Daniel and I have been projecting into the future with our disco ball on what the summer looks like. As the days are inching forward, I think we are right… unfortunately. You may need to brace yourself and plan ahead.
We are labelling summer 2022 as the stay-at-home summer for many people. Having worked in the trucking industry for several years and seeing the impact of fuel pricing, we believe we are going to hit this hard in the summer.
During my trucking years, Hurricane Katrina caused significant damage in the southern USA. I was in Baton Rouge about 2 weeks after Katrina and I haven’t seen anything like that. We delivered house plants to a Lowe’s Store or Home Depot that no longer had a roof. Meanwhile, back at home, the fuel pricing skyrocketed.
The trucking services became significantly more expensive to compensate for the fuel. Meanwhile back at home, our gas stations never had sign-changing equipment that went over $1.00 per litre. So signage of the gas stations needed to be updated. Living cheque to cheque, we had to make life decisions that favoured staying home. Finding our own entertainment without spending much money.
As of May 5, 2022, to fill up my car is now approximately $90 CDN. It was about $45 more than usual. For my American friends that’s about $63 USD. We filled up Gerry cans for Daniel’s tractor with diesel being $2.50 per litre. We stopped the pump at $100 and the cans weren’t full. This is normally $50. For my American friends, this is about $70 USD.
Daniel and I work from home, so our commuting is zero and the car last about 2 to 3 weeks between fills.
We’ve seen this before and wait for the hammer to drop onto the glass table. Daniel and my grocery store shopping is now over $500 main grocery store plus $280 at the farmer’s market per month. That is $780 on food alone without doing anything take-out-related. For my American friends, this is $550 USD per month.
We Compensated With Behaviour Changes
Back in the 2000s, we made informed choices not to drive the car more than we had to. We can get bored and are looking to be entertained and when this happens, the hobbies and crafts pick up as people are looking to do something with something they may already have at home.
We also decided to cancel trips and adjust our summer.
What Makes Me Sure
Right now, we are approaching the seasonal low of the hobby with the 3rd week in June being the worst week of the year for website traffic and video views. We are slightly sinking down but unlike anything, I have seen without the pandemic being the cause of it. YouTube is up nearly 1 Million Views over normal for us. It tells me, that people are already figuring out ways to do something with their time.
Daniel and I predicted this about 2 months ago and adjusted our summer plans on a business level to be a “Happy, Fast and Cheap” summer. You are seeing an influx of small projects we are recommending because we believe people may be looking at their yarn collections and using them as time fillers or entertainment.
Daniel was first mentioned to have quick starts and finishes with projects. The Crochet Dishcloth Series was conceived. While we still have our annual Summer Stitch Along, my focus is on smaller things, tips, tricks and things to encourage educators to be creative.
In the Future
We are projecting we haven’t seen the full effects of the transportation costs yet in the economy. It takes a few months and suddenly the products you enjoy may be jumping up in price including anything under the sun. We believe, we’ve only seen the tip of it so far and by the summer, you will see social media lighting up on fire with the negativity of the cost of everything. No one is immune to this, we are all in this together. I think those involved in the transportation industry right now know what’s coming ahead.
Daniel and I are fortunate in the sense of having space to create and play. We have over 5 acres here and Daniel loves to garden. Myself, I’m just happy to screw or hammer something and will assist once in a while. Our entertainment is on the grounds here at home.
We have a local lumber mill around the corner from our home and the wood is a fraction of the price of a retail store. So it makes the woodworking far cheaper and we can get what we need. Their off-cuts and imperfect wood are our treasures.
It allows me to get outside and get some fresh air without worrying about travelling somewhere to keep me mentally entertained.
On the business side, I went through my yarn collection to re-organize and strategize my goals for the remaining of the year. Yes, I have a lot of yarn but it’s also my business to have the tools I need to educate and create. I will be looking at this collection to see what I can do to push creativity with what I have on hand. For you, it may mean you are substituting.
I’m not discouraging to buy yarn but I think this summer, based on the fuel rates, your choices may be fuel versus things you already have in your life. Does it make it wrong… NOPE!
Just keep in mind, that we are all in this together. It’s not a USA thing or a Canadian thing… it’s a global thing. I do see people on social media self victimizing themselves and crying foul at the raising or prices but I cannot see a way around that based on the fuel. We use fuel in so many products that it’s bound to happen. You can scream into social media all you want about the raising of prices, but like you, we are helpless as bigger things or decisions are at play that we have zero control over. For that, this is going to be rough.
