I am just wondering what you all think about the economics, time, ect. of driving 45 minutes once or twice a month and stocking up on almost everything. I know driving, not shopping locally, and circumventing taxes meant to encourage principals similar to mustachianism are not really ideal with the mindset here, but tell me what you all think. Here is a typical trip and what we bring back.
Fuel, Vancouver BC Can (Regional transit tax $.17/L, provincial carbon tax $.08/L, $.10/L federal transit tax) =$.35/L = $1.32/gal Transit funding from tax, plus road and sales tax are buried in the price, I only begrudge the transit tax as with my shift schedule and work location transit is not an option for me. Also they do not enforce fare evasion in Vancouver and studies have proven tens of millions of dollars of fares are unpaid every year.
$140/litre = $5.32/gallon Vancouver
$3.59/Gallon Bellingham
Difference = $1.73/Gallon
We bring back approx 240 litres or 60 gallons of fuel, so thats $108 savings on a months worth of fuel, wich we do burn lets say $15 of that getting the fuel in the first place.
We also do our non perishable grocery shopping in the USA
Canned goods beans ect. go on sale in Bellingham for under $1 per can, at home range $2.50 and up for the same cans
Milk $5/gallon BC $2-$2.50/Gallon WA
CHicken/Turkey is about half price
Low cal/organic/health foods sell below half price in the US compared to Vancouver
There are many more items, we usually spend around $150 on what would cost over $300 at home, buy sales and bulk, go to costco, fred meyer ect. Our fruit/Veggies we buy canadian
So for our 4 hours per month of shopping we avoid the highest price goods in Canada, besides totally isolated places. And save ourselves $100 on gas, and about $150 on our groceries. $62 an hour i guess, well $31 because its both of our time. I still really have to wonder if i could beat this if I biked to my local store and paid double.