Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Antonio in the Bee
Folks feel pinch--and pinch pennies
Here's how some cope as high costs hit home
Sacramento piano tuner Antonio Bombal spends about two hours on the road each day, and he says his gas costs have nearly doubled. He's cutting corners where he can, including giving up the monthly classical music concerts he loves, but he's considering raising his prices. Lezlie Sterling / lsterling@sacbee.com
Skyrocketing gas prices have collided with layoffs, foreclosures and food costs to change the way we live in everyday ways. Meet seven people from the Sacramento region who explore how they are coping in small ways, from choosing omelettes over steak to postponing surgery and taking an extra job.
THE PIANO TUNER Antonio Bombal, 75, Sacramento
Tuning pianos has never been about getting rich for Antonio Bombal. What drives him is the passion for calibrating a sophisticated machine that emits the most beautiful sounds.
Filling the gas tank of his 2003 Volkswagen Eurovan laden with tools, which recently cost less than $45 twice a week, now sets him back more than $80, so Bombal may have to charge more for a tuning.
"Now I make about $2,800 a month to sometimes $3,200 a month," he said as he estimated his gas costs. "A $335 difference is a big proportion; it's a big difference to the total income."
Bombal spends about two hours on the road a day and usually tunes two pianos. He is trying to adjust where he can – he eats more omelettes than meat or fish, and he no longer attends the monthly classical concerts that he loves. Although he has medical insurance, he is putting off a surgery so he can save for lost income during the three-week recuperation.
"It is hard," he said. "It has been hard and it looks like it's going to get worse."
– Gina Kim
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