Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Absolutely Ridiculous!

First how much do you think I paid for that little lot?  Answer down the page.........


Now back to the title of the post.  I went to the Post Office on Tuesday to mail Rose's blu-ray that she won. It came to $5.17, so far so good.  So I said well how much is it going to cost, as normally they add taxes to the shipment.  Discovered that they don't tax shipments to the States, but if I am mailing something within Canada they would have added 13% in taxes???

I am going to assume it's both the Federal and Provincial Governments fault for this stupid system, but it doesn't make flipping sense does it?  Mind you the whole taxing thing in this country is strange to me and very confusing for tourists and visitors to the country.  As just because it says $1 on the price tag, it hasn't added in the HST (taxes) like they do in Britain for example, so when you go to buy the $1 you discover it costs you $1.13.  Even after 23 years of living here I still haven't got it all down pat!!!

Now for the grocery question.  If you said $14.87 you win!!!  Kraft Canada had a deal where you paid $30 and you got a number of FPC (Free Product Coupons) for their items.  So all the Kraft products you see in the photo were "bought" with FPC.  I had a FPC for the Old El Paso taco kit, a buy on get one free on the two boxes of cookies and the potato chips and two packages of Fruit Gums, were bought with a gift card I got given. 

I guess though I paid $44.87 if you factor in the $30 I paid, but the savings added up to $62.70, so I still came in ahead of the game and I still have a FPC for Amooza cheese snacks, that I have to pick up yet.

Also, just to clarify, regarding the quilt club.  The $10 is for the instructions on how to make each block, and the material for each block.  If you want to make a full sized quilt, you need the finishing kit, which costs around $170.  I will not be purchasing the finishing kit as it's not in colours I like.  I personally am not keen on the colourways of the finished quilt, there is a photo of the blue colourway on the bottom left of this webpage.  However if I wanted I could purchase the finishing kit, which I think is to finish the front of the quilt; then change the block colours to suit.  

I have made a start on the baby quilt and this is proof:


I have a heck of a mess though on the kitchen table:

The striped fabric is the border and the back is white minky, which is a material I have never ever used.  I think if I can do an hour or two per day, I should get it done before the 6th of October.............I hope!!!

19 comments:

Lena said...

Yikes, 13% in taxes is crazy!!

Unknown said...

I wish we had coupons here, Gill. It would certainly help.
I did a quilting course many years ago and really enjoyed it. These days fabric is so expensive I no longer do it. Maa

DeniseinVA said...

Always fun to see what someone else buys at the grocery store. I am not a quilter but I do love them. I just bought one for a new bed we put in my old craft room.

Cindy@NorthofWiarton said...

You are going to be very busy to get the quilt done by the 6th, but I am confident you will accomplish the task at hand.

Debby said...

What a great deal on groceries!!! Can't wait to see your quilt done, I love the fabrics!

Karen from Sew Many Ways... said...

Wanted to stop by and say thank you for commenting on my blog. Great deal on the groceries. I love coupons and the fun part is the "hunt" for the deal!!
Karen

Buttons Thoughts said...

Yes I had had to deal with those expensive mailing to the USA things mad me mad.
Great score at the grocery store. See how I did that a rhyme:)
The quilt blocks are nice colours I cannot wait to see it complete. B

Secret Mom Thoughts said...

Good deal on the food!

Nancy said...

Even with the taxes, you made out like a bandit. Well done!

Jane and Chris said...

We vegans never get a break on the foods we eat.
I'd offer to lend a hand with the quilt...but I can't sew.
Jane x

~Carla~ said...

Yup...gotta love our good old 13% tax... *sigh* Great job on getting some some deals!! I didn't hear about that promotion at all.. Bummer!

Anonymous said...

Great deals Gill!

simplicityinthemaking said...

I was just in PEI and try 18% tax and petro at 1.44/litre, milk $7.39/bag. Couldn't afford to live there. I have the coupon on the fridge here. Good going though with your shopping. cereal is darn expensive now. Can't wait to see your sewing project done.

50 and counting said...

Back when the gst came in (yes, I'm old) the government said we didn't have to pay taxes on services/goods leaving the country. So, i've always made an effort to bundle all my Christmas cards for one mailing.

Canada Post is horribly expensive. Recently I wanted to return an item I'd bought on the web. It was going to cost $16+ to return a $19.99 blouse. Just not worth it. The Sally Ann got it.

EG CameraGirl said...

I look forward to seeing the finished quilt.

The Canadian tax system baffles me too. I liked it better when I didn't know how much I was being taxed because it was included on the price tag.

Boyett-Brinkley said...

I can't wait to see the finished quilt. I have never used Minky, either, but I understand it is very slippery so plan to use lots of pins. I love the way it feels though -- let us know how it goes.

Rose said...

I will be watching the mail!

As for taxes, in the state of Indiana, you pay sales tax on a car when you buy it, then each year after for the next 10 years, you pay a a property tax on it to get the license plates which each car has to have...so say when we bought our car in 2007-8, we paid approx $350 sales tax, each subsequent year, we pay less...I can't remember for sure but we will probably pay around $150 this year...and finally about the time it hits 10 years old it will be $49 per year thereafter when we get the license plate. (Of course by the time the rates may have changed!) I always say our streets should be paved with gold!

We have to pay for plates for our little trailer...around $35 per year...pay property taxes on boats, and if you have a dog, you pay a tax on it....but not on cats.
Oh, and counties within the state of Indiana can have a wheel tax...I think they set the rate. I know one of the nearby counties used to charge $5 per wheel.


All states are not like this...but really was confusing when I moved to Indiana.

Also, we pay federal income taxes, and then we have to pay taxes on our income to the state of Indiana...some states do not have state income taxes...

Carletta said...

Hi Gill,
I saw your comment over at Rose's blog and realized that I hadn't seen you in blogland so I thought over and say hi.
I see you are still doing the coupon savings very well!
A quilt - my mother-in-law quilted. I never had the patience. :)
Hope all has been well with you.

Anonymous said...

It feels like Fall now, so a good time to quilt and munch! I saw you had Marmite on your kitchen table; are you going to have cheese toast with Marmite :)

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