how back in 1998 I used to take trips to my cousins in Cologne/Chaska, MN every other weekend. I was driving a 1985 Plymouth Horizon with HO carb'ed 2.2 and a auto trans.
It was 100'ish miles each way, plus the driving around while there. I would do it all on $13 worth of 87 octane ($.85/gallon). :( That same trip, even in that same car these days would be closer to $40.
10 year later, gasoline prices has quadrupeled, bread is so much more expensive, milk has more than doubled in price, insurance (knock on wood) is alot cheaper now, due to age and accident free record), I was living at my parents then and was in college (now living with brothers for $250 a month including extra fees), was making $5.50/hr at a grocery store (now making somewhere around twice that much at a winery with a LOT more responsibility(ies).

So much else has changed drastically also, compared to even the 10 years 1988-1998. At this rate we're looking at some seriously hurting as far as what we can afford in the next ten years. I hope to have degree by then (2018, preferably 2012), but before then I have to get some funds together as most loan instutions no longer offer college loans, and I don't have collateral or enough credit for a personal loan large enough for the college I really want to attend. Also, have to have a surgery that is going to cost $,$$$, plus all the other fee'* for examinations, etc...