High gas prices have changed our lives

To the Editor:

In January 2011, the price of gasoline was $3.00 per gallon. That same year, it reached about $4.00 in May! This year, 2013, gas prices rose about $1.00 between January and March.

“So elevated prices are likely here to stay,” says Rob Wile, from Business Insider. These outrageous prices are hitting Americans hard, affecting their whole lifestyle.

Everybody is getting affected by this, even the people who don’t drive. I’m 12 and my parents have been talking about gas prices a lot lately. Usually, I get the flashback to when gas was 50 cents a gallon.

I used to think, I honestly don’t care but now I see why these memories are so precious. My entire family is feeling the wrath of these prices, even the pets.

My parents have a minivan and a truck. A minivan and a truck do not get good gas mileage — at all. Because of their continuous need to fill the tank, we don’t get to do much for fun. My parents are always trying to take my brother and me on trips to fun places but they use their money wisely.

All right, here’s an example: Dad forgets to get cereal at the store. There will not be another trip to the store; we just won’t have cereal for that time.

Also, since my brother and I constantly have to be driven to sports and friends’ houses, we’re always carpooling. The great part is, my friends’ parents feel the same way as mine do so it’s not like we’re the only ones.

Another problem is I will be driving pretty soon and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to pay that much money for me to drive around! Honestly, I think I would just live in my house and pretend to be a germ fanatic — just kidding. But, seriously, I don’t think I would go to very many places.

Sometimes I feel like the government should invest in a car that doesn’t need gas to run. Then nobody would have to pay for gas and worry about how good his car’s gas mileage is. That would save us so much money, right? Well maybe not.

New electric cars have been released but they can cost over $100,000! We need to start investing in new “green” energies, whether it’s the government or private companies. Their solution needs to be innovative and enough to lower the price, but still be reasonable.

I just hope everything will be together by the time I start to drive.

Madison Macchiarella

Guilderland

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