Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > The Local Price Thread

The Local Price Thread (Page 3)
Thread Tools
MacNNFamous
Senior User
Join Date: Jul 2020
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 25, 2022, 09:22 PM
 
4.98 here in Wisco. $97 to fill up the van. Woof. Gotta pull myself up by my bootstraps a bit harder.
     
reader50
Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 25, 2022, 11:39 PM
 
I'm seeing small declines over the past week. Like 10¢ drops at one station, then another.
     
ghporter
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 30, 2022, 07:47 PM
 
On Tuesday, I filled up at $4.23 with regular. Today the price is $4.17. I like this trend.

(Darn! I can’t find a way to do superscripts on my iPad…)

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 30, 2022, 07:52 PM
 
Originally, I Googled “9 superscript”, clicked a result, and then selected and copied it. Since then, I’ve copied it from the thread.
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 4, 2022, 01:06 PM
 
I like this solution but intuitively thought ^2 should do it without creating a shortcut.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16mo...nnel=DanWilson
     
ghporter
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 5, 2022, 02:54 PM
 
The “Walmart Neighborhood Market” a couple of blocks from my house is selling regular for $4.05⁹ today, and my regular source, an H-E-B grocery about 3 miles away is selling for $4.11⁹. I’m kinda ambivalent about Walmart gas, so I’ll spend a few cents more and buy from a retailer whose products I have plenty of positive experience with.

Gas Buddy says the local price ranges from $4.03⁹ to $4.69⁹, and they have “this part of town” pretty well defined, too.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
Laminar
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 29, 2022, 10:12 AM
 
Paid $3.42 this morning.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 29, 2022, 02:13 PM
 
I did that.
     
ghporter
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 29, 2022, 02:50 PM
 
H-E-B, my local grocery chain, has regular for $3.38⁹. Good thing too, since this week and next we’ve had to do a lot of driving.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 5, 2022, 03:39 PM
 
$4.52⁹ at my usual burb stop
     
Laminar
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 5, 2022, 04:36 PM
 
Planning to fill up for $3.12 today, we're dangerously close to getting under $3/gallon.
     
ghporter
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 5, 2022, 04:39 PM
 
Regular is $3.31⁹ at my favorite grocery/gas station. Gas Buddy says it’s as low as $3.24⁹ in the local area, but that’s at a non-chain convenience store. I’ll stick with a known-good store and their gas.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
reader50
Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 5, 2022, 05:07 PM
 
Still in the mid- to upper-$5 range here. It's clearly been in slow decline, but has yet to approach $5.
     
Thorzdad
Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Nobletucky
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 5, 2022, 05:10 PM
 
$3.67 last night out on the interstate, and in every town around us. At home, though, it’s still something like $4.14, which is making a lot of people scratch their heads and ask “why?” I suppose the answer is “Because they can”, but it’s really weird how our little area (which is definitely not off the beaten path) seems to be the last place to lower prices.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 5, 2022, 05:42 PM
 
Back in the city the spread I saw was $4.79⁹ to a rather astounding $5.59⁹
( Last edited by subego; Aug 7, 2022 at 05:58 PM. )
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 7, 2022, 10:28 PM
 
Sighted at the MA/NH border: $4.09
     
Laminar
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 8, 2022, 09:11 AM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
Planning to fill up for $3.12 today, we're dangerously close to getting under $3/gallon.
JK I found E85 for 2.34 so I did that. Only managed 10.6mpg towing the car, but still less $$/mile.
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 8, 2022, 12:51 PM
 
whoa.
And that still won't make some people happy.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 21, 2022, 02:17 AM
 
I forget the exact price, but 10 disposable coffee cups with lids was over $9 at the Walgreens.
     
Laminar
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 22, 2022, 10:36 AM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
JK I found E85 for 2.34 so I did that. Only managed 10.6mpg towing the car, but still less $$/mile.
The place with the cheap E85 has stopped advertising its price on the sign. It has three sections labelled regular, diesel, and E85, and the E85 section they just leave blank. The cheapest E15 around here is still 3.01. Towed the boat on E85 yesterday and averaged about 10.2.
     
reader50
Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 22, 2022, 04:59 PM
 
$4.99⁹ at the off-brand station
$5.19⁹ at ARCO
$5.49⁹ at the Stickup

This is the first sub-$5 gas I've seen since March.
( Last edited by reader50; Aug 24, 2022 at 04:45 PM. Reason: added Stickup price)
     
ghporter
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 22, 2022, 06:19 PM
 
The price spread here (my local area) is $3.11⁹ to $3.49⁹ according to Gas Buddy. It's been sort of settling around here, with a slow drift downward but not a lot of change. What surprised me is that premium is as low as $3.53⁹ - but as high as $5.30⁹ - in that same area.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 24, 2022, 12:26 AM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
I forget the exact price, but 10 disposable coffee cups with lids was over $9 at the Walgreens.
Price check on the shelf is a somewhat more reasonable $5.49.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 27, 2022, 12:55 AM
 
Strike that.

