Rather than a maximum spend for petrol, we need a minimum

[KingsleyShacklebolt]

Lots of talk of rationing petrol to deal with the people who are panic buying.

I would suggest an alternative approach - a minimum spend. I filled my car yesterday, it's a big mum bus MPV thing so takes £60 - £70 of diesel to fill up. And before anyone asks yes I did need to fill it, it was well into the red.

But the woman in front of me and the man adjacent spent less than £10 each. So their car was clearly not empty.

So why not have a minimum spend? Say £20 or £30? It would stop people topping up every couple of days "just in case". Would stop people filling jerry cans. People aren't going to keep filling up jerry cans or topping up every day if they know that their couple of litres is going to cost £30.

@KingsleyShacklebolt

Nah, I'm not apologising.

Because I just don't believe that EVERYONE who is filling up a tenner is doing so because they can't afford more.

Doesn't fit the lefty rhetoric of MN though, that everyone is using foodbanks and everyone is on the breadline because of the nasty tories - and no, before there's another pile on, I don't vote for them either.

Most people are not living paycheck to paycheck. Even the Uber-lefty Big Issue says 23% of people are living in poverty. Therefore, 77% of people are not. And you could probably argue that people who are very poor are less likely to have a car anyway.

But it does seem a minimum spend is unworkable for a whole host of other reasons, and agree that petrol station workers shouldn't be policing it. But rationing petrol comes with its issues too, if you're someone who has a high weekly mileage, your £30 might only last a couple of days and you're back queuing again.

Shit. Nearly a quarter of people living in poverty is utterly horrifying and shocking.

I've had times in my life when I've been on a good salary and times when I've been on benefits. At those latter times, £30 in the. At would have left no money for food.

Well that goes deeper into how you define poverty doesn't it, and I don't think anyone can agree on that definition.

Every heard the phrase “when you’re in a hole stop digging” op?

Absolutely no clue. It’s shocking.

This thread is horrible and has shown up shocking levels of ignorance and privilege from some posters.

No not everyone is only filling up a tenner because that's all they can afford. Some are just wankers.

But how would you propose finding out to ensure the minimum spend wasn't imposed on the poor ones?

I don't know why everyone is so bothered. Give it 3 or 4 days and everyone will be at work and have a full tank. The petrol stations will fill back up and it'll be normal again.

This was just a ploy by the petroleum industry to ramp up sales and price increases, as there's a glut at the moment (less car journeys due to WFH)

Some people only put in what they can afford to spend…. How clueless can someone be? Not everyone can afford to fill up their tank or to spend £70 when they feel like it.

Just to throw my two cents in…
In my first job as a junior doctor I could only afford £8 in my car the day before payday
I’d used all my savings, overdraft and credit facilities paying a deposit for a flat, getting a cheap runaround, and feeding myself. I literally only had the £8 left out of my piggy bank!
I wouldn’t claim I was in poverty at the time but I still obviously couldn’t have put £50 in.
Now our car just about takes £30 worth, so again we’d have to run to seriously empty to be able to fill £30.

I’ve got half a tank now but need to top up one weekday as we have a motorway journey to do next weekend- under this I wouldn’t be allowed- I’d have to use my £15 and then stop at motorway services to pay a premium.

The idea was very ill thought out and I think defending excessive car use because you have teenagers and calling everyone a lefty isn’t making the OP look very sensible.

Some people are on benefits and get those paid weekly. These benefits are set at a minimal level and it’s hard for people on benefits to save up extra money in a lot of cases.

Some people are paid weekly. Not everyone even today is paid monthly. Such people budget week by week and that includes petrol.

Not everyone lives somewhere with a bus or train service.

In rural areas people are likely to have to travel further to access essential services. And this, use their cars more.

Oh I forgot.

It is possible to put teenagers (even when they’re bigger than you) in a small car that isn’t a “mum bus”.

Teenagers who are old enough to get a job and where there is public transport available, are old enough to use that public transport.

I put £10 worth in my car on Friday. I genuinely can’t afford any more than £10 until I get paid on Thursday. Shoot me

@Suitcaseseverywhere

Oh I forgot.

It is possible to put teenagers (even when they’re bigger than you) in a small car that isn’t a “mum bus”.

Teenagers who are old enough to get a job and where there is public transport available, are old enough to use that public transport.

But seriously. Why would you. Why when you have a car sitting there, which can transport your child to their job in 20 minutes, would you send them off to spend 90 minutes on a bus?

That's just perverse thinking. Why make things harder for a teenager in their first job just to ...... I don't know, prove a point? Make them do what you had to do back in the day?

