It’s happening: The trains are overcrowded again. There’s traffic gridlock every weekday morning. There are longer lines at your favourite downtown coffee shop and even longer queues at lunch hour.

The pre-pandemic norm of working five days in the office is coming back for many Canadians, except it’s not exactly the same this time around. The cost of just about everything, from food to gas, has risen significantly from five years ago. But for many office-goers, their paycheques haven’t kept pace.

For those mandated to return to the office, they face increased expenses for transit, parking, meals and even dog-walkers as they prepare to spend more time away from home.

Financial educator Eduek Brooks estimates the cost of returning to the office five days a week could range anywhere betwee

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