Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
The sages of antiquity liked to say that money is the root of all evil on earth. Some equally wise, but also witty guy in the 20th century added that the main problem is not so much money, but the lack of it. And today, when prices are rapidly rising, and money is depreciating just as quickly, this problem is only becoming more and more urgent.
Today, we have access to many things that our grandparents and even parents could only dream of... but they are available, as they say, just in theory. At the same time, the economic situation of many people sometimes forces them to refuse things that were completely ordinary before. So here's the list of such things, according to folks online.
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Concerts! By the time all the extras and fees are applied they're out of reach.
Gavin Johnson 1 week ago
Be brave, find your local small venue, do some research and find your next favourite band. If popular is expensive then buck the trend and watch a band you can shake hands with, you can directly support by buying their merch and support independent artists. It’s intimate, it’s enjoyable and you’ll be welcomed with open arms. My last gig £15, one before that £22, one before that I went nuts and spent £30. Ticketmaster can Foxