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Friday, December 21st, 2007 08:28 pm
So I found that library book I was looking for. It was due today. Bummer.

So, do I drive to the library tomorrow and return it? Well... I already owe a 15 cent late fee, because I'm not going to drive out there tonight. So if I wait until Wednesday, when I'm back at work*, my fee will be $0.75, $0.15 for each day it's late. They may or may not charge me a late fee for Monday or Tuesday because they are closed, but at the most it'll be $0.75.

Now, the closest library** is about 5.5 miles away. Gas is hovering around $2.80 a gallon, and my car gets about 20 miles to a gallon with a nice tail wind and if I don't drive like a maniac. There's also that business about the $0.45 per mile 'depreciation' on your car, but we'll leave that out for now.

So to return the book I'd have to drive a total of 11 miles. That would take 0.55 gallons of gas, for a cost of... $1.54.

The smart thing to do is to wait. It's amazing how, even when people are complaining about the price of gas, they don't bother to do the math on things like that. Even when gas was 'cheap' I factored it in to the 'cost' of an evening, especially if it was a trip downtown or north of the river.

Anyway, I found $1 coin on the floor at work today (YAY!). I think I'll just pass that on to the library on Wednesday...

* For those of you who don't know, I work 100 feet from a library, so there is no 'cost' involved in me going there on Wednesday.

** My hubby just informed me that there's a library drop off at the grocery store down the street. It's 0.82 miles away, so the cost would only be $0.23 - a savings of $0.37 over paying the late fee. That, however, is a 'gas alone' cost - if you factor in wear and tear on your car the 'cost' goes up to $0.75. So if we do go anywhere and we're going by anyway, I might. But really I think this just gives me every right and a good excuse to be lazy. ;)
Saturday, December 22nd, 2007 04:26 am (UTC)
Psst. You're crazy.
Monday, December 24th, 2007 03:07 am (UTC)
Are you JUST NOW realizing that? :O
Sunday, December 23rd, 2007 12:40 am (UTC)
ohhh my that's a lot of math. you're an engineer right?

Your husband came through with the winning info in the end!

The library drop off at the grocery store!

I found a book I'd completely forgotten in my car. I've started using the Berkeley Library and so I haven't checked my account. Oopsy. Oh well, I figured it's a good donation to the library...all the fines I will be paying on it. There's also a grace period. Maybe I should look it up and see if we're still in the Christmas Amnesty period.

lol
Monday, December 24th, 2007 03:07 am (UTC)
Yes, yes I am. I'm not afraid of math! I love it, actually.

I'm with you, I don't mind paying the occasional fine, considering the amount they save me on book purchases!
Sunday, December 23rd, 2007 12:49 am (UTC)
I would cheat and use your math calculations except that our gas (near SF California) is $3.79 and it's more expensive inside the city of San Francisco.

Ya'll are saving $.99 cents per gallon on gas.
Monday, December 24th, 2007 03:06 am (UTC)
Your gas prices are crazy and second only to Hawaii!
Monday, December 24th, 2007 02:35 am (UTC)
I'm late to the game, but why not check your account online and renew the book there? That way you can have it longer and save yourself the trip. Or at least, the late fee, when you can return it on Wednesday.

I wonder what you did. :)
Monday, December 24th, 2007 03:06 am (UTC)
It has holds, so that's not possible. :) Otherwise, I totally would have. I really don't mind giving the library money now and then, I was just trying to justify my laziness... :D