Gasoline prices are beginning to fall, thanks to the end of the summer driving season.  This means decreased demand for gasoline, which leads to lower gasoline prices.  This is great when you go to fill up your gas tank at the pump sometime soon.  However, please don’t be stupid and think that this is a sign our energy problems are over.

So many people see prices for gasoline drop a few cents per gallon and think that it’s the beginning of a long term trend.  This happens nearly every year - people have been dealing with high gasoline prices and all of a sudden around labor day the prices fall.  Then these people say: “hey, everything’s ok, gasoline prices are going back down, it’s all good.”

No, it’s not all good.  What did you pay for gasoline one year ago?  How about two years?  Or five years?  Since you might not remember, I’ll provide that information for you, courtesy of The Energy Information Administration (http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publ…)

Regular, Unleaded Gasoline Prices

• Aug 21, 2006: $2.87
• Aug 22, 2005: $2.58
• Aug 23, 2004: $1.85
• Aug 25, 2003: $1.69
• Aug 26, 2002: $1.36
• Aug 20, 2001: $1.39

The Common Sense Investor just posted a list of the Top Five Ways People Waste Money, beyond being shopoholics.  The list is actually numbered to six, and is missing number five, but I won’t hold that against the author.  I posted a few of my own financial tips on gimme-five a while back (check the comments, too), and they are very related to this list.

The list includes:

1. Buying unnecessary insurance.
2. Buying warranties that cost as much as the product.
3. Paying easily avoided fees.
4. Buying after solicitation
5. Not maximizing the power of your money

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Workplaces that are fortunate enough to have air conditioning face a dilemna. That dilemna is that no matter what temperature the air conditioning is set at, there will be people who feel it is too cold or too hot. Some people will bring fans in and claim they are sweating buckets every day when the temperature is set at 80 degrees, and others will claim they can’t type because their fingers are frozen when the temperature is set at 70 degrees. Basically, employers can’t make everyone happy when it comes to the temperature of the workplace.

However, many workplaces err on the side of expensive when it comes to air conditioning or heating. I’m currently sitting in an office with a temperature near 70 degrees. It doesn’t bother most people, including myself, but a small number of people insist that they are freezing. If the temperature is brought up higher, most people don’t care, but a small number of people insist that they are burning up.

Changing your own oil is a great way to save money and get a feel for how your car works. I had no idea how to do it until a few months ago when my girlfriend taught me. Stop laughing.

Anywho, the annoying thing about changing the oil is that you have to get under the car. Putting a jack under the car or driving it up onto a ramp is annoying, and taking the plug out of the oil pan almost always yields oil on your arm.

Fortunately, you can buy the Topside Oil Changer for $45 from Amazon. It isn’t really worth it if you have a jack or ramps for your car already, but if you are just thinking about starting to change your own oil and don’t have supplies yet, this is a great way to start.

via kk.org

Get Rich Slowly has published a list of ways to stay cool without spending too much money. It’s been a very hot summer so far, and with energy prices skyrocketing, some of these tips, such as drinking ice water, eating popsicles, spraying yourself with water, and staying on the lowest floor of your house, might be very useful.

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