Comments on: Here come the new taxes…

By: funny

funny — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:54:46 +0000

@ TrudyAnn: SDXB is Semi-Demi-Ex-Boyfriend. SDXB is convinced that the commissary is the be-all and end-all of shopping heaven, and so once a month or so he hauls out to the base to make a major shop. In fact, 5 percent is better than the 8.3 percent we pay in town–and better than he would be paying in Glendale and Peoria, which add their own municipal taxes on top of that.

When I used to go out there with him, he could get me into the BX as a guest, but not into the commissary. So, he would leave me in the BX while he spent an hour or two cruising the grocery aisles. Like you, I felt the prices on most things were not all that much better than WalMart or K-Mart, and most of the goods were K-Mart quality. To the extent that savings were to be had, they were consumed by the cost of gas to drive out there. If you were living on the base, it would be a pretty good deal, but for anyone who was living in town and schlepping out there…questionable.

By: Mrs. Accountability

Mrs. Accountability — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:47:59 +0000

We have been paying tax on food since we moved out of Maricopa County. It has always nagged at me, but not worth trying to do all my grocery shopping in Phoenix. And my husband does 99.5% of the grocery shopping.

By: TrudyAnn

TrudyAnn — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:50:50 +0000

What the heck is a SDBX? I shop at the nearest Base Exchange and Commissary…..they tac on a 5% fee for MWR……welfare and rec fund for the service members. so no tax, but a small fee….and then there are the baggers that don’t work for the base, but live off the tips…..and if you don’t give a fairly good tip, you get a dirty look. And the prices are not always better than the local Wal-Mart Super Store! It used to be that the Service Member and Dependents got a really great deal…..now it’s all about making profit!

By: Revanche

Revanche — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:33:16 +0000

Huh, that wasn’t the point I came to make. I was just wondering about the fact that you can’t even GO to the commissary unless you’re the wife — really? You can’t even shop with him and have him “pay” for the haul?

I didn’t realize they were so strict, I’ve gone to the commissary with friends and their kids before, and then again just alone with the kids who have military IDs and we never had a problem at the San Diego branch.

By: Revanche

Revanche — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:31:42 +0000

LOL @simplyforties: My guy is the absolute opposite of your husband and SDXB – I’m afraid to send him grocery shopping for fear he’ll never come back or buy out the place.

Truthfully I often send him before dinner so he knows he’s gotta get back if he wants to eat before 9 pm, but I’ve sent that guy for 3 lemons and he’s come home with 3 lemons and 4 breakfast items he knew I would love and some snacks for tomorrow, just in case I get hungry and and and!

Thanks to long association with a male best friend, though, I’m fairly sure you’ve hit it right on the nose: he just hates grocery shopping so he cultivates ineptitude. Well, that was it initially, then his GF was so naggy that he just decided he could never do it right so it wasn’t worth bothering.

By: SimplyForties

SimplyForties — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:01:04 +0000

Why can’t men grocery shop?! I know that isn’t the main crux of your post but it made me laugh to read your description of SDXB shopping. It’s so familiar! Do they do that intentionally so they won’t be asked to do the shopping?

On the other hand, since he retired my dad has completely taken over the grocery shopping and is now convinced that my mom, who did it without his help for 50+ years, is completely incapable of grocery shopping properly. She’s happy with that. Hmmm….who’s really playing the mind games? I feel a blog post coming on!

By: funny

funny — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:14:27 +0000

@ frugalscholar: Alas, the fact that I have an IRA and a 403(b) renders me ineligible for food stamps, nevvermind that I can’t touch my savings until (if ever) they recover from the devastation engendered by the fall of the Bush economy.

By: funny

funny — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:08:54 +0000

Well, you know… legally we’re all supposed to be paying local and state taxes on Internet purchases. The reason we don’t is that it’s almost impossible to keep track of it. A number of states and municipalities are looking into ways to track Internet purchases, and eventually they’ll find a way.

It hasn’t passed yet. The City Council has staged some public participation meetings, and the state tax has to get past the voters. Obviously, though, if the City of Phoenix passes a tax on food, everyone who lives in the city–i.e., a very large chunk of the state’s population–will vote against the proposed state tax.

By: oilandgarlic

oilandgarlic — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:09:22 +0000

That’s ridiculous. I’m surprised this passed without a voter revolt. Food is a basic need and should not be taxed. Here in Los Angeles, the sales tax is ridiculously high but at least they exempt food bought in grocery stores.

By: frugalscholar

frugalscholar — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:07:58 +0000

We have a sales tax on food here. It used to be the regular sales tax; now it’s a bit lower. I would guess that the 2% is not on top of the regular sales tax.

Here, people w/ food stamps do not pay the tax, incidentally. Maybe you’re eligible for food stamps!