The thing is that I grew up in California, so I am kind of numb to things like takes (lol, I meant taxes but that's a great typo so I'll leave it).
It is crazy to people, but I really don't mind paying them. I spent a lot of time in Mexico growing up, Tijuana to be specific. I loved having services like 911, water that never ran out, electricity that very rarely went out, emergency rooms, trash services ETC ETC ETC - because I grew up seeing first hand what it was like to live without them. I know other people figure out how to do it more cheaply than it is done in California.
But California <3 <3 <3
It is really services that eat up at our income. Stuff that is not necessary (ballet, soccer, baseball, fundraisers,), but why raise your children being able to watch everyone around them have these things, but not be able to have them, themselves? That's what's expensive in California. I pay the same for ballet classes than cousins on the other side of the border, but my kids get 45 minutes of instruction vs, 5 hours.
I can absolutely not complain though. I recognize that I get to live in California, and send my kids to ballet. Its just hella expensive to do so.
RE: The Cost of NOT Understanding "Cost Of Living" - Lessons Parents Need to Teach Their Children