A lot has been written about the rising cost of gas, groceries and other goods and services that are related to the cost of gas. With all due respect I see some good things coming from all of this.
I can't tell you how many sports cars and hummers that showed up in our community in 2005, a result of the "easy money" Realtors were making. I saw young Realtors in their early 20's buying hummers, sports cars and expensive toys. Many people told me they know bartenders that witnessed Realtors throwing around money like it was candy and boasting of their wealth.
We have lost many Realtors in our market over the past year that were once on top of the financial world but were not in touch with the true values that have meaning. I truly believe we are seeing some positive results from the current economic crunch.
- We are less wasteful when it comes to gas. We don't take it for granted like we used to.
- We are more innovative. The high price of gas has got inventors and layman looking for ideas to improve gas mileage and efficiency. This creativity would never have taken place if things had remained the way they were.
- Less and less people are eating out in restaurants and actually cooking at home and having more family meals. Imagine that novelty! Can eating together be that bad?
- More and more families are budgeting their money and looking at every possible way to save a few dollars here and there.
- Our children are seeing our example. They are seeing us get rid of our gas guzzling trucks and cars, seeing us work on our budgets, seeing us be less wasteful and are witnessing us eating together more.
- We have become a more compassionate society. I have seen church groups and other private organizations raising money for the elderly and the less fortunate that have been hurt by the rising cost of goods and services.
I hope we will all embrace these positive changes and never forget these positive changes caused by the economic crunch. Good things come from trials and tribulations and only trials and tribulations cause man to use his God given mind and talent.
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Posted By: George Tallabas - Boise Idaho Real Estate Agent - Associate Broker
with RE/MAX Advantage, Canyon Counties #1 Brokerage in sales and listings
specializing in Boise Idaho Real Estate and Southwest Idaho Real Estate.
Great Post. At first I was wondering where you would go. But ,Great Post.
It does have some good points. Now it may be profitable to explore other ways to obtain energy.
Shaun - Thanks and have a great weekend
John - Very true
George...I agree with your post...unless you are in the restaurant business. Then you might not think the same way. Imagine if YOU were a restaurant owner? It's a very unfortunate side effect that people (families included) have to forgo the opportunity to share a dining experience so they can get to and from work.
But, it is making us all think twice about where and when we drive!
Thom and Ray - Again, I ask...how can more family dining together be bad?
And our clients are more respectful of our time. I have clients paying lunches and narrowing down properties they want to see more careful then ever. Good post thanks.
George- What a positive post. Although the human mind fights change with a vengeance, the soul knows it is good for us. Whenever something like this happens through out the history of mankind, good always came from it. You are right. This not only curtails spending for those who are mindful of such things, it also encourages new business and capitalistist endeavors which create income and jobs. Flagged it for a feature.
Conservation is a great thing! It is too bad it has to get to this p;oint before people go back to their core values. Great post!
Sonja - Very true...thank you
Katerina - Thank you my dear friend. I truly value your opinion. I hope you are having a great weekend.
Joan - Very well said my friend
All good points George, I drive a Suburban, talk about a gas guzzler, I spent $50 alone on gas yesterday,and I'm already on empty.
Right on George,
Could it be the era of consumption and excess are over ? Maybe not, but you make some great points.
We had a lady in the local paper the other day complaining that it cost her 83 dollars to fill up her Acura MDX. She said she could buy an outfit with that. Also, she fills up 3 times a week and is a stay at home mom. Might be cheaper if she'd go to work ! Having certain priorities is causing a lot of the complaining, but a different way of living might not be so bad. We'll see how it shakes out.
George, Necessity is certainly the Mother of all invention! Hopefully green energy sources will be thouroughly developed!
Trials always make us better, it's just not very comfortable in the process!
Hope you are staying cool this weekend!
I'm with you George. It's time we start getting aggressive about finding ways to fuel our transportation needs other than with oil. It is a finite resource and it WILL run out! good post! Have a great Sunday.
Good points, George. The price of gas has changed my driving habits. Before if I had to run an errand I would do just that. Now I plan out my errands. If an errand can wait a day or two until I have something else to do in the same vicinity I let it wait. I have never owned a SUV but I still hate how much it costs to fill up up car with gas.
Cindy - We all have to deal with our choices my friend
Bob - We can complain or embrace the positive changes.
Pam - Thank you my friend and my best to you.
Eva - Very well said my friend.
Jill - Change is good when the changes force to make better choices.
It's true that trying times can lead to "trying" new ideas and new ways to solve common problems which can benefit us all in the long run.
Matt - Thanks for stopping by this afternoon and I hope you are having a great weekend.
Hi George! I remember our conversation from about a month ago about our water crisis. You can draw the same parallels to us as to the precious use. We have also been plagued with other energy "crises" since 2000. Las Vegas is striving to be one of the largest "green cities" with all of our conservation.
