I buy and sell on ebay and you can find good deals if you hunt for them. Make sure you ask what shipping to Canada is. The shipping may be stated at the bottom, but it is usually within the US. Shipping to Canada is generally more.
If they quote me really high shipping to Canada I usually tell them I know for a fact it won't cost that much and that its a darned shame they are charging so much shipping because I really like the item, and then they lower their shipping price for me
And Paypal is the way to go.
As for the wife not knowing, how you gonna hide that package that arrived in the mail? Hope you get home before her
Joey