The new HST is kicking in two months early for things like season tickets and gym memberships, hiking up tax rates beginning next month.

The HST doesn't officially come into effect until July 1, but if you're buying goods and services that won't be received or delivered until after that date, you'll pay the new 12-per-cent tax starting May 1.

That means that finding your zen at a yoga studio will cost you more, as will a season's worth of opera or annual tickets to Vancouver Giants hockey games.

Some businesses have tried to help out consumers by encouraging them to buy their tickets or season's passes before the end of April.

Buy early, and a family of four looking for season tickets to the Vancouver Giants will save more than $120.

"About 30 per cent of our base is already paid in full, and by the time we hit the deadline next week, we should probably be over 50 per cent, which is far ahead of our usual number," the Giants' Director of Sales and Marketing Paul Lucrezi told CTV News.

Domestic travel is also subject to the increase, if your flight tickets are scheduled for July 1 or later.

Even Costco memberships are included in the early deadline.

The Vancouver Aquarium is opting to absorb the extra HST costs for the next two months, so that the tax increase doesn't impact its membership base -- members will have until the end of June to renew without paying the HST.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Leah Hendry