Watching the numbers climb at the gas pump has become a moment many students at Burke have grown to know well. What used to be just a quick stop now comes with a pause as the numbers keep rising.

For teens, that small screen is a reminder that the daily routines they have are now being affected.

Gas is no longer just a small cost during the week and is now taking up most of their money. This means that teens now have to make more choices on how they can save money better. There are students who have the luxury of not having to pay for their own gas.

Still these people are able to recognize that the prices of gas have gone off the walls. They also understand how different things would be if they had to pay for their own gas.

“My mom pays for my gas,” Ana Gigitashvili (11) said, “If I did have to pay for my own gas, I would most certainly not be driving as much or spending my money on other things.”

The change in gas prices is also affecting how often people choose to drive. Things like hanging out with friends, running quick errands, or even driving for fun are not as simple as they used to be.

Instead, students are having to think ahead and decide if a fun hangout is really worth it. This has led to people not driving as much as they used and staying home more.

“I used to drive a lot more but now I don’t drive nearly as much because the gas prices are atrocious,” Ash Baker (11) said.

Even though the prices of gas can go up and down, the way people think are thinking about driving is starting to shift. When something becomes more expensive, it often makes people more aware of how much they really take advantage of it.

For many students, paying for gas is teaching them to be more careful with their choices even if it means they can’t do nearly half the things they used to.

“If the prices keep increasing, people might find alternatives to driving as they don’t want to spend half of their money on gas,” Melody Ramm (11) said.