Economy & Reef

[Pacific Reefs]

Hey guys,

I have had to make some spending cuts due to gas prices and the economy. Do you guys find yourself doing the same thing on your reef tank? For example is anyone making their own 2 part to save on cost etc? What changes have you made to deal with it or are you not as affected? Also do you find yourself buying more frags than large pieces to save money? I have tried not to let it affect my hobby but somehow it always trickles down to the reef tank.

Also looking at selling my car to get something more gas friendly such as a honda fit. Has anyone done this due to gas prices as well?

Tom

 

[chrisstie]

I'm kind of in an awkward place. I just graduated (they actually let me out!) and job hunting right now so saving money has been a big thing for me, and yet I have a margin I've set aside to use credit cards as I will be working soon so it won't be too large of a problem.

My problem is my little 55g is full so I haven't been buying too much for it. The goal is to save for a bigger tank but in doing so go with cost effective long term solutions - LED lights (less heat/power usage) etc.

Even with hubby having a solid job I'm going to wait to get settled into one before making bigger decisions like a car etc. I also feel waiting a little will give auto makers more time to give us better energy solutions in our cars. The cost to manufacter and transport them sometimes outweighs the lighter impact on the environment they were meant to have.

If gas for some reason gets to say, $10 a gallon? Then I'll invest in a motorbike I think.

 

[JUICE!]

I tell you what! I was a pretty big spender last year in the reef hobby.

Now, the slowdown in the economy hasn't really affected me that much, but gas is starting to sting pretty bad! That being said.....I do a lot less window shopping than I used to, so in turn, I'd don't make near as many impulse buys now.

My truck actually gets 26 mpg, but since the lady works much farther away than I, we've been switching rides as hers gets just under 20.

I know people are hurting really bad right now, though. I see many folks doing things that you would think that they wouldn't normally do. My construction counterparts in the residential side are REALLY hurting.

IMO, we need times like this now and again. Even though we are hurting for a while, it really promotes innovations in businesses, and helps thin the ranks in the business field. It's times like this that will make you shine, or put you under.

I've been looking at houses lately.....and while looking at some that are a bit "out of the way" , I've actually been thinking of grabbing a smart car just for going to and from work......either that or trying to score a company ride :-D

thos smart cars are actually kinda neat....and look much smaller from the outside than the inside. It's much more comfy than my dad's miata.....and at a $11,000 price tag....very tempting

on that note....anyone else notice that the rpice of small cars is going up....but big trucks are getting way cheaper

 

[cowboyswife]

We took down our large tank so we could afford the payments for a more fuel efficient car. Id much rather have the car than an electric bill over $300. We took down our other tank so we could put that money toward a motorcycle for the hubby since its more efficient than his car - well that, and he just really wanted a bike So we may be tankless for now, but we have a better car and a puuuurty bike!

 

[JosefDevaty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12621257#post12621257 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JUICE!

on that note....anyone else notice that the rpice of small cars is going up....but big trucks are getting way cheaper

There have been numerous articles on the news lately about the price of SUVs bottoming out. Noone wants them, and the trade in value is really low right now. I just saw a clip on Fox about auto dealers shipping them overseas. Apparently the Germans are "snatching them up". Im just glad I bought my civic a few years back.

 

[orb]

Tom you are selling your car, ***?!!?! Not the A4 i hope. I'm able to average 30 mpg highway in mine. Having to use premium gas sucks though. I would cry going from your car to a honda fit.

 

[chrisstie]

Did the article mention who they were being sent overseas? One of my friends was talking the other day about a celebrity who purchased a more fuel efficient car but it was shipped via plane. The calculations done on the fuel spent to bring the car to America brought its mileage to like 4 MPG. Granted, its the way things work and a calculation done "for fun" for a celebrity but I think the buyer was making a big deal out of it.

Which is good, people should be mad as hell. wikipedia has an interesting entry on Gas, the cost and use across the world. In some third world countries its still under $1 but there are so few who actually use it there.

