Gas prices are impossible to ignore. They’re plastered on giant signs at every gas station, giving you something to complain about as you drive by those signs every day. What other products or services do you know the EXACT price of every day?

Meanwhile, plenty of other daily expenses are quietly draining your wallet without the benefit of a giant roadside sign reminding you how much you’re spending. Out of sight, out of mind. And evidently, perfectly acceptable.

Yes, gas prices are climbing – and they are not welcome – but Americans are still finding money for fast food, DoorDash, streaming subscriptions, exorbitant cellphone bills and their daily caffeine fix. So while we would all prefer lower gas prices, let’s take a look at reality.

According to AAA, the national average for regular gasoline reached $4.48 per gallon on September 24, 2026 compared with approximately $3.16 a year earlier. That’s an increase of $1.32 per gallon. Federal Highway Administration figures show that passenger cars averaged 10,812 miles annually and approximately 25.6 miles per gallon in 2024.

At those rates, drivers would spend approximately $558 more annually on gasoline if today’s prices remained unchanged. That’s about $46.50 a month, or $10.73 a week extra.

Now, about that $6 specialty coffee…
Buy one every workday and you’ve spent $1,560 a year.

A 2025 LendingTree study also found that nearly four in ten Americans order food delivery at least weekly, with delivery costing almost 80% more than picking up the same food. DoorDash itself reported a median order of approximately $30. One $30 delivery every week adds up to $1,560 annually. So while you are saving time and effort, you are certainly not saving any money doing this.

Then there’s your cellphone – and other media “luxuries” you can’t live without. A 2025 Reviews.org study reported that Americans pay nearly $280 per month on average for internet, mobile, cable TV, and streaming services. The same study also estimated average monthly costs of $57.96 for major-carrier cellphone service and $51.71 for streaming subscriptions. Combined, that’s approximately $1,316 annually. You should ask yourself: do you really need six streaming services when you’re watching the same three shows?

Unlike DoorDash or streaming services, gasoline is a necessity for millions of Americans. Higher fuel prices also increase transportation and delivery costs, so the financial pain is real.

But for households regularly buying premium coffee, ordering dinner instead of picking it up and maintaining subscriptions they barely use, there may be considerably more room in the budget than they realize. That extra $10.73 a week in gasoline? It’s less than two $6 coffees.

Perhaps the next time someone complains about spending another $20 at the pump, they should check how much they spent having a cheeseburger chauffeured to their front door.