Inflation is a current cause for concern to Moorpark College students. With prices going up, many have had to find cheaper alternatives for food and gas as well as considering different forms of transportation.

In the last year, the national average retail gas price has gone up more than a dollar. The current average is $3.01. The increase in the cost of transportation is greatly impacting students across the nation.

For students at Moorpark College that drive to school, the impact of rising prices is noticeable. Countless students fear that they may not be able to afford the higher prices of gas. While the anxiety lingers, many have learned to adapt and find methods to limit the negative effects of inflation.

Bill Garcia, a medical screener at Moorpark College, stated that rising gas prices have made Garcia cautious about where he goes and more committed to seeking alternate modes of transportation. Garcia added that searching for better options has been a stressful process.

“Gas prices going up have made me look for better options,” Garcia said. “I commute to USC and normally I have to drive out to North Hollywood to take the subway. But with gas prices so high, I’ve decided to take the Metrolink instead.”

Renson Torres, a first-year student at Moorpark College, also faces issues with transportation costs. Torres stated that prices for Ubers have more than doubled from last year.

“It used to be an eight-dollar Uber to go to work and now it’s a seventeen-dollar Uber ride,” Torres said. “I am starting to think about saving up for a bicycle and using that instead.”

Some students have even decided to join forces in order to help one another in saving their money. To assist each other during these times of uncertainty and apprehension, students have been messaging each other about sales and other money-saving deals.

Daniela and Mariela Guzman, both second-year students at Moorpark College, are always on the lookout for deals. When the Guzman’s notice a sale going on or a gas station offering gas at a lower rate than other areas, the Guzmans immediately inform each other and close friends.

“We have to make each dollar count during these difficult times and by looking out for sales and lower rates on clothing, food and gas, we can do just that,” Daniela Guzman stated. “If we do end up finding a location that has a sale on food or find a gas station that is selling gas at a lower price than those in the surrounding area, we will inform our group of friends and try to help them save money as well.”

Phil Zheng, a second-year student at Moorpark College, now looks at the unit price when shopping. Zheng also stated that rising inflation rates have caused there to be less flexibility in Zheng’s schedule.

“I do consider the unit price now, such as how much the milk costs for a gallon, how much a pound of beef costs, etc,” Zheng said. “There is less flexibility in my everyday life because I need to save money to keep up with the inflation.”

With the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, prices for products continue to go up. Students will have to learn to adapt to these rising prices to be able to continue on with their everyday lives.

Click here to find ways to save money on food, gas and entertainment.