[Stardust]

I would usually would take my wife out to eat or go visit the family.

So you stopped doing these things in 2006 when gas reached $3 gallon? For five years you have stopped doing all these things that you did prior to? Besides 2008, when gas reached $4 gallon, gas has held steady between $3.20 - 3.50 with slight ups and downs for short periods of time. I would assume that your salary has not risen in those same five years???