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Monday, July 3, 2017

Small Economies

I stopped at a Coke machine at a shopping center where Cokes are fifty cents. When I put in two quarters and selected my Coke, the machine spit out a Coke and a Sprite.

In the WM parking lot right at my feet lay a nickel and a penny. Of course, I bent over and picked them up. Since they were right next to the electric cart I was about to get on in the parking lot, I held the cart to be able to bend free of pain.

Last week, I decided to get three more bags of PictSweet frozen vegetables. The next morning, I looked at the receipt. I spent $7+ instead of $3! So, back to the store I went and got back $4.14. Instead of paying $1 for each bag, I paid $2.38 each, the regular price. The same woman made the same mistake as last week when I overpaid by $11 on a $27 receipt. This is getting old and is a not-so-small economy.

Gas is now $1.81/gallon. I remember the times in the early 1990s when I was upset if gas rose to over $1/gallon.

Your turn
Do you have a place that sells soft drinks from a machine that only takes two quarters? And, you do pick up change? Is gas low where you live? What small economies have come your way?

13 comments:

  1. Unleaded Regular gas is USD 5.31/gallon here. And no, my math is right. Us, Turks are using the most expensive gas in the world just because the Government likes the high taxes. Thankfully, I am driving a company car with all the costs paid by the company. When I fully retire, I doubt if I will own a car. Renting when a car is needed could be a lot more wiser especially, if I keep on living where I do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. T'Pol,
      That price boggles the mind. You are lucky to have a company car. Is your neighborhood walkable? I may have nightmares over that price.

      Delete
  2. Regular unleaded is $2.35 a gallon in my neck of the woods. I rarely drink soda so never pay attention to soda machines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One,
      I am not sure if that is really low for you. But, it is high for here. I don't do it because I am trying to stay upright, but you could check for left change.

      Delete
  3. No soda machines that take 2 quarters. Most are $1.
    Always pick up change, even Canadian - we have a lot of Canadian snowbirds. However, there are rarely coins to pick up. I think it's because I live in a county with a high percentage of over 65 with incomes bordering on poverty level and we account for every penny.
    Gas locally is $2.09 but we have an electric car and use no more than a couple of gallons a month.
    Small economies - none that I can think of off hand. But, after reviewing our June shopping receipts I think we're going to stop shopping off Amazon. Way too easy to say "that's a great deal" on something we really don't need. That would probably qualify as a big economy for us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bellen,
      This machine is in front of a store with more people who are poor, yet someone leaves money in the change cup or on the ground. Not often, but enough to encourage checking. I am sure the Amazon savings would be a large economy.

      The drink machines are all fifty-cents. I think the Sam's club drinks are a quarter. Then, there is the grocery store I mentioned for two quarters and two machines in town that are three quarters--75 cents.

      Delete
  4. I paid 1.92 a gallon yesterday.
    The Pig near me has 50 cent drinks, but I am unsure if it takes ones or just two quarters. I will have to look when I go there next time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anne,
      All my cheap places take quarters and ones.

      Delete
  5. At the moment we are paying $1.10 per litre for gas, it was about this price briefly last year but for quite a few years now it has been closer to $1.30 or even $1.50 so I filled my tank and hope it lasts.

    I have had two client meetings in a cafe and the client paid both times which is only a small economy but much appreciated

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. kylie,
      That is very expensive! Yes, any small economy is great. I do appreciate the small economies, even if it is a free coke or six cents.

      Delete
  6. I am very bad at watching these things. I need to improve.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. urspo,
      Catching mistakes means money to me. I have little, so I watch.

      Delete
  7. Gas ( petrol ) here in Yorkshire, England, is $6 a gallon!
    Enjoying your blog very much. X

    ReplyDelete

Okay, hoping the annoyances have gone away.