Dennis RomeroChristmas has come early for some Angelenos.
The sub-$2.50-a-gallon (!) gas that we've been enjoying in Southern California has put more money your pockets for holiday gifts or just for a rainy day (ahem).
The gas price website GasBuddy recently conducted a survey of 2,000 L.A.-area residents and found that one in five of you are using the extra money to buy presents either for yourself or for loved ones.
Even better, 79 percent plan to pay of debt.
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Nearly one-third of Angelenos (30 percent) said that low gas prices are affecting their travel plans, GasBuddy says.
Twenty-nine percent of those folks say they'll travel a longer distance. Fifteen percent say they plan to spend more on eats. And 12 percent say they'll splurge on accommodations, GasBuddy says.
Credit: Gas Buddy
The busiest travel day in December will be Dec. 20, according to the survey, when 30 percent of you will get out of town, according to the site. The biggest travel day in January, of course, is expected to be Jan. 2.
More than eight out of 10 of you (84 percent) are heading out via automobile, GasBuddy says. Nearly one-third (32 percent) are planning to travel at least 500 miles round-trip, too.
Holidays stress out about half of us, and the biggest factors are traffic and cost, the site found. In fact, it says, despite our gracious fuel costs, L.A. is a pain for holiday travel:
Credit: GasBuddy
Los Angeles ranked #1 as the metropolitan city where residents find it the most challenging to leave for the holidays, followed by New York City, Atlanta, Seattle and Washington DC.
Be kind to each other, people. And enjoy the cheap gas while it lasts.
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