tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post6437457147635387312..comments2023-06-02T02:58:00.488-07:00Comments on i pick up pennies: Convenience taxAbigailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12043674506776005070noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-30344294530198638242009-04-26T17:11:00.000-07:002009-04-26T17:11:00.000-07:00Shevy: I once got an e-mail list of the best book ...Shevy: I once got an e-mail list of the best book titles never published. It included, "Everything You Need to Know About ADD and...Hey, Let's Go Ride Our Bikes!"<br />Also on the list:<br />"Daddy Drinks Because You Cry"<br />"Strangers Have the BEST Candy"<br />"George Foreman's Big Book of Baby Names"Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13881332749767280627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-5598764708269489312009-04-24T19:26:00.000-07:002009-04-24T19:26:00.000-07:00Ah, Seattle! I really love the vast amounts of ko...Ah, Seattle! I really love the vast amounts of kosher meat, dairy, deli and bakery items available at the Mercer Island and University District QFCs and Albertsons!<br /><br />What's really crazy is that Vancouver and Seattle have roughly the same size Jewish populations but we don't have anything like that (and only a couple of kosher specialty places that have the same sort of thing at much more expensive prices).<br /><br />Oh, and it's totally off-topic but I just have to say that I saw a guy wearing a great Tshirt today.<br /><br />It said: I don't have ADD. It's just that...Oooh, look! A bunny!Shevyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12360963999613712921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-2999789988269592142009-04-24T17:47:00.000-07:002009-04-24T17:47:00.000-07:00oh yeah, i totally don't mind paying that convenie...oh yeah, i totally don't mind paying that convenience tax sometimes! great post.DINKShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11310942434991302826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-35301969106416047372009-04-24T06:13:00.000-07:002009-04-24T06:13:00.000-07:00You can get milk that cheap? Wow, that is amazing....You can get milk that cheap? Wow, that is amazing. The cheapest gallons around here are $2.50 and that is a super sale, usually it is $3.50 or more. These little cost differences add up over the years, I love LA, but not the cost.Miss Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15926161058644761041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-31338068284016386942009-04-23T23:36:00.000-07:002009-04-23T23:36:00.000-07:00Shevy,
I could understand the rationale on that. ...Shevy,<br /><br />I could understand the rationale on that. We're lucky to be centrally located. Albertson's is 1.3 miles away, Safeway is about 2.5, and QFC is about 2 miles away. All in different directions, mind you, but since I tend to hit different stores on different days of the week, in order to pick up special sales, it works out for me.Abigailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12043674506776005070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-43287715244686569642009-04-23T22:46:00.000-07:002009-04-23T22:46:00.000-07:00I almost always pay a "convenience tax" on fruits ...I almost always pay a "convenience tax" on fruits and vegetables. My default grocery store is Safeway because of its proximity to my office (and being directly on my way home from work). They have nice produce but it's more expensive than going to an Asian grocery (even the one on the other side of the mall).<br /><br />But really, when I'm buying an onion, 2 potatoes and a bag of baby carrots, with maybe half a dozen mushrooms tossed in it really doesn't seem to be worth it to drive out of my way at an inconvenient time of day. (My shopping is usually done after 10:30 pm on nights that I'm at the office late and all those specialty produce places close around 6 pm.)<br /><br />Plus I'm always too tired to make extra work for myself.Shevyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12360963999613712921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-59634343499413967982009-04-23T18:25:00.000-07:002009-04-23T18:25:00.000-07:00Lilli,
I'm here in Seattle. Alane is in NJ. I gue...Lilli,<br /><br />I'm here in Seattle. Alane is in NJ. I guess we're lucky to have our milk so cheap. Here it's around $2.39. When milk was crazily expensive, it was closing in on $3.19. The "bottom-shelf" (aka generic) milk that I get is $1.99. In Sam's Club, we generally get it cheaper than that. Usually for around $1.39-1.69.Abigailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12043674506776005070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-82616794237669872412009-04-23T16:34:00.000-07:002009-04-23T16:34:00.000-07:00seriously, where do you people live? Here in Bosto...seriously, where do you people live? Here in Boston I can sometimes get a gallon of milk (brand name, that stuff grocery stores claim is milk is gross!!) on sale for $3.49, but usually its $4.19. And considering I drink about 2 gallons a week (yes, by myself) trust me I look for the deals!<br /><br /> I find that the convenience or laziness tax mostly manifests itself in my food budget because it's easier to justify....a girl's gotta eat, right?! Sometimes it's a deterrent against bad behavior too...if I'm going to scarf down a pint of Ben & Jerry's cookie dough, I'm not about to let myself feel less guilty by buying it on sale! $5 bucks...that's the price of gluttony in my house lolAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10956493942036562364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-20914993772179353492009-04-23T12:12:00.000-07:002009-04-23T12:12:00.000-07:00Alane,
How is it that milk is almost twice as exp...Alane,<br /><br />How is it that milk is almost twice as expensive on the East Coast? Usually, things are cheaper there because shipping is less etc. <br /><br />Perhaps it's the price you pay for access to Tastykakes at any time? The "Tastykake convenience tax." <br /><br />When you first start a new job, or whenever your schedule gets thrown off, a lot of things fall by the wayside. Give it time. And breathe. A lot. <br /><br />And, just a thought, why not buy by the carton? Then you could save money? While Tim's smoking again, we stop by Sam's and just get a whole bunch at once. That way, he doesn't pay convenience store mark-up. <br /><br />For the moment, 50 cents/pack is less important than your sanity. But once things shake down, depending on how quickly you smoke, you may want to figure something out. But only once you're a little more settled.Abigailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12043674506776005070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-12999789718425588792009-04-23T12:09:00.000-07:002009-04-23T12:09:00.000-07:00Meg,
I like that idea. My mom does this from tim...Meg, <br /><br />I like that idea. My mom does this from time to time when turkey goes on some ridiculous sale. I suppose that would be relatively easy. Since Tim and I aren't huge fans of stuffing, really all I'd have to do is stick a turkey in the oven for a few hours... Thanks for the idea!Abigailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12043674506776005070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-49539845200665834352009-04-23T12:00:00.000-07:002009-04-23T12:00:00.000-07:00$1.99 is still less than the $2.29 we pay here, so...$1.99 is still less than the $2.29 we pay here, so don't beat yourself up over it!<br /><br />Hey, you've mentioned several times that one hole in your spending is on takeout when you are too exhausted to cook. I've recently started cooking an old-fashioned Sunday roast, pork or a turkey breast or whatever not-beef is on sale. For two people, this means roast turkey one night, then easy meals of leftover turkey sandwiches, pre-cooked chicken over pasta or salad, stir-fries, etc. Weekday dinners are faster so it's not an insurmountable task at the end of a long day.<br /><br />I haven't noticed a decrease in our grocery bill doing this BUT there are fewer nights we go out because I'm too beat to fix dinner, so our overall finances are better!Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14423080354204647275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-39799556689757794772009-04-22T16:29:00.000-07:002009-04-22T16:29:00.000-07:00Since I started a new parttime job I find myself d...Since I started a new parttime job I find myself doing this more and more. Why? I can't get my crap together. I was unemployed for 6 months and completely restructured my life. Since I started my new job I can't seem to get a handle on anything. I find myself more and more justifyiing spending a little extra here and there to lower my stress. To give you an example my DH ( the coward) called me after he left for work and told me he left me a tax bill that was late. Could I write the check and drop it in the mail. I did after I totally freaked out on him for throwing a monkey wrench in my day.<br />Sunday I bought a jar of jelly at CVS ( the horror) because I unexpectly ran out and my family eats this everyday. Right now DS1 is getting me smokes at 7-11. I will pay an extra 50 cents a pack but decided it was worth it to take one more chore off my list tomorrow since I have my day already planned just about down to the minute.<br />( One more thing. Next time you are out will you pick me up some milk. It is $3.49 a gallon here.) :)Alanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17798708195655138818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-12384281686009213842009-04-22T10:16:00.000-07:002009-04-22T10:16:00.000-07:00Shtinkykat,
Once in awhile, I think even a lazine...Shtinkykat,<br /><br />Once in awhile, I think even a laziness tax is acceptable. Being nice to yourself could be considered priceless... So long as it's not a premium you pay regularly.Abigailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12043674506776005070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851322133816062332.post-6557104755980230112009-04-22T06:05:00.000-07:002009-04-22T06:05:00.000-07:00In your circumstances, the premium you paid was a ...In your circumstances, the premium you paid was a "convenience tax". When I paid a premium because I wanted to get home in time to watch Dancing With the Stars, I've paid a "laziness tax". As you point out, the difference is on a case-by-case basis, but one is definitely less acceptable than the other.Shtinkykathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13463418160441246011noreply@blogger.com