Hi Dennis.... Ten bucks a gallon is very true. BUT....
groceries no way! I was over in the US just over a month ago and I was paying out as much per DAY for me and my daughter to eat as I spend in a WEEK over here!
Alan
Curious where did you go to--Not Florida?
Since I have one foot on either side of the pond mentally speaking I have just looked up Sainsbury's this week specials.
Always difficult to compare Brit eggs with "mercan eggs but taking some of the same food stuffs meat etc the US is about half of UK prices.
I could tell you the price for steak @ 27quid a kilo @ 1.5/$ is $40/kg would mortify Americans in their local Safeway.
Of course the US is a big place, the UK small by comparison, about the size of the State of Minnesota, so prices vary enormously.
Eating out at basic restaurants like Applebees etc is more of less on par with the US especially since the Pounds too a slide against the Dollar recently.
Next time why not come out to Colorado, bring your daughter. Skiing is free for young 'uns under 14 as long as you buy an accompanying adult ticket. Sunlight near Glenwood Springs is only $45/day incl lift tickets.
Try that against some where like Val D'Isere!
I don't recommend a Mustang in Co in winter, much better a Landrover. I always have one spare as a loner.
Not convinced!
Consider the upper tier of the US, like CO there are lots of places to explore. Real Americans here no synthetic types here!
My favorites are Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Take a look at this:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6zOMu4KIB0
My missus comes from here in Sagle , I often spend our summer hols on the lake with a powerboat!
Imagine 4th of July doing a barbie with a bunch of folk here:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khwxqf3f9Fw&feature=endscreen&NR=1
Or doing this in a Piper:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHTTOfhpUeQ
All this totally was out of reach as a kid in the UK.
I will leave you with this totally sums up life in the West.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFIDr_8LUtE
Have a good weekend
Dennis