It seems every time a bit of stress enters people lives they swear to quit something altogether – or at least alter their behaviour.
Health scares are a great example, where adopting a better diet or getting some exercise jump to the front of the people’s minds. Of course, that usually lasts for a short period of time. Once feeling a little better, old habits and tasty yet naughty foods find their way back onto the plate.
A similar situation exists with the price of gas. News that prices backed off a little this week offered some relief to weary consumers tired of higher fuel prices, made all the worse this summer by other increased costs.
Money has a way of making a point. Less cash or credit close at hand forces many people to reconsider the way they handle their finances. For sure, our connections all looked a little closer at where they drove and why when gas prices kept climbing. While we don’t like paying more for goods, any more than the next person, there was a good lesson here for consumers. There is nothing wrong with being thrifty and in the case of using up fossil fuels, being forced to use less gas was actually a little easier on the environment.
Much the same can be said for other areas where consumers spend money. The advent of higher heating costs had many people looking at upgrading their systems at home and re-insulating the parts of their house that needed it. Truth be told, those are good investments – even if the sense of urgency to combat overspending is the prime motivator.
Lower prices are a relief; however, none of us should consider them a free pass to waste until the next upswing hits.
