i went to target. i bought the following:
- 6 space bags - $33
- 2 pillow protectors - $15
- laundry detergent - $10
i called the place that sells allerzip mattress and boxspring covers. they said:
- mattress cover - $109
- mattress + boxspring pair - $159
the laundromat i'm facing averages out:
- single wash - $2.25
- single dry - $1.50
- extra dry heat to kill bugs - $1.00
- total per load: $4.75
- number of loads: 12-15
- total cost: $57-72
and of course none of this includes expenses like new pillows, dry cleaning, cortizone to stop the itching, makeup to cover the welts, or most importantly -- the cost of extermination.
so now i'm starting to see why bedbugs seem like a "poor man's problem." i mean, really, if you have the money to do all these things easily, it will help eliminate the bugs. even better, if you can replace all your buggy stuff by buying new stuff, and can afford to have multiple pesticide treatments, you're in GREAT shape. but me? i'll be raiding the coin jar for laundry money. i'll be able to EITHER dry clean some clothes OR buy food that week. i just don't have the financial wiggle room right now to make this problem go away.
