No thanks, I'll walk.

Finally Spring has arrived. My gas bill had increased during the winter months and now of course since it is Spring I no longer have to keep the heat on high (or even on at all). Although heating a basement apartment costs more, I don't think it was any colder this past year than the previous year. Unfortunately I forgot to turn the heat down more often than not. I spent more on my monthly bill than I wanted too but at least it was less than I budgeted.

I take public transit to the comic book shop I frequent (parking in town is a pain) but I do drive to work. With gas hitting four dollars a gallon (or a comic book a gallon) I once again have to wiggle my budget. I have slowed down my CGC purchases because I want to at least send in three different sets of 10 for my own books to get graded before my membership expires but that is not the only reason. I just started to budget $45 on each gas purchase and this is included four times over the span of a month. Chances are I will only use three of the appointed four but that still adds up to $135 a month or five books sent out, graded, and returned.

The New Mutants I need are dwindling so I am less prone to splurge the cash I don't have. I tried being on hiatus for a month and it hasn't worked completely yet. I know of one collector trying for a year (sorry about that Amazing Spider-Man #92). I am not making any more than I was last year but still feel better off. There are at least 10 books readily available I wish to purchase but have refrained. I am simply waiting till I have a little extra cash to splurge again, but how much will gas be then? How much can I actually afford?

Of course do I really need the car? The answer is no but I want the convenience of being able to go where I want, when I want. I'd save not only on the price of gas but on insurance as well. I do live in a city with decent public transportation but if I took that option more often could the transportation cost transcend the price of gas. I just have to figure out if waiting for the bus in the middle of a rainstorm is worth it or not.

The monthly pass would cost me $83 a month, so the money that I save would give me an extra $150 a month, give or take a few extra dollars (due to fluctuating costs) to spend on comic books. But would the savings be worth sacrificing my convenience, because let?s face it I would still need the car in an emergency or to go to my best friend?s house. By public transit that would be a two hour bus trip compared to a twenty to thirty minute car ride. SO that $150 savings is not lowered to $63 which would still have to go towards the price of gas.

Thanks for Reading

Tnerb