I actually ended up accidentally scamming Walgreens out of a few dollars.

10 regular coffee cups with lids is $5.49. The eco variety is $8.49.
     
reader50
Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 27, 2022, 01:27 AM
 
I was going to say something about how "eco coffee cups" sounded weird. What was next, eco cigarettes?

Then I realized bio-degradable cigarette butts would be a gift. They turn up everywhere (i don't smoke) and someone needs to sweep them up. Only more keep appearing.

So bring on the eco-smokes, and I'll lay off the eco coffee.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Aug 27, 2022, 03:56 AM
 
I haven’t seen the regular up close, this particular Walgreens has been out of them. That’s what caused me to scam the money, the eco version was sitting over the wrong price on the shelf.

However, I would guess both types are equally eco in the cup department, being made out of paper. It’s the lids making the distinction. The eco lids are biodegradable and compostable.
     
Laminar
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 2, 2022, 01:12 PM
 
Wife filled up at Costco for $3.049 yesterday and dealt with the ridiculous lines and all of that, I kindly let her know that the two stations near us had it for 3.009...and no lines. Costco used to be $0.30 cheaper than anything else, but apparently not anymore. My last fillup was $2.23 for E85.
     
ghporter
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 4, 2022, 10:54 AM
 
My local grocery/gas station has regular for 2.95⁹ today.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 5, 2022, 01:58 PM
 
$3.94⁹ at my burb Speedway.

Spread in the city was $4.84⁹ to $5.14⁹. We had a nearby refinery go dead.
     
Laminar
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 5, 2022, 02:09 PM
 
BP Whiting?? I was there a long time ago, like 2012ish maybe? Not my fault.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 5, 2022, 03:20 PM
 
That’s the one! Tell it to the judge.
     
Laminar
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 6, 2022, 07:34 AM
 
I remember while I was in the waiting room someone from the FBI came to investigate reports of a man taking pictures in the area. I think he was a wildlife photographer but due to potential terrorism threats they had to investigate any possibility of someone gathering intel on the refinery.
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 6, 2022, 10:17 AM
 
$3.75 spotted in MA and its northern separatist self.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 6, 2022, 05:33 PM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
I think he was a wildlife photographer
Birds do love them some crude oil.
     
Laminar
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 7, 2022, 10:08 AM
 
Filled up for 2.14⁹ E85 this morning. E15 is sitting right at 3.00⁹, no one is willing to dip below 3 yet.

So far it's looking like E85 gets me ~$0.19/mile where E15 would be ~$0.22/mile. That's about a $15 savings per 500 miles driven.

Note that I could be paying $2.60+/gal of E85 if I went to most other stations, I just found one that has it cheaper than everywhere else. Luckily it's on my daily route so I'm not going out of my way to get it cheaper. I'm filling up about 60 miles sooner, though, so I'm doing one extra fillup every other month.
     
ghporter
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 7, 2022, 10:45 AM
 
Yesterday I filled up with regular at $2.95⁹ at my local H-E-B’s (grocery chain) gas station. I went past a Valero (local oil company) station to get there, but their price was $3.10⁹. To me, a 15¢ spread is worth a little farther drive. I saved over $1 in the process.

GasBuddy says the local area price spread is from $2.93 - $3.49. And yes, there are “major roads and highways” in that area, so the higher prices are almost all along those routes.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 7, 2022, 12:10 PM
 
I don't think gas stations near here even sell 85 any more.
     
Laminar
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 7, 2022, 01:37 PM
 
Iowa invested huge into ethanol plants ~10-15 years ago. We have to keep pretending that it was a good idea. On the plus side, E85 is essentially race fuel, so car dudes love having easy access to it. The car I'm building now will primarily run on E85.
     
