That morning bagel and cup of java you grabbed this morning cost $4.20, but a year from now breakfast will cost 28 cents more.
A quarter and a few pennies may not seem like much, but over the course of a day, a month or a year, dollars lost to the harmonized sales tax are going to add up.
Just picture it: Ted and Suzy have two boys, Timmy and Sally, aged seven and 12 respectively.
Ted works as a forklift driver and his wife Suzy is a receptionist at a chiropractor's office.
Suzy took the car to work today so Ted, pressed for time, had to take a taxi. Cost for the ride today: $12.80 cents. Cost with the HST this time next year: $14.34.
Suzy gets out of work early and picks up the boys to get their haircut. As the barber dusts the hair from Timmy's forehead, mom picks the $40 tab. Next year: $42.80.
When the couple comes home tonight they have a pile of bills to go through.
Sitting on the dining room table are bills for hydro, cable and Internet, telephone and newspapers totalling $250. Next year: $267.50.
And the couple still hasn't considered a mechanic's bill, fees for the kids to go to karate classes, back-to-school supplies, and four super-saver plane tickets on sale now for a flight before Christmas to go see family in Winnipeg.
Tomorrow it's grocery shopping for the week and family night out at the International House of Pancakes - a Saturday night tradition.
Obviously, there's a theme developing.
The harmonized sales tax is going to hit families every day.
Donna Francis, a financial life coach, said families need to keep track of spending now so they can prepare for the seven per cent.
"Once you take a look at your personal economy then you have to look at conscious mindful spending," she said. "We have to get back to some of the basics and record keeping is big. It's not only going to tell you where you've been, it's going to tell you where you're going."
Dharm Makwana reports for Vancouver 24 hours.
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crh
2 years ago
not only will record keeping be big
but so will cash.
Cash will be king. Not Gordo.
realisticman
2 years ago
Win & Loose
That bagel and coffee will cost 28 cents more and when Ted and Suzy decide to buy their next car, if they buy a used one and it costs, say $15,000 they'll save over a thousand dollars because used vehicles will no longer be PST taxable.
Grania
2 years ago
HST
Everyone needs to participate in bringing down this government. Become involved in community action groups and stand up and be seen and be counted! Also get your ducks in a row...find out what services can be obtained under the table. Civil sabotage of this tax is the very best way to deal with it.
MichaelT
2 years ago
chiropractor? Suzy?
was this written by a ten-year old?
chiropractor? the guys who believe in bs?
come on we are not living in the sticks this is a major urban center or should be.
sunshine coast girl
2 years ago
fighthst.com....
Sign up to help collect signatures for the Citizens' Initiative and attend one of the various rallies around the province on Sept. 19th.
coastalgirl
2 years ago
Daily life will tell all
I don't think people really understand how the HST is going to affect their daily life and their bottom line. We need to fight now, stand together and let Campbell know that we value our hard earned dollars and he gets enough of them already. He can give himself a raise when things get tough, we can't.
Wilfred Laurier
2 years ago
$40 haircut
Wow, I don't get $40 haircuts for myself, let alone my kids. A forklift driver can afford $40 haircuts. I must be in the worn line of work! And a taxi? Pretty rare.
Wilfred Laurier
2 years ago
Misinformation
"And the couple still hasn't considered a mechanic's bill"
Glen Clark added PST to shop labour in auto repair shops.
Van Isle
2 years ago
I do remember when the GST
I do remember when the GST came in. I use to work out of town then and the price for accommadation and food went up like a rocket. Hotels and restaurants jacked up their prices and then added on the GST. Of course they blamed the GST for all the price hikes. I remember going into a restaurant (it was in the winter and the only restaurant open) in Alert Bay and had a clubhouse sandwich (with no fries) and a coke for just under $13.00. I approached my company the next week to see if it was possible to have an increase in our out-of-town allowance to offset the price increases and I showed them some of my bills. Their response; too bad, we have a union agreement.
offended
2 years ago
No PST on used vehicles Realisticman?
Oh please provide proof of this because I can't find anything to confirm this info. I wouldn't count on it.