This is just our prediction based on metric data we can see and our own personal choices. You may feel differently.
What Do You Think…
Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Thank you Mikey! My husband and I feel the same. Please! Please keep the projects coming! I love your videos and projects!
Hey Mikey,
As a family purchaser of groceries for 50 years I can assure you that prices are not going up every month or so but every WEEK! Not 5 cents, or 50 cents, but dollars at a time. As you know, in the South U.S. we prize our home gardens. This year everybody and his brother are planting like crazy. Heers hoping for time to be with you and the Crowd. Crazy about you guys! (Wish you weren’t right, Mikey) 🙁
I’m the queen of cheap and I’m already trying to limit myself to yarn on sale if I don’t already have what I need. My hubby does delivery (food) and rideshare driving full time. We are really feeling the hurt of gas prices, but so far the income is worth it. If it wasn’t, we’d be homeless.
Mikey, I’m a Gulf Coast girl. Oil production and refining took a massive hit after Katrina because a lot of the offshore drilling sites and refineries are located on the coast between Lake Charles, LA and south of Houston, TX. It happens to some extent every time there is a storm in the Gulf. It’s worth keeping an eye on even if you’re no where close and filling up when you see forecasts of anything tropical in the Gulf.
Yes, gas prices have gone up. I have decided to commit myself to some crochet projects and yard work this summer. Video messaging is the way to go right now to see family and friends. My dogs will appreciate me being home and hanging out with them. ?
Yep, count me in. I love in the S Central KY woods, and I’m a distance from town. I have already cut back on trips to town, and I bundle my trips to avoid going in very frequently. It’s scary. I’ve been paying about $70/fill up. Gasoline went up $.20/gallon more overnight. I’ll be using yarns that I have and will not be paying the higher prices I’m seeing already.
like your article and enjoy browsing through all the small and big projects on the website. i made the little easter baskets for my nieces and nephews. they got a kick out of them. i would like travel but mostly likely in the U.S. since we are still in a pandemic but will have to wait for plane fares to go down a bit. i see prices creeping up on everything so i buy 2 of everything because i don’t know when it will be at that price again and we are still in a pandemic. really enjoy your thoughts and posts. take care & keep it up 🙂
I agree also. Feeling the pinch at the grocery and gas station here in Oklahoma. I agree we are all in this together which brings me to think about being sensitive to people who are having a harder time than we are. I think your ideas expressed here are great. I hope people realize there are ways to have fun at home. You just have to really think about it. It can be done. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Yes, we have already decided we can’t even afford a 1-2 night getaway, as hotels are double or triple the cost and unaffordable for us on a fixed income. Groceries and gas, of course, higher every day.
Like you, we are blessed to have lots of pets and 3 acres, so there is always something to do.
I think it would be fun to have you two throw in a quick video on some of your other projects like woodworking just to spark ideas for people along with everyone’s love of crochet. The quick crochet ideas are great, too. It’s hard to get in the mood to do a big, thick afghan when it’s 100 degrees here in south Texas 🙂
Thank you for finding ways to help offset the increases elsewhere. I fully intend to do stash-busting this Summer. I haven’t been crocheting long, so that isn’t saying as much as it might be for someone who has been at it for decades, but I did get a little “overambitious and overexcited” that first year. 🙂 It’s time to work through it!
Higher fuel costs always bring to mind a phrase used by my parents – “Is this trip really necessary?” They experienced all the rationing during WWII. Life is what you make it. You can choose to make the best of what you have or you can choose to be miserable. I also enjoy the quicker projects. Thanks for bringing them to us
Well said. It will hit some people more than others; already has. My daughter calls herself the “Queen of Coupons” (I was the ORIGINAL Queen!) and that is her reality. She has learned how to stretch that dollar…a GOOD life lesson! We will still be travelling this summer, justifying the price of gas as ALWAYS going up and down, and that we haven’t travelled much in two years, so amortized over that time, it equals out. But I know I WILL be taking projects with me, so small, on the go projects are ALWAYS welcome!!! Glad you guys have your place and business to focus on…keep those projects coming…we all appreciate it!
The inflation and rising costs are affecting what I make. I am prioritizing projects that I can use stash yarn for, and stash diving for appropriate yarn whenever I consider making something (instead of immediately going to the store). If I buy yarn, it’s for smaller projects that I don’t have any stash yarn I can use. The store visits are becoming more rare, because there isn’t as much money left over after groceries and gas.
