Pocketbook issues

While we were busy celebrating Dexter’s birthday, another important anniversary passed: the 3-year mark of our move to Ottawa. I’d say that over the last 6 months or so I’ve been feeling much more at home here. Not in a “Home Forever!!!!” kind of way, but I’m finally re-acclimating to life in Canada.

Except for all the times I almost choke on my Loonies at the cash register when it comes time to pay for stuff I had become accustomed to getting for cheap when I lived south of the border.

I’m not just talking about stuff like booze and gas, which is expensive for transparent reasons (surtaxes). Running shoes, almost all of which are made in China, cost about 50% more in Canada than the U.S. There’s a huge premium on books, small appliances, large appliances, and weird, random stuff, like paint. Since I painted our entire house in Richmond, I know that a gallon of midrange latex paint usually set me back about $16. Here I pay $40 or more. Now, I know there are lots of legitimate reasons why prices are higher in Canada, and honestly, I would be okay with paying a small premium. But there are times when it gets ridiculous.

Take, for example, my lunchtime errand today. I needed to get a sweater dry cleaned. A fancy-pants cashmere sweater, true, but it's not like it was stained or anything--it just needed a fresh-up. I don't use dry-cleaning very often (wash and wear is my style, baby!), so I wasn't sure what I would be charged. Thankfully, I asked before I handed over the garment. The price? $29, before taxes. Yes. Twenty-nine dollars to have one sweater cleaned. Twenty. Nine. Dollars. For dry cleaning! $29!!!!!

You know what I paid for dry cleaning in Richmond? $1.50 per item. And that was after a price increase. Before that, it was $1.25.

Astounding. Granted, the $1.50 dry cleaner was El Cheaperoo, even for Richmond, but how do you explain a price difference that massive? Is it really 20 times more expensive to operate a dry-cleaning business in Canada? Do Canadian dry cleaners bathe their clothes in the breath of angels, followed by a light misting of dew gathered from the petals of daisies grown organically in an unspoiled meadow? They must, right? You take that price shock, throw in the $80 quote I got to have the 4x6 acrylic rug in our playroom cleaned (which cost no more that $40 in the first place), and I guess I'll just resign myself to being a little dirtier from here on out. That, or I'm never again buying anything that isn't machine washable.

So, hrumph. If any of my American readers would like to send me some Dryel (which I have trouble finding up here), I'd appreciate it. I'm only kind of kidding.