OPINION: There was a time when car ownership meant worrying about insurance, maintenance costs, and the occasional unexpected repair. But today, my biggest financial strain isn’t the car itself – it’s the fuel that keeps it running. Forget carjackers; the real highway robbery happens at the petrol pump, where prices are rocketing faster than a politician’s promises.
By Monty Quill
WELL, folks, it’s happened. I always joked about it, but now the joke is on me – my tank of petrol is worth more than my car. And if February’s fuel price predictions are anything to go by, I won’t be the only one having this unsettling realisation.
Once upon a time, I worried about car insurance, maintenance costs, and the occasional unexpected repair. Now, my biggest expense isn’t even the car itself – it’s the privilege of putting fuel in it. Forget carjackers, the real highway robbery happens at the petrol pump, where prices are soaring higher than a politician’s promises.
According to the latest reports, fuel prices are about to shoot up like a dodgy pyramid scheme, making every litre of petrol a luxury commodity.
ALSO READ: Significant petrol and diesel price increases looking likely for February
As for my car? It’s been through a lot and keeps on going – loyal, if a little battle-worn. But now, the petrol inside it might actually be its most valuable asset. If I were to sell it, I’d probably just about break even on the cost of a full tank. Maybe.
At this point, I’m considering alternative transport options. Walking? Free, but exhausting. Cycling? Great in theory, but in practice, I value my life too much to risk it on our roads. Public transport? Let’s just say, the less said, the better.
The only other solution seems to be rationing my petrol like it’s a post-apocalyptic resource. One trip to the grocery store? That’s a week’s budget gone. Visiting friends? Only if they’re within a reasonable coasting distance. Emergency hospital visit? Sorry, I can’t afford to start the engine.
And let’s not even talk about the ripple effect – because when diesel prices go up, so does the cost of everything else. Bread, milk, electricity, your will to live – all on the rise while our salaries remain stubbornly stagnant.
It’s times like these when we all start reminiscing about the good old days – back when petrol cost less than a loaf of artisanal bread and filling up didn’t require a bank loan co-signed by your grandmother. Alas, those days are gone, buried under layers of economic despair and government shrugs.
So what’s the moral of the story? Forget investing in cryptocurrency, stocks, or real estate. The true investment of 2025 is petrol. If you’ve got a full tank, congratulations – you’re officially richer than you were yesterday.
Honestly, if things get any worse, I might have to siphon my own petrol back out and sell it by the millilitre just to afford groceries. Who knew that in 2025, the best way to make money wasn’t hustling or investing – it was simply not driving?