The basics of life are costing us more and more and making it harder for some in town to make their money last to the next payday.
Currently, in Squamish, cheese is $2.16 per 100 grams. A carton of white eggs is $3.59. A jug of milk is $5.39. Lean ground beef is $7. Bread runs about $4. Butter is $7.29.
And those are just the staples.
Though hardly a bargain, these items are on sale this week locally: grapes are on for $4.49 a pound. A bag of bell peppers, usually $10 a bag, is now $6.
Diapers are “on-special” for $25 a box.
There is a transit strike dragging on, and gas is currently 169.9 cents per litre.
Due to global events, including the invasion of Ukraine, Premier John Horgan warned last week that folks can expect higher gas prices — like they haven’t been high enough in Squamish.
While rent varies, you can count on spending around $2,000 a month in 麻豆社国产for a decent one-bedroom place.
Not to mention BC Hydro, phone and internet costs.
If you make $18 an hour in Squamish, $2,925 per month or $35,100 per year, you are underwater — figuratively — pretty quickly.
according to the District.
The point is, there are folks in this town who are working full time, full out, who can barely afford the basics.
This will continue to push these folks to seek help from supportive organizations in town such as , and the among others.
If you can clear your bills this month without worrying, lucky you. Perhaps, consider donating to these organizations or dropping off some extra (healthy items) in the donation bins at local grocery stores.
Most of us can’t do much to change the war, the pandemic or the cost of groceries, but we can be more alert to coworkers, kids at school, friends and neighbours who don’t seem to have a lunch, a ride home or a good coat.
Talking publicly about financial scarcity is a cultural taboo, but we have to ask who benefits from that silence. It certainly doesn’t benefit those who are lacking.
We need to shatter that cultural norm.
There is no shame in working hard in an expensive town like Squamish, not having enough money and being honest about that.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is what impacts one can impact all, but we have the power to help each other.
If we don’t, we are going to lose even more of the workers who make this town livable, including those who serve us our coffee or meal with a smile, who work in our retail stores, bag our groceries, greet our customers and tourists and those who watch our children.
