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Friday, June 17, 2022

Cheaper than the library



High fuel prices make for some weird economic decisions. I was talking to my  niece and we figured out it was cheaper for her to buy a book online than to borrow it from the library. That’s not an electronic book but an actual paper and ink book. A good part of that is living out in the country where everything is a fair drive down the road. 

I never thought I see the day. The only thing that makes sense is that fuel prices have not been fully integrated into home delivery yet. Someone is eating the cost. That can’t go on forever. Of course, the delivery van is not delivering one book to the countryside but hundreds or thousands of items all over. It’s a lot more efficient than your lone trip to the city library.

My wife is a bit concerned with all the packages showing up at our house. However, I’m getting some stuff delivered while that’s still an economical option. It’s not like the bank is going to pay me any worthwhile interest.

Speaking of high fuel prices, my neighbor was talking about how she really made out with her heating oil prebuy last heating season. She was still paying $2.75 when prices had skyrocketed to over $5.00. She’s not sure if her oil company will even offer a prebuy option this coming winter. 

Just to make things interesting, I remember some years back during another price spike one company had amazing prebuy options. A lot of people signed up and sent in their checks. Oil prices continued to go up and the company just plain disappeared. The remaining oil companies struggled to meet demand as people were left high and dry. No doubt there will be scams this time around too. People have short memories.

With transportation and heating costs going up we’ve got to take a good hard look at how we do things. You may discover weird stuff like buying a book is cheaper than borrowing it for free.

-Sixbears

4 comments:

  1. Most honest companies will honor pre arranged prices....but will make up such losses with future price increases. They have to or else go bankrupt. Many of the current prices we are seeing are based on the costs incurred six months to a year ago. As time goes on prices MUST increase because costs have already increased. Eventually people will be taking the paycheck they receive in the morning and go shopping at lunch....before prices go up even more during the afternoon. That's how runaway inflation works. We ain't seen bad yet, but it's coming.

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    1. I think they will opt for a depression before letting inflation get that bad. Just my guess with the limited data available. You could probably flip a coin and do better.

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  2. As you know, I've been overstocking the pantry here lately...
    One of the canned products , the Mrs. and I like is La Choy chow mein. Unbelievable you cannot find it stocked in the stores. You've been to my town, literally grocery stores everywhere !
    Finally found some yesterday after going to every store within ten miles of here. Then thought of a Winn Dixie out on the island in rich dude country. Low and behold they had lots. Well they did have heh heh...bought everything they had !
    Yup I'm hoarding and stacking it deep in casa de spud !!

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    1. I don't know the last time I've seen La Choy chow mein. Shopping is limited at the best of times in these parts. Sometimes it's actually cheaper to get a case of cans delivered to the house than to buy it in a local store.

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