Where did all the time go? There’s no question time flies as it’s December already. I really notice how fast time flies every time I see my teenage nephews, who seem to be inches taller every few months or perhaps, I’m shrinking.
What does December mean? It’s Holiday time. Hanukkah started on Thursday and by the time you read this, Christmas will be less than 2.5 weeks away. We have covered holiday shopping tips, as holiday time seems to flush out emotions that have accumulated during the year. Holidays can be stressful with year end goals, exams, holiday shopping responsibilities and choosing which holiday parties to attend.
Unless you have a career where you wear a suit or female business attire daily, holiday parties are condensed into these next 2-3 weeks of dressing up regularly, which ratchets up your dry-cleaning bills during the time when “Financial Stress” hurts the most!
As per Lending Tree, the average American took on $1,249 of holiday debt in 2021 and $1,549 of holiday debt in 2022, a 24% increase. Dry cleaning plays a part in holiday spending, as it all adds up as you will see below!
As per getonedesk.com, the dry-cleaning industry generates $5 billion in revenues per year across the United States. This industry is expected to grow by 4% per year.
If you have been to the dry cleaners recently, (many have closed during COVID-19) you might have noticed significant price increases compared to pre-COVID-19. For example, I have seen pricing for dry cleaning men’s shirts between $6- $8 and from $14-$18 for a 2-piece suit. The average cost (it’s on a case-by-case basis) to clean a woman’s dress is in the $20-$25-dollar range.
I decided to take it one step further and called Micky’s Dry Cleaning at 67-20 Rockaway Beach Boulevard. They have favorable pricing, as men’s shirts cost $6.25 to dry clean ($3.95 to wash and press) and dresses start at $13.50, although they recommend taking the dress into them for a more accurate price quote.
That being said, see my top 6 money-saving tips below: