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Convenience is Taxing Me How Much?

May 29th, 2008 at 04:15 pm



Yesterday on a small grocery shop ($36.27) at Aldi's I went ahead and bought powdered coffee creamer there at $1.49 when I know I can get it cheaper at the dollar type stores, where it's usually just a dollar.

I did it the last time I shopped as well. And, I'm aggravated at myself about it.

No, I wasn't out, but I didn't want to run out either and I lazily didn't want to stop at the dollar store. Grrr!

And, I'm wondering just how much this convenience shopping is taxing me in a year's time?????

So, on the shopping list for the next dollar store shop? A BUNCH of creamer! Perhaps a years worth!

And another thing that came to mind while perusing the ticket upon my arrival home...the tax rate. There are two near-by Aldi's in our general metro area. One of them lies in a different town. I'm thinking the food-tax rate might be different in the smaller suburban town. I need to check on that. The difference? The one in the main metro area is 18 miles from my house. The other is 21 miles away. If taxes are lower, in the long run, it might pay to drive the extra 3 miles. Yesterday, I was already in the neighborhood of the one I shopped at. Next time, I might have a choice.

What kind of Convenience Tax are you paying? And on what? Is it worth it to you? How often are you convenience taxing yourself??? And would the actual tax rate on what you are buying be cheaper if you drove a few more miles? Would it be worth it to you?

6 Responses to “Convenience is Taxing Me How Much?”

  1. aevans1206 Says:
    1212077464

    I wonder, though, nowadays if it's more expensive to waste the gas on a different trip just to save those pennies. I guess I'm trying to figure out now how I can conserve gas, my own personal energy AND our money to get all of it done. It is a difficult dance I admit.

  2. luxlivingfrugalis Says:
    1212084559

    Right - that's what I'm saying. If I purchase in a large enough quantity on some of those trips AND the tax is lower it would pay to drive the 3 extra miles. If I'm not purchasing in a big enough amount and/or there is no tax difference then it wouldn't pay.

    Trying to figure out some of the things I do 'mindlessly' as if I have the extra 50 cents to spare when really I don't. To make up for shortfalls in our early non-savings during our married life, we can't afford for me to be making silly extra .50 creamer purchases here and there just because I'm too lazy to make an extra stop.

    If I came all the way home and went back to the store, yeah, I can see - it wouldn't be worth the time and money, but if I'm just too lazy to walk across the parking lot (which is doable in both of these instances) then it's a convenience tax which I should do away with. KWIM?

  3. thriftorama Says:
    1212104164

    Tons. Too much to think about!

  4. aevans1206 Says:
    1212108698

    I see what you mean. Good food for thought. There is money to be saved!!! I need a date with myself to ponder that.

  5. boomeyers Says:
    1212116531

    Wow!
    Well first, stop buying creamer because it is made of straight "partially hydrogenated" stuff that is clogging your poor arteries. I know it seems harmless, but read that label!! I pulled DH off of it and he is using good old fashioned milk. (I care about your health my friend!!)
    Now then, what a GREAT thought!! We have 3 Aldi's close to us and I wonder if the one has lesser tax than the other! That is worth looking in to!
    I know I spend for convenience more often than I should.

  6. luxlivingfrugalis Says:
    1212148016

    Boo, I've already been thinking about doing away with it - for the simple reason that it seems like it is filtered too fine and I think probably doing something funky to my lungs. If I drink too much coffee in a morning w/o anything else in my system? I get a coughing fit that surely feels it is caused only by that cream powder because I don't smoke and it sounds like I'm a lunger.

    I wish I could do milk. It just doesn't taste right. I wish I could do powdered milk because I've got a ton of it here. No. That doesn't work either. So, my option is to pay for real cream which can get pricey, but is doable. I like the cream powder for it's shelf stability but on the health front that stability should be telling us something too! And not good! Frown
    Okay, so I'll buy some powder at the dollar store to have 'on hand' in case I run out and will try to go to buying the real deal. Thanks.

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