A Christmas Miracle: Gas Prices Fall To New 2 Year Low

The holiday season is a very joyful time of year and to make things better this year, gas prices fall to a new 2 year low.

Christmas can be a very expensive. Between traveling near or far, buying gifts for friends and family, decorations for the house..it all adds up. Add in gas prices just to run errands around town or back and forth from work, it can get very expensive. Thankfully I drive a car that gets nearly 40 miles to the gallon, but with as much driving as I do not only around Fort Myers, but out of town too, I go through plenty. I imagine if you have an SUV or a van, it can be pretty pricy. But there's some great news ahead of the Christmas holiday in the form of even lower gas prices.

Yesterday in Fort Myers, I paid $2.87 per gallon, so my fill-up was the lowest I've seen in quite some time. I do also have the Upside app, so there's even more savings there. If you don't have that app, I strongly recommend it. I get anywhere from $1-$1.50 back every time I get gas, so while it's not a lot, it definitely adds up! WFLA reports on behalf of AAA that the average price per gallon in Florida is $2.86, the lowest since June. They also report that 33% of stations in Florida have gas under $2.75.

Mark Jenkins with AAA says the lower price of gas has to do with "strong domestic gasoline supplies and low oil prices". He expects prices to stay low through the holidays. With over 6 million Floridians planning on hitting the road for Christmas, this is a great way to add even more joy to the holiday season.

Florida is a dream destination for a lot of people and 3 cities here in the Sunshine State land on a list of the best places to live in America.

Growing up in Chicago, it was always my dream to one day live here. It's been almost 6 years since I arrived, first in Sarasota. I've been in Fort Myers now for almost 5 and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. You really can't beat the fact that the weather is always nice (even on these days of 50 degrees in the morning..brrr), there's SO much to do year-round and the beauty of palm trees and our beaches is something you can never get tired of. For some, it's a retirement dream and for others it's a state where you want to put down roots and blossom. I really can't imagine, now, living anywhere else.

The list surprises me, considering my love for living here, with only 3 cities in Florida included. Money put their list together looking at factors including economic opportunities, quality of live and diversity, among others. Atlanta landed in the #1 spot. 3 cities in Florida made the list coming in at #'s 9, 33 and 43. You can see the full list here.

Money said Tampa is "a rare combination of action-packed and affordable". Home sales average just over $380,000. The publication said the downsides of the city include traffic and climate. (If you don't like the heat- stay out of the kitchen!)

Altamonte Springs isn't a city I've visited, though it's only about 30 mins from Disney and about an hour to the beach, so it's close to a lot of fun. Definitely worth bragging about, if getting a good education is important, the area has a 93% graduation rate.

Sarasota was the city I first landed in upon moving to Florida, and I absolutely love it. Money says Sarasota is a "paradise for beach, culture and wildlife lovers". But be ready to pay. The average home price last year was over $565,000.