Official Participant in the Youth Media Blog-a-Thon

As a child, I didn’t understand the concept of paying for something by the gallon or pound.

I remember being in the supermarket with my grandmother and hearing her complain under her breath about how expensive watermelons were, as I thought to myself “They’re only 59 cents!”

Other times I remember being at the gas station, where again she would huff and puff about gas being $1.99 and me thinking, “We must really be poor, we can’t even afford to spend $1.99 on gas.”

Now, as I embark on the wonderfulness of growing up and footing the bill to my fabulous lifestyle, I can understand why one would be cautious about paying 59 cents per pound for an 11 lb. watermelon. However, in retrospect I think everyone who can remember two dollar gas would think back on those days with great appreciation in comparison to today when gas is at an all time high.

This national increase on the price of gas is hitting the Bay Area, particularly San Francisco the hardest. So let me get this straight, the toll is four bucks, food costs more (did ya’ll know that Top Ramen is like 50 cents per pack????), and it literally cost me an arm to get to work (I plan on pawning my leg tomorrow). Teenagers, particularly college students, traditionally have a rep for being some of the brokest people in town, but add on all the additional pressures of a falling economy, man, forget a pimp, it’s hard out here for a teen living in the Bay Area!
—Jazmyne Young