Conflict negotiator takes on the big boys of oil
The cost of gas, food and energy have all gone up . . . and there is no end in sight, unless you fight back. You have more control than you think.
By Caroline Neeley Special to the Acorn

Exxon Mobil Corp. has made their second best profit ever, a whopping 17 percent higher than a year ago. No doubt first-quarter profits will be reported soon from Shell, Texaco and the rest of those billiondollar machines.

Of course, soaring crude oil prices, threats of dry wells and any stretched explanation they can come up with to raise the cost of a barrel of oil has helped these companies reach their recordbreaking quarterly profits.

Exxon Mobil Corp. earned $10.89 billion for the firstquarter, compared to $9.28 billion a year ago, and that means higher salaries, bigger bonuses and a feast on the table every night for the penthouse CEOs and corner office executives.

While these lads rake in the loot, honest and hardworking folks like you and me struggle to keep our heads above water. Do the oil execs care that 116,644 notices of default were mailed out statewide for the first quarter of 2008 because people are running out of money? I doubt it! But I bet they knew their profits jumped 38 percent from those recorded in fourth-quarter 2007. And it's only going to get worse as summer approaches and people begin to plan their summer vacations, if they have any money left.

Never in my life have I paid more than $52 to fill my midsize car's gas tank. I decided that I'm not paying for it anymore and took action.

Coming from Scotland- where the natives are known to be champion penny pinchers with the extraordinary ability to sniff out savings- the habits of my meager, yet resourceful, upbringing kicked into high gear. Then, a month later, came the moment of truth: Last Friday, I received my gasoline bill for the month of April.

While cutting open the envelope, I was anxious to see how much I had saved after utilizing my thriftiness a month earlier. To my delight, I'd saved myself $84.23.

"How did I do it?" I can hear you ask. Being the nice Scottish lassie that I am, I will share my simple and humble secret.

I walk whenever possible! It's that simple. To the grocery store, dry cleaner, pharmacy, bank, etc.

If I have to drive, I schedule all my appointments and places I need to be for one or two days a week. Yes, it is a bit inconvenient at times and certainly makes for longer days, but I rationalize it with the fact that I'd rather have the money in my pocket than in the bulging coffers of the oil companies.

Part of the reason why costs have gotten so out of hand is that the public accepts too easily that this is the way it is. But it doesn't have to be.

The cost of gas, food and energy have all gone up dramatically this year, and there is no end in sight, unless you fight back. You have more control than you think.

If you start with the oil companies, believe me it will have a trickledown effect. Fight back, cut back and count me in.

Neeley is a conflict negotiator, anger management counselor and motivational speaker. She can be reached at (805) 484-5134.