Tipped my server, then tipped CA $2.08

Quick, casual lunch with a client. Paid $2.08 in tax.

California bit my nipple while breastfeeding this morning

I threw away 3 gas receipts since I started this blog because I didn't see any tax printed on them and wrongly assumed gas to be tax free. Turns out I was so very wrong. In fact, this is one area where California leads the nation. Isn't it great being #1? I will dig the other receipts out of the trash and post them later, so we can keep an accurate running total.

Gas tax is difficult to figure out. I'm going to take the optimistic view and say that's why they don't print it on the receipt. I don't want to think that anyone is deliberately trying to hide this information from the average consumer.

Here's how it breaks down according to taxfoundation.org:

$.466 per gallon (that's in addition to the $.184 per gallon federal tax.) Plus, California also applies 8.25% sales tax which includes a 1% local tax which localities cannot amend.

None of this appears on your gas receipt. As the saying goes: "When you've got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow."

Boy is California a thirsty little girl!

Total tax after filling up with 15.877 gallons: $10.85.*

*note: Calculating gas tax isn't easy to figure out, and there may be some other local taxes that are not factored in.

I didn't feed my pet California, today

But I think it's ok because my neighbor fed her.

CHP = California Highway Patroltaxcollectors

Ok, I take a lot of road trips, so I will admit that my odds of paying the "highway tax" are high. And I'm going to plead the 5th on the speeding charge, because the case is still pending. However, I believe I can make a good case for my innocence.

And I don't know the final amount just yet. I was accused of going that fast.

BUT. All that aside. I have this theory that when government gets too big, there is a point where it is forced to turn on its own people. It's not just my theory. Other people smarter than me believe this.

Fast forward to life in California, today. If you try to drive from Northern Cal to Southern Cal, you will find it very highly patrolled with radar traps literally everywhere you look.

Turning up the heat on the average California driver is a nice, easy way for the mother state to increase revenue without raising anyone's taxes. But we are all at risk of paying.

So the question is: should I fight the ticket? If we all fight every traffic ticket, will the courts only become more efficient at winning and collecting? Won't this approach only fuel the fire, so to speak? What do you think?

I don't know what I will have to pay just yet. But I know it will be high. Stay tuned.

In 'n Out Feeds Me & California Animal Style

$.86 directly to the state of California. Man, I gotta stop eating fast food!

State of CA in Food Coma After Eating All Weekend

I haven't paid anything to the state of CA today, but that's because the state is probably taking a nice long nap after what I paid to her this weekend. Here's the rundown:

$15.00!!! - parking at Huntington State Beach
$.52 - CVS pharmacy for a few beach odds & ends
$2.97 - bought a pair of earrings and some perfume (had to splurge!)

I think that's all.

Eat at home. That's what the state of CA just told me.

$90 in groceries and only a mere $.55 in CRV tax. And that's even recoverable, provided I haul my recyclables in every month. Which I don't, but I see people at the beach who do, so hey, there's jobs for everyone. But I digress.

The point is, you're better off eating at home if you want to pay less to the state of CA...and all the restaurants, waitstaff, bussers, cooks, bartenders.

$.98 later, I can buy a burrito

I'm amazed at how fast this is adding up already. Takeout is making me and the State of CA fat. It's almost a buck if you want to be allowed to get a couple of burritos at Chipotle.

$2.48 or the dog doesn't eat.

That's right. It cost me a whopping $2.48 before I could spend $20 on dog food and some rawhides.

After paying the state of CA$2.04, they will let me own a few books on tape

Road trip coming up. Thought I'd entertain myself and the kiddo. It cost $2.04 to buy 4 books on tape. Oh, plus thee $22 for the actual items.

$.37 on the way to school this morning

Today I paid CA $.37 for the "privilege" of buying my kid some mini-sirlion burgers on the way to school this morning. Ugh. That's what we get for running late and not making breakfast at home.