Thorzdad
Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Nobletucky
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 7, 2022, 05:58 PM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
Iowa invested huge into ethanol plants ~10-15 years ago. We have to keep pretending that it was a good idea. On the plus side, E85 is essentially race fuel, so car dudes love having easy access to it. The car I'm building now will primarily run on E85.
I wonder how the corn mafia feel about Indycar going to a not-made-from-corn fuel next year? NASCAR racing fuel is a paltry 15% ethanol. Indycar is/was the E85 racing series.
     
ghporter
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 9, 2022, 10:08 AM
 
I really wish the “ethanol for fuel” industry used only the non-food part of the corn, like stalks and husks, which are bulkier and have less sugar content, but don’t drive up the price of a food-grade grain.

Seriously, getting the sugar out of corn waste would free up millions of bushels of food a year, while allowing the waste to produce alcohol - and the waste from this process can be processed into feed or other useful materials.

OK, I’m off my soapbox. Carry on…

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
Laminar
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 9, 2022, 10:39 AM
 
What are the main products of corn - ethanol (inefficient use of food resources), HFCS (obesity epidemic), feed corn (we should eat less meat). Seems we could do with a lot fewer corn products.

Don't say that in Iowa, though.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 9, 2022, 11:11 AM
 
Popcorn is tasty.
     
Thorzdad
Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Nobletucky
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 9, 2022, 11:30 AM
 
Cornmeal = tasty cornbread, muffins, etc.
Corn flour (masa harina) = tasty corn tortillas
Corn mash = tasty bourbon
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 9, 2022, 11:33 AM
 
Polenta, too!

I want to like cornbread, but I don’t. Festival’s not bad.
     
Laminar
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 9, 2022, 01:24 PM
 
Originally Posted by Thorzdad View Post
Cornmeal = tasty cornbread, muffins, etc.
Corn flour (masa harina) = tasty corn tortillas
Corn mash = tasty bourbon
Corn tortillas are garbage. Flour all the way. Sorry to by GF friends but you're missing out.

Originally Posted by subego View Post
Polenta, too!

I want to like cornbread, but I don’t. Festival’s not bad.
We got the Famous Dave's cornbread mix to make muffins. It was unbelievably tasty so I checked the nutrition facts...almost as much sugar as a legit cupcake (14g vs 18g).
     
reader50
Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 9, 2022, 02:06 PM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
Corn tortillas are garbage. Flour all the way.
It's not every day, but now and then, I need some Doritos.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 9, 2022, 03:11 PM
 
Tostitos ‘hint of lime’ > Doritos
     
Thorzdad
Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Nobletucky
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 9, 2022, 04:08 PM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
Corn tortillas are garbage.
Bless your heart.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 9, 2022, 04:32 PM
 
Flour tortillas suck. They taste like ghost bread and have the mouth-feel of undercooked pizza dough.

Corn tortillas suck too. It’s not like animal feed, it is animal feed.

However, a fresh, thin tortilla chip made by someone who knows what they’re doing is a heavenly thing.
     
ghporter
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 9, 2022, 10:13 PM
 
Properly prepared corn tortillas are great. Properly prepared flour tortillas are great. The key: do it right.

With corn, the masa has to be mixed fresh just before the tortillas are formed, and the griddle has to be at the right temperature to cook the corn just enough. Too much, and they’re too crunchy, too little and they’re doughy.

With flour, it’s similar, but you need to make sure the proportions are right, especially of the “fat” ingredient. Traditionally it’s lard, but there are a lot of substitutes that work very well, as long as you use the right proportions, which are NOT the same as for lard. Proper temperature for cooking them is still important, but it’s not quite as critical. We did some flour tortillas a couple of days ago, and just used (blasphemy!) a non-stick pan to cook them. They still tasted great.

Also, a “tortilla” can be different depending on where you are, or where the cook is from. Shortly after being assigned to Panama, I ordered a meal that included “2 corn tortillas.” They were tasty, but instead of thin, rollable things, they were like smallish corn pancakes.

So if your cook is from “region A”, and their tradition is corn tortillas that are thicker but still soft, that’s fine. And if your cook is from “region L”, their flour tortillas may be on the small side, and kinda thin, but they’ll still taste great. It’s all about doing the mixing and cooking right.

Spend a few hours with a lady whose English isn’t super, but who everybody raves about her cooking, and “help” her make tortillas. You’ll get really tired, your back and hands will ache, but you’ll understand about tortillas.

Edit to add: My wife just connected some dots for me. Tortillas are like pie crusts; it’s ALL about proportions and process.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
 
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:09 PM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,