Fuel prices are lower than they have been in about four years nationwide, but many Coos County residents said they aren’t drastically changing their spending habits. Fifteen locals were asked how they’ve changed their behaviors with the decrease, how much they are saving per month, if they think fuel prices will spike and what they’re spending their fuel savings on. Here’s what they said:
Melinda Vestnys, 43, Coos Bay
Melinda Vestnys
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “It hasn’t. Just because gas is low doesn’t mean anything else has changed. I’m still doing my trips in one loop instead of going every day and running errands.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “Probably $50 to 100 a month, I think.”
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A. “Oh yeah. I think it was just a tease. I think they brought down gas so people would spend more for the holidays, to tell you the truth.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “My bills.”
Patrick Livingston, 33, North Bend
Patrick Livingston
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “Not real severely. We drive mostly for business and we have to drive regardless of whether it’s expensive or cheap. If anything, I’m retaining the frugality I had before. You’re used to saving. I’ve learned not to take the prices for granted.
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “A lot. Between $50-100.”
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “Definitely. I think the worst thing that could possibly happen if we take the fact that the prices are better for granted (is that) our increased demand is just going to shoot the prices right back up. I think we need to learn our lesson and respect a limited resource.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “Presents, Christmas, the holidays — every dime. It’s actually not a good season for extra money.”
Amanda Husted, 21, Coos Bay 
Amanda Husted
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “I’m a lot calmer now knowing that I have money for gas. I’m able to drive up to Salem to visit my family more.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “One-hundred and fifty, easy. I did a lot of traveling.”
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “With Obama being in the presidency, it probably might go up just a little bit, but not like Bush.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “My kids, my pregnancy, my car — getting my window fixed.”
Barbara Dodrill, 81, Bandon
Barbara Dodrill
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “I try to maintain my conservation efforts but I must admit, when they told me that I had to come up here a couple times a week for physical therapy, I wasn’t nearly as concerned. That’s a lot of gas.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “I’d say I’m probably saving $50 to 100 a month.
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “Oh yes, without a doubt. It may not be tomorrow, but they will go back up. Unless they come up with an alternative energy source, then they would probably stay this way or maybe go down. It depends on how that is embraced by the public.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “I hope I spend it on traveling (or) probably give it away.”
Matt Givens, 22, Coos Bay
Matt Givens
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “Not really much. I obviously really enjoy having cheaper gas, but it hasn’t done a whole lot to the budget. I drive the same as I did before.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “Maybe 30 bucks a month.”
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “I don’t think it’s going up in the near future. It might eventually climb a little, but I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon. I think the decrease in the gas prices has something to do with the failing economy and just the fact that the gas companies are realizing they need to drop their prices.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “Christmas presents right now.”
Beth Keller, 36, North Bend
Beth Keller
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “I think it’s made me a little less stressed. I’m definitely happier about it. Instead of spending $30 or 40 a week, I’m only having to spend $10 to 15.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “Easy $100.”
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “That’s what scares me. I almost think because it’s Christmas time and they want to stimulate the economy by everyone going Christmas shopping and having that little bit of extra money that after Christmas the prices will probably go right back up.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “I’m not having to actually borrow money or work for my brothers cleaning their houses like when the gas prices went up. I’m not having to find extra money.”
Abigail Houston, 37, Hauser
Abigail Houston
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “I drive a Prius, so I’m already eco-friendly. As far as my behavior, it hasn’t really changed.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “If you’re not paying one way, you are paying another. Probably very negligible — 50 bucks, maybe.
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “Oh certainly. Of course I do.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “I’m not. I’m being really conservative this year. I’m doing my best to save.”
Daniel Knight, 23, Coos Bay
Daniel Knight
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “I guess I’m doing the same because I have a Toyota Corolla. It went from $30 to $10 to fill up my tank. I can’t say it made quite a difference at all. I still drive the same.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “Considering I fill up my tank about twice a month, about $40.”
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “Yeah, I don’t think it’s going to stay that way for long. I think it has something to do with the bailout.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “My phone bill and my cable bill and presents.”
Ed Johnson, 52, Coos Bay
Ed Johnson
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “It hasn’t.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “About $80 a month.”
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “Yes, absolutely. I think it’s been lowered fallaciously. They did it just to appease people.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “It just goes back into the household kitty for necessities. I don’t think $80 is much in the big picture.”
Ernie Hembree, 42, Myrtle Point
Ernie Hembree
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “I drive a lot more. Basically, we dropped down to the one economy car and basically it feels like I have a drivers license again.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “At least $150 to 200 a month. We had to really budget our gas. My wife is a school bus driver in North Bend and it was getting to the point where we were going to have to decide whether to keep her job because of the price of gas.”
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “Yeah. I’m hoping it doesn’t. I got the feeling that it was planned for the election and it didn’t go the way the Republicans wanted.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “It’s going back into paying bills. It’s not like we’re in a windfall or anything. ... We’re back to breaking even — before, we were going into debt.”
Darrin Parkhurst, 20, Coos Bay
Darrin Parkhurst
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “ I’m a Dominos delivery driver. I don’t have to fill up as much. It’s really nice it’s getting lower as the holidays near so you can spend more on Christmas presents.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “At least $100 a month, probably.
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “Yeah, probably after a while at least within the year.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “Nothing really. I’m saving my money now.”
Dick Schneibel, 71, North Bend
Dick Schneibel
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “The wallet. I have a little PT Cruiser and it used to cost me $45 to fill it. Now it costs me $22 or 23. Plus, I have a Cadillac, which takes premium gas and we don’t even drive it. Now we will.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “Summertime, we’re probably saving $50. Now it’s probably not very much because we don’t leave town.”
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “I don’t think so, not for a while. I think it’s going to still go down. I feel the oil companies have made their money. I think the gas situation is a real touchy thing for people. They say there’s a gas shortage and we’re fighting a war in an oil rich country. We’re not getting any benefits from it except losing our troops over there.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “Christmas stuff.”
Dan Gordon, 47, North Bend
Dan Gordon
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “Not very much, actually. I drive around a little more maybe, but not much.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “Probably $60.”
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “Yes, I think it will go up. I don’t think it will be as high as it was, but I definitely think it will go back up.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “Christmas.”
Eugene Leblanc, 38, North Bend
Eugene Leblanc
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “(I’m) able to go and drive more to get things done. Usually we’d stay at home but now that gas prices are down, we’re out more. Spending a bit more than we probably should.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “At least a couple hundred.”
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “Yeah, I do. Because it’s gone down before and it always seems to go right back up. I’m just glad because we drive a gas guzzler as it is, so it’s kind of nice to see the prices down.’
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
A: “There are a few bills we’re catching up on, but it’s mostly Christmas.”
Janet Ball, 36, Coos Bay
Janet Ball
Q: How has the decrease in gas prices changed your behavior?
A: “I don’t have to sit in the house, I can go places.”
Q: How much do you think you are saving per month?
A: “Probably like $100 bucks or so, easy.”
Q: Do you think the prices will go back up?
A: “Yeah, because I think Bush is doing it ... because he’s making money off of it. Obama will raise it up probably, but it won’t go as high as it has but it will go up.”
Q: What are you spending your extra money on?
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