Weekly Blog Round: Cost of Driving

Category: Weekly

Cost of Driving Last week, I was reminded that driving in Canada and in major centers can be expensive. I tend to take it for granted since I have limited choices. We did some cross-border pickup of items at a postal office and took the opportunity to fill up at the same time. Here are the price discrepencies I encountered along the way.

$1.42 per litter – In Greater Vancouver
$1.22 per litter - In Abbotsford (outside the region for public transit)
$1.11 per litter - In Sumas U.S.A (simple conversion)

On a 50 litter tank, it costs $71 to fill up in the Vancouver region and it goes down by $10 as you go out. It adds up fast when you fill up every 10 days.

It got me thinking about the taxes added on the fuel and if there was a better way to collect the taxes. The price of oil has been going up and taxes are a percentage of the price which means that more money comes in. In the end, consumers are paying the price for the raising prices of oil compounded with all the levies taken by the different governments and cities. I am all for subsidizing the cost of maintaining roads and helping promote the public transit but the cost of fuel is increasing faster than inflation and it has a fundamental impact on other cost of goods.

Some questions to think about …

How much of a mortgage could you replace if you could live close to work?
Is there another way to collect the necessary funds?
Fuel prices in Europe are even higher, should it be higher here?

Stock Trades

Readers, if you aren’t subscribed to my newsletter, you are missing on my Stock Trade announcement. It’s one of my topic shared with my newsletter subscriber and I’ll have a new trade to share soon. You eventually find out by reading the blog but with the newsletter you get to know first.

Worthy Readings

If you have not read my review of RBC Direct Investing, have a read. It was mentioned by Robb Carrick in the Globe & mail.

Some weekend reading to share …

Andrew Hallam with ‘Millionaire Teacher Adds $29,000 to International Index‘
Boomer & Echo with ‘Home Equity Line of Credit: Friend or Foe?‘
Beating The Index with ‘The “Grexit” Opportunity: Betting on Civiliation‘
Canadian Finance Blog with ’The Problems with Facebook’s IPO‘
Dividend Ninja with ‘Why You Shouldn’t Buy Facebook – Part 3‘
Dividend Monk with ‘McDonald’s Looks Fair Under $90‘
Finance Fox with ‘What Separates Great Leaders from the Rest of Us‘
Retire By 40 with ‘What’s Your Monthly Nut‘
My Own Advisor with ’May 2012 Dividend Income Update‘
Retire Happy Blog with ‘12 Consequences if you die without a will‘

Have a nice weekend!

Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Eddie

June 10, 2012 at 6:30 am · Reply

Thanks for the inclusion!
I hope you’re having a great weekend!!

Steven

June 10, 2012 at 6:20 pm · Reply

Big Picture: If the Federal NDP under Mr. Mulcair has his way we in the West will be paying $5.00p/l like they do in France. Socialism at its worst in Canada under the NDP and Mulcair is a citizen of France!

Processing Gateway

June 11, 2012 at 1:48 am · Reply

Living close to work will surely save you some gas money. The savings will be even evident if you and your spouse work geographically closer. The condition of your car and the way you drive are also great contributors to the number of your gas money. Moving entails a lot of choices and difficulties. Personally, I don’t mind paying additional money gas for a better neighborhood.

Best regards,
Belinda