BY SUSAN ERLER, Times of Northwest Indiana
Driving 140 miles round trip to work is starting to make a dent in Walter Stojak's budget.
"It has taken a big chunk out of my income," said Stojak, who lives in Calumet City and drives four days a week to Libertyville, Ill., for his job as a computer designer.
Stojak said his family is cutting back by dining out less and spending fewer dollars on groceries, among other things.
The cutbacks have benefited his waistline, Stojak joked as he filled his vehicle with gas at a BP station in Munster.
But rising fuel costs were no laughing matter for local residents who continued to fill up Friday despite pump prices of between $2.59 and $2.65 at nearby gas stations.
Rising prices came as the cost of a barrel of oil rose Friday to nearly $67 -- 46 percent higher than a year ago -- and as more Americans reported the hikes are likely to cause them financial hardships.
A poll conducted by The Associated Press and America Online News found that 64 percent of Americans say gas prices will cause money problems for them in the next six months. In an April poll, 51 percent were concerned about the cost of gas.
Hammond resident Lisa Wilson said she's feeling the pinch, even as she pumped gas into her vehicle at a Gas City station in Hammond.
"It's bad, especially when you have to pay a mortgage, and gas and lights," said Wilson, who has cut back by sharing rides more often with her sister, who lives next door.
Sean Martinez, who said he spent $30 for 11.5 gallons of gas at the same Gas City station, said his family is conserving cash by keeping one car in the garage.
Rising prices are taking a toll on his income as a pizza delivery driver, said Matt Bielat, of Schererville.
Pizza Hut raised what it pays its drivers per delivery to 65 cents, up from 50 cents, to try to keep up with the cost of gasoline, said Bielat, who had pumped just enough into his tank at a Speedway station in Schererville to get through the night's work.
But it's still not easy, he said.
Customers have been helpful.
"Most of the people understand," Bielat said. "They tip all right."
For Ernest Fruehauf, of Munster, the pain is not quite as sharp.
Retired for 16 years from the former Standard Oil of Indiana, where he worked for 37 years, "I'm not tied into having to work every day," said Fruehauf, who was filling up at a BP station in Munster.
"But I would hope that people would focus on car pools," and other ways of decreasing the demand for fuel, Fruehauf said.
Americans were lulled by low fuel prices over the past decade, he said.
"Now it's come back to haunt us."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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