I know it's daunting for our relatives living out of state to think about how much it costs to travel to visit family each year (or multiple times a year). Kanien and I were discussing it, and here's what we came up with. A quick search on www.orbitz.com shows us that we could fly from Salt Lake City to Baltimore, MD for $197 a ticket (that's from April 16-23 2007). So...if a family of three made the trip once a year, that costs $600.00. Yike! Not many of us have $600.00 sitting around to blow! For Kanien and I it'd be $400.00, because Marcella could sit on Kanien's lap, or the Pilot's lap...or my lap! And, if your parents help you pay for a trip like that, it could get even cheaper.
Well...it might surprise you to find out how much it costs to visit relatives when you live closer. From what Kanien and I have figured, we make 2.5 trips a week up to Davis County. Some weeks it's four trips, some weeks it's one trip, but we never go more than 7 days without going up there, and it seems like we go up every other day. A quick internet search and some easy computations reveal the average gas price from July 2005-July 2006 was $2.80/gallon for premium (that's what we use). The trip to Davis county ranges from 60-75 miles roundtrip, depending on where we go, and what we do while we're up there. We'll stick with a value of 68 miles. With a fuel efficiency of 27MPG (a conservative figure for our Passat), we use 2.5 gallons of gas for each round trip (I think that's a pretty convservative estimate, too, as we usually visit both parents as well as store trips and the like). Multiplying that by the average fuel price we spend $7.00 a trip, and $17.50 each week. Multiply that by 52, and we spend $910.00 each year on fuel to see our relatives. I was surprised it was so much.
8 comments:
Sure, there are things I didn't take into account like the fact that we'd most likely be going somewhere if we lived out of state, but I don't think, outside of work and school mileage, we'd drive more than 150 miles a week to do stuff. Any other factors I forgot? Let me know what you think, or if you've got ways to improve my data. (Yes Jeff....you're the king of the Scientific Method...so you'd better comment!)
keep track in January and see if your figures are right. That is amazing at how much you spend - see how much you would save a year if you moved in with me! Also though you have to take into consideration that you don't have to pay a babysitter just the gas it takes to get her here. Mom Dougal
Jeff writes:
Alright, I'll make a few comments about your assumptions. First, we have never purchased round-trip plane tickets for less than about $220-BWI to SLC. This last summer we paid ~$360 per ticket X3. Second, we do not live in Baltimore, MD. Therefore, you have to include two round trip drives in a car for each plane ride (one trip to drop us off and one to pick us up or one trip and the cost of parking at BWI-$8/day). Third, I do not currently have a job. Instead, we live on someone elses money and therefore have to pay interest. In addition, the amount of money is very limited. Fourth, you guys get to see mom and dad 2.5 X 52 = 130 days/year. We only see them on average 3 weeks/year = 21 days/year. Fifth, your parents live ~15 minutes from each other whereas we have to commute >45 minutes between my moms and Ewe Turn -plus we decided we had to rent a car this time to make all this possible - granted with some help :). Therefore, I conclude you are getting a lot more for your money.
Having said this, we agree with your argument and feel you should be reimbursed at least for the money spent during the holidays ;0 I am very grateful to be able to come to Utah and see all you guys. We miss you so much!
Jeff
Caroline writes:
I'd much rather blow $700+ all at once than have to fill my car with gas again and again. How depressing! And plus you spend a lot of TIME driving back and forth. Ya it takes us about a day to travel to Utah, but it's not nearly as bad as sitting on beck street with about a million other cars. I feel for you guys.
If we move to Utah and you still live there than we'll have to buy a minivan so we can carpool.
Also we're not complaining because we love to come and see family and have always felt it is money well spent! And we are greatful for the help we receive, which makes it possible, and the nice family who lets us stay with them. Especially when they take Jeff to work on a scooter every day.
Caroline
Ha ha...yeah...I'm not trying to pony up donations, but we thought it'd be fun to post. Jeff...your point of us getting to see our parents 2.5x a week is probably the most salient of the lot, even if it's the least tangible. I'm so excited for you guys to come...it'll be fun. I've held off winterizing the Vespa knowing Jeff is gonna want to take it for a spin when he gets here!
I'll second that Jeff thinks last summer was the greatest. Every once in a while I catch Jeff staring into space with a gleam in his eye, and when I ask what he is thinking about he replies, "oh just what a fun month it was staying with Jon and Kanien."
You can really learn a lot about how much money your spending when you start calculating. (For the expert opinion on how to do this and to open your eyes at all the ways you may be spending money consult The Complete Tightwad Gazette (I think Kanien has Caroline's copy)).
I think your best bet will be to do the Dave Ward method--buy a bike trailer ($50 used on Craigslist) then bike up to your parents every time you go. The benefits to this are unlimited. First of all with 2.5 trips a week you'll increase your fitness level and immediately start saving on healthcare costs.
Second, you'll save wear and tear on your car, let alone the gas money. Third, you probably won't want to visit a lot of stores using your bike trailer (while in Davis County) so you'll spend less money on purchases.
Now before you start looking at AV equipment to purchase with all the money you'll be saving, consider buying stock in the oil companies instead of purchasing their gas. A $1,000 year investment with a ten percent return (below the average of the S&P 500 over the past 20 years, you could always do an index fund of the S&P 500 if you think the oil companies won't perform this well), assuming you reinvest the interest will be worth $108,181.77 after 25 years!
You may think the winter weather is a deterrent, but with all the high performance clothing now available, I think you'll be fine! I hope to see you on your bikes when we visit!
Jon what does "salient" Mean?
wow that is so confusing and it sounds like it would take along time ot figure out!!
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