Avoid overreacting to changes in gas prices

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It’s pretty upsetting to go the gas station these days. You used to know roughly what a fill up should cost. But lately, you’ve seen that price go up $10, $20 or more per tank.

Suddenly, Clark’s “Franken-Prius” — the Prius he had converted with an after-market battery kit to be a plug-in hybrid averaging about 105 mpg — no longer seems so kooky. And those who thought he was eccentric at first are no longer laughing…they want more info!

But Clark wants you to know that this cycle is the normal rhythm of ups and downs in oil prices. Much of the price fluxuations now depends on factors that are completely out of our control now, such as China’s demand, what’s going on in the Middle East, etc. 

Over time, certain decisions can help you regain a bit of the control we’ve lost– how far to live from work, what to drive, etc. But a snap decision right now is not called for. Reacting emotionally to the price of gas right now without doing the math is not be a smart move. In most cases, does it make sense to sell your gas guzzler for an efficient car? Usually, only if it’s time to replace it anyway.

When you factor in what it truly costs to buy, operate and maintain a vehicle, gasoline is just one part of the equation.

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