Has anyone seen the sports car coming out thats going to be hybrid like? I forget the name of it. I think chevy is putting it out?

 

[JUICE!]

I've seen the SUV hybrids....but hadn't caught wind of a sports car hybrid.....kinda weird having those in the same sentence

 

[lusenut2]

There probably shipping them over there cause they dont have stupid gas problems. Us Americans wouldnt either if we would just stop driving as much. The fuel companies can charge whatever they want cause people keep driving or flying everywhere. Im no different, im flying to Puerto Rico in July cause I want to go diving. So there never going to lower the prices if we keep paying them.

 

[damac20]

I just buy more coral and fish when I'm at the store...it saves gas because I don't make as many trips! At least I'm saving money somewhere!

 

[Pacific Reefs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12621497#post12621497 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by orb
Tom you are selling your car, ***?!!?! Not the A4 i hope. I'm able to average 30 mpg highway in mine. Having to use premium gas sucks though. I would cry going from your car to a honda fit.

Thinking about selling the Lancer EVO. I get about 27mpg with the audi but the tranny is on it's last leg. So I don't know how long it's going to last since it costs more to fix the tranny than what the car is worth lol.

 

[Pacific Reefs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12623553#post12623553 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by damac20
I just buy more coral and fish when I'm at the store...it saves gas because I don't make as many trips! At least I'm saving money somewhere!

I have to tell my wife this one...great excuse.

 

[Reefman79]

We are all feeling it...

 

[dugg]

If you really wanna feel the pain at the pump, you should be driving my cars lol. I have a 71chevy p/u, (10 mpg) 70 chevelle (10 mpg) and a 74 nova ( 1/4 mpg ) and i just bought some land and am building a house 200 miles away in north florida lol. I made 2 trips there last week at just over $125 per trip. Even better, gas is at $4.09 for the cheap stuff there already. I rode my bike up once, and it still cost my $35. I am almost ready to just pull the plug on my reef.

 

[surfjeepzx]

There are a few things you can do to trim the cost of tank ops.

1. Reduce your lighting cycle by one hour.

2. Make your own 2 part

3. Feed on a reduced schedule ie. every other day

4. Trade corals and livestock.

All but one of the mentioned ideas takes business away from vendors of your choice. There are many ways to reduce costs but is reducing or deleting a hobby really worth it until it's absolutely necessary? Look around your little world and I'm sure everyone can find areas to trim the fat. If getting out of the hobby is your choice that's OK too. Reefing can be a very expensive hobby if you don't have self control.

 

[chantweaver]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12621580#post12621580 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lusenut2
There probably shipping them over there cause they dont have stupid gas problems. Us Americans wouldnt either if we would just stop driving as much. The fuel companies can charge whatever they want cause people keep driving or flying everywhere. Im no different, im flying to Puerto Rico in July cause I want to go diving. So there never going to lower the prices if we keep paying them.

Actually gas prices in Europe have always been higher then in the US. One of the issues here is that gas prices stayed low in comparision to other things for such a long time. Now we are in a catch up period and it is shocking everyone. Germany is looking at 8 to 9 dollars a gallon for gas. Which is up for them from a couple years ago too. So everyone is still getting hit but US just seems to be getting hit with bigger leaps. Of course most of the price rises when looked at the two markets is in the US and there price rises is false rises due to the dollar getting weaker.

 

[aliciajoshltjt]

i have to say that now that im working about 50hrs a week im buying more and more and actually am selling my bmw because i just bought a kia suv lol. i think i may be doing the direct opposite of everyone

 

[Mrs Smith]

Our tank is still recovering from the move. We are planning to upgrade later this year (and I think I've found that dream setup), but everything is on hold until my new paychecks start arriving. I also have 2 mortgage payments now, which sort of sucks. But we love the new place, and it was a steal the way the market is.

Anyone looking for a house? Nice place, quick commute to downtown, we'll make you a good deal...

Danielle

 

[JUICE!]

I'm looking, but I'm looking at property with a little land

 

[Mrs Smith]

That's what we did - picked up 5 acres. Good luck!