03-13-2012, 09:09 PM
What's not mentioned is that many folks who rely on laundromats don't have $20 cash to buy a big jug of detergent at the market, especially after scraping together enough money to wash and dry a couple loads of laundry. So they buy those 1.5oz boxes from the vending machine at $1-$2 per. If you have only $10 -- as many people do -- you don't have much choice. Poverty is pretty freaking expensive.
I remember how much it hurt to need a box of detergent, have that $13 expense blow a hole in the week's budget. And then there's times you really can't manage to buy the big box at the supermarket, you have to buy one of the medium boxes, maybe $7, but only has a quarter of the detergent in the $13 box. You're kicking yourself, but you have to do laundry. You can either buy a big box of detergent, or you can wash your clothes. Not both.
I remember how much it hurt to need a box of detergent, have that $13 expense blow a hole in the week's budget. And then there's times you really can't manage to buy the big box at the supermarket, you have to buy one of the medium boxes, maybe $7, but only has a quarter of the detergent in the $13 box. You're kicking yourself, but you have to do laundry. You can either buy a big box of detergent, or you can wash your clothes. Not both.