money it'll take to go to Chicago, use GP100M. If you want to know what destinations are within reach for a certain amount of fuel/money, use MPG. Right, and the first is way more common.
- lotharbot 14y ago
  > "the first is way more common." Is it? Figuring out total fuel costs is the sort of calculation I run once in a while. When I buy a new vehicle, or when I'm planning a long trip, I figure out how much I can expect to spend in fuel. I'm almost always at a computer when I make this sort of plan, though. But when I'm actually driving and having to do calculations in my head, the range calculation is far more useful. Am I going to have to stop for gas between here and there? Should I fill up today or can I wait until tomorrow? Can I make it to Colby or should I fill up in Goodland? This subject comes up every time I take a medium length trip, and several times on a long trip, as compared to the other calculation which comes up only rarely.