I so agree with you and everyone regarding our universal situation. I have always been extremely frugal and respectful of all our resources. Pointing fingers and negativity is useless. My parents always said how could we help others that are struggling.
Even for those that don’t have lots of property to explore. Plant greens indoors or in milk containers. YouTube has great DYI ideas. Garden with neighbors, plant seeds and care for your environment.
In Whatever you do find PEACE and be KIND to others.
Have a wonderful day!
Great assessment. I think short projects are spot on too. For me, my mind is heavy with the world’s troubles so, I like to keep it simple and find joy in completing projects. Focusing on the treasure of family and friends (and what I can make them) makes me happy. I’m extra determined to use my stash! A friend gave me lots of single skein, various size and fiber skeins so it’s a fun challenge.
I no longer drive, but my sister takes me where i need to go. She also transports our elderly parents. I can already see the increases in everything due to increased fuel prices. I’ve always been happiest being at home with my crafts and books so I don’t think i will be as affected as many others but if the cost of food gets much higher, I’ll have to make some drastic choices.
Writing from the US (Pacific NW region).
One element that could also be driving your traffic is crochet in popular culture. I see designer crochet items and celebrities wearing crocheted garments. I think folks can’t handle the high price tags on some of the items and wonder if they can do it themselves.
I think you are right on target about the household budget and fuel. Fuel prices will not resolve soon and the full effect has yet to penetrate retail markets fully. All of it will affect leisure budgets, whether that is trimming back vacation plans or fewer optional purchases.
Coincidentally, I had set myself a resolution this year of not buying any yarn. Shocker! I have a significant stash built up by excellent thrift & estate finds, and I wanted to work through some of it. Plus it’s a fun creative exercise to use what one has. I only broke that resolution once in purchasing a few cotton yarn balls for finishing a project for a gift. Other than that, I am sticking to it. Good thing too, as the budget is definitely pinched.
With a family of four to feed, food prices are affecting us and changing our choices. I know that is drastic for some families and I feel fortunate that we are doing as well as we are. I do have a vegetable garden, and we are getting into growing season. We are so lucky to have a great farmers market just 3/4 of a mile away, and we go every week that it is open. Great prices and the quality can’t be beat.
Lucky us, we live in a beautiful region and we will do a lot of nature walks and river swimming this summer. My favorite anyway. 🙂
As to direct fuel prices – My husband has a long commute that is not optional – he runs a retail store and there is no way to work remotely. Our gas prices have increased about 80% in the last 12 months and that’s causes a ripple effect in the rest of the household budget.
So for me, it’s not time to spend on my hobby. I have a lot to entertain myself with this summer.
I think you’re right that folks will be minding their purse strings and staying home.
You are right, the price of everything has jumped up so much. Thankfully it is just 2 of us in our house and we are living in our camper at the moment so expenses are low compared to when we lived in a house but we still feel the pinch at the gas pumps. I too keep my driving around to a minimum, doing all my errands on one day instead of 2, I buy stuff on sale etc and it still gives me sticker shock when I go to pay. I feel sorry for the young families and low income families who have to try to make ends meet. We can only hope it gets better sooner then later
I’ve already started cutting back and trying to be as frugal as possible. I only buy meat on sale, wash clothes and use my dishwasher on off peak hours and freeze any leftovers. It’s already getting hot in Florida so any small projects you offer is so welcome! It’s too hot to have an afghan on your lap to crochet. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to us, the viewers.
Thank you Mikey for this !!! It’s how I feel too !! Like you said , we have to know what our priorities are and put them first !! As for as whether or not it’s going to be a good or bad summer … well, if you’re part of The Crochet Crowd , and with your creativity , it’s going to be a great summer !!! You and Dan have a wonderful day and we’ll see you in your next video !!! ?
I agree Mikey. Fuel is the denominator. I will be looking at what I have to make a few projects with. I’m thinking Christmas! If need be go out and add to that what is needed to complete them. No longer is it just going out and browsing for an afternoon (day) here and there. It’s a shame we have to think before we go isn’t it? However I can choose to think I’m stranded ( depressing) or to realize this is time I need to get organized and in the long run to be freer! I look forward to this time as I have procrastinated enough and that has held me down. Watch out world a new girl (ok, woman) is on the rise!
An excellent article, and I totally agree with your reasoning. As an older, retired, single woman, I try to use what I have before I go buy something else. I’m finding some projects for some orlon sayelle yarn my late mother bought umpteen years ago at Lee Wards!