Same as I drop my son at the station if he's on his way to Uni and I was needing to go out at some point anyway. Because it's no skin off my nose and there's no point in making him walk if I would have been driving past the station anyway.

Some people are very odd.

@toomuchlaundry

They should stop people filling up jerry cans to start with

I had to take a friend to fill a Jerry can yesterday as her car didn't have enough to get to the nearest open petrol station. What else was she supposed to do? I filled my car up at the same time (which was also nearly empty). We had both been walking and using bikes to avoid using the cars but she has to work next week so I think her using a Jerry can to get her far enough to fill up was perfectly reasonable under the circumstances 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Suitcaseseverywhere

Oh I forgot.

It is possible to put teenagers (even when they’re bigger than you) in a small car that isn’t a “mum bus”.

Teenagers who are old enough to get a job and where there is public transport available, are old enough to use that public transport.

Yep.

We used to take it in turns to drive to ruby fixtures, you can get three props and two wingers in a yaris.

@Flufferty but surely it’s just the same budget to put £50 in now and it’ll do you to next pay day?

Maybe you should take in ironing to get the £50?

(I know it’s not - but that’s how ridiculous posters are being)

I’d rather be short of money than take in ironing 😂. And I already work full time and overtime.

Not everyone can afford to run a gas guzzler, filling up with 70-80 quid a time. I put a tenner in yesterday as I’m skint snd don’t get paid till Thursday. Maybe the way things are just now, there should be a maximum? Share the fuel out. Not the greedy pigs who are filing Jerry cans as well!!

Some people on this thread have no concept of what being skint is. Reminds me of a mate I had in my twenties who'd invite me out somewhere and I'd say I was skint, and she'd say 'but it's only a fiver..' Erm; skint means I have zero money. Not a small amount of money, zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

So when people say they only have a tenner for petrol, they mean they only have a tenner for petrol. It has nothing to do with budgeting better and everything to do with living on a minimum wage/benefits/weekly income.

If you ban cans how do you fill up petrol fuelled lawnmowers etc

I don't think you can have a minimum price because of budgeting purposes

you can get three props and two wingers in a yaris.

Ta for the much-needed light relief @Simonjt (you ARE Alan Bennett & I claim my £5)

@KingsleyShacklebolt

Lots of talk of rationing petrol to deal with the people who are panic buying.

I would suggest an alternative approach - a minimum spend. I filled my car yesterday, it's a big mum bus MPV thing so takes £60 - £70 of diesel to fill up. And before anyone asks yes I did need to fill it, it was well into the red.

But the woman in front of me and the man adjacent spent less than £10 each. So their car was clearly not empty.

So why not have a minimum spend? Say £20 or £30? It would stop people topping up every couple of days "just in case". Would stop people filling jerry cans. People aren't going to keep filling up jerry cans or topping up every day if they know that their couple of litres is going to cost £30.

Why does it being in the red mean you need to fill it right up? You could have out £30 in and left some for everyone else.

They should stop people filling up jerry cans to start with

I also had this view until I read this thread. Obviously some people are stock piling like they did with toilet roll but some genuinely need it for farm equipment or if they’re a professional gardener. So unless they is a way to police it then I will stop judging them. I don’t think cutting your grass and things should be done right now as things like that can wait a few days.

[quote ineedsun]@Mummyoflittledragon
In fairness, presumably no ones going to die if the grass doesn’t get mowed this week?[/quote]
No not this week and he doesn’t intend to fill up the can as the bad weather is coming. But it’s the lack of critical thinking. Ban x forever and a day as it’s stockpiling.

@KingsleyShacklebolt Yes people are odd especially those who have no concept of us mere mortals who only have £10 available to but fuel. You obviously live a privileged lifestyle.

@KingsleyShacklebolt Most people are not living paycheck to paycheck. Even the Uber-lefty Big Issue says 23% of people are living in poverty. Therefore, 77% of people are not. And you could probably argue that people who are very poor are less likely to have a car anyway.

Omg you get thicker with every argument. I will say it again.

Just because you are not living in poverty means you have disposable income!

Many people are not living in poverty who are living pay check to pay check!

I earn over £30k and am already £300 overdrawn. I live on my own in an expensive city, so much of my expenses go to paying bills on my own. You could say it's 'my choice' to live like this, but at my age I need my own space and can't do house shares anymore.

I'm happy as I am. But I will always point out stupidity when I see comments like yours where you cannot seem to grasp that there is a whole middle group of people between those in poverty, and those who are well off.