I hope the prices introduces new products that are less oil dependent in the near future. There is always a silver lining and as momma always says....what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!
Renee - Thanks my friend. We just have put our BIG BRITCHES on and deal with every challenge that comes are way and I know you are smart enough and tough enough to deal with all of it. Have a great evening my friend and a great week ahead.
George, What a wonderful post. I hope it does bring the best out in all of us. I know personally, I have changed a few habits of mine.
It saddens me that the poor struggle more in times like this. Those of us that are more fortunate feel the sting, but can you imagine when your income is little to nothing, and no way to increase it? We are blessed in our business. If we choose to produce more income, we simply do it.
Elizabeth - Thank you for a wonderful and thoughtful comment and I hope you had a wonderful and blessed weekend.
Thats certainly a different take on things - you should send that in as a Letter to the Editor! Its all a matter of perspective isn't it?
I hope people stop taking gas for granted. Energy innovation would be wonderful.
I heard something yesterday morning that McDonalds business is up, Are people having more family meals at home? Or just eating more cheap fast food?
I hope there's lots of room at the tables of those compassionate people for the elderly and less fortunate and for the newly "less fortunate" who lose their jobs at restaurants if families stop eating out... the cooks, waitresses, busboys.
I've put my running shoes on more than once to take a movie back or grab the local paper. Maybe I'll peel off a little fluff with gas being so $$.
Great post George. I can't say that I've cut back as much as I should though. Its alot easier said than done when you have four kids to shuffle around to various activities.
Liz - Thank you for the kind comment.
Maureen - Very interesting and thank you.
Chris Elizabeth - You go girl!
Laura - Do what you can and thats all that matters.
I know it is changing our lives - we pay attention now to use the vehicle that gets the best mileage for long trips. The kids are contributing gas money for all their jaunts. And we are eating at home as much as possible, with no complaints.
Gas prices are what they are. Even if the Govt. took drastic actions today, it will take a long time to trickle down and see any relief, so I have adjusted my business plans.
Clients- I will charge for gas, or pay for their gas if we take their car. What once was "free" now is not, and clients understand.
It is kind of neat though to see the neighborhoods hanging out. Everybody is questioning is it worth the price of gas to to this or that. I lit the grill this weekend and the neighbor asked If I had room for his meat. Im burning the gas, I say sure. Ended up turning into a small party and sharing of all the food. We still had to make a beer run, but instead of two 2 cars on the road, we car pooled.
Other positive- With the cost of gas and the ever increasing cost of Cigarettes (currently 4.05/pack), I've cut way back and will quit soon.
Negative- The resale and trade in value of my F150 has dropped and the resale value for a small compact car (in the private market) has risen dramatically.
I still say though, you can point the fingers at consumers, politicians, OPEC, whatever or who ever. At the end of the day , you are going to have to pay the price, like it or not (or you don't drive). Look for something positive in the situation and run with it, as your blog suggests. No matter what, as long as you wake up and able to take a breath it cant all be that bad!
Interesting view on the rising gas prices. I agree with a lot of it. People are becoming more creative, I just wish that the rising gas prices didn't affect the grocery prices liek they do.
Dawn - Good job!
Chad - I choose not to point. I choose to see the positive in all trials.
Casey - Thanks for the visit and I hope all is well.
Who saw the documentary on CNN "Out of Gas"? If Brazill can use sugar cane exclusively and not use any imported oil, why can't we?
If we are to beat terrerorism, we need to change our foreign policy. It is sad to see that we are only willing to seek out alternative energy when it hits our pocket book. We should have taken it seriously back in the 70's.
It is time for all of us to elect politicians who will fight Detroit and the oil industry, and to not be silent anymore.
Vince
Who saw the documentary on CNN "Out of Gas"? If Brazill can use sugar cane exclusively and not use any imported oil, why can't we?
If we are to beat terrerorism, we need to change our foreign policy. It is sad to see that we are only willing to seek out alternative energy when it hits our pocket book. We should have taken it seriously back in the 70's.
It is time for all of us to elect politicians who will fight Detroit and the oil industry, and to not be silent anymore.
Vince
Vincent - Thanks for commenting and sharing your opinion. Have a great evening.
George, God bless you for such positive and optimistic view on our tough times.
I agree in many ways with you specially when it comes to family value, spending wise, gathering around the table where the meal is prepared with love and care.
I used to live in a family like that. Three generation around the dinner table, (and the rest of close relatives... lots of them!) sharing a meal that was blessed and prepared with love and care. Our clothes made by my mother's great hands, vegetables grown in the backyard, car was a luxury (lucky to have a bike...), money were short, luxuries were the domain of fantasy, but guess what!!! We were HAPPY!
I believed that I left all that behind ,in my early years back to the old Country, almost forgot about them. Hey! This is America Right?
The more I look around me now I see that life is changing (sometimes not the way we expect) and returning to the old times is not that bad after all... Makes you humbled and more appreciative of your life
Arina - Thank you very much for the wonderful comment. My sisters and I did not have a lot growing up but we were very, very happy. My mom made homemade torillas almost every day and my sisters and I would melt Hershy Bars on the old coal stove top. Money and possessions cannot replace those times. I for one do not embrace materialism and possessions. I am thankful for my health and business success but do not take any of it for granted. Have a wonderful and blessed day.
Great post. We were just talking about this tonite at home before I read your post. OUr children as so much more environmentally conscious than us. their experience of life is different too. We are getting rid of one gas guzzler this year, and will replace it with a more fuel efficietn car. Can't wait for the next step to non gas cars :)
Anne and Eddie - Thank you very much and have a great evening.
George: Wonderful, positive post!! There are alternatives which we should have been vigorously exploring and which we will now explore thanks to the increase in prices at the pump.
Jan - Thank you and I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
George: Another great post. I agree with all us conserving. We do lead by example
Dianne - Thank you my friend and I hope all is well.
I believe that all things happen for a reason - and while none of us enjoys paying so much for gas, or paying more at the grocery store, perhaps the reason for this is to teach us not to be a "throw-away" nation. Waste has run rampant for far too long.
I do wonder how this year's gas prices will affect the tourist industry. Restaurants are just the beginning - how about resorts, boat rentals, RV rentals, and all the little shops that live off revenue from tourists needing to take home souveniers? They all have to be going into this season wondering if they'll still be in business by this time next year.
Thanks for a thoughtful post...
Marte - Thank you for stopping by.
I paid $3.99 a gallon the other day. I've had it! When it goes over $4 gallon I'm going to start riding my bike to work. This will probably be Tuesday. It's only an eight minute drive, so the bike ride should be a piece of cake.
Bringing back a little family togetherness will be a great thing for the country.
This counrty has been through tough times before and grew stronger during that time. When times are easy, we get lazy and self centered.
Definitely is all about perspective, I appreciated that you provide us with this set of mind. It is a positive way of seeing today's challenges. Thanks!
I like your perspective in this post George. I hope a creative alternative to gas is found fast! My husband has been biking to work to save on gas and getting his exercise at the same time! There are many good things that are coming out of this!
Marc - I'm sure it will be great for your health, not only your pocketbook!
Kathleen - Very well said. Have a great day.
Carolina - You are very welcome. I hope all is well.
Patricia - I'm sure your husband is getting in great shape! Have a great day my friend.
Renee - Thank you and we all need a wake-up call now and then.
George - Yes, I've been hearing a lot of whining lately about the price of gas, etc. I really enjoyed reading your positive words.
Times have definitely changed since I was a kid. I grew up in a low-income family. I can tell you I was overjoyed to get a new pair of shoes or a new dress for school (even if they were from a second-hand store), and boy was I ever thankful for those brand new pajamas at Christmas... and those were the good days before my dad left. After that, we were lucky to have food to eat.
I became successful and at times I must admit I splurged on things like clothes and shoes, but for the most part, I have lived frugally because I know what it's like to be without.
Today, I try to stay positive in times like this, and appreciate what I do have (like my health for instance), instead of what I don't have.
Sometimes we need to see the good things out of a bad. High gas prices have brought family members together and made people manage their money better. Great post George.
Maybe we will go back to a 1 car family??? Why not if only one parent works????
Tina in Virginia
Denise - What a thoughtful comment. Be blessed and have a great evening.
Lanre - Very, very true...thank you.
Tina - He, he
And this, my friend, is what I call a true Optimist!
Bravo George!
Ah, sorry; Mr. Tallabas!
Gottha!
Ms. Monte...Oops, Mirela....thank you!
That's better, George!
Thanks for always being such a great guy!
Mirela - Have a wonderful weekend.
George, hard times always bring out the best in people. Remember our parents were very tight with their money and kept everything. If we only buy what we need, not what we want, bring our lunch instead of eating out, plan our daily events around our gas, we will all be better off.
I have become my dutch husband....very tight!
Kay - Very true my friend. I hope all is well for you.
What a valuable lesson to learn. It is cyclical. Now is the down time. We will rebound and hopefully when we do we use more common sense.
Robert - Right on...have a great evening.
I'm thinking about staying at home and saving money now a days....lol. Really, I chase the people that have to drive many miles to get to work and try to stress how they can turn that into a better mortgage. Very good post and we're rebounding slowly here in Sumter SC
Bob - Not a bad idea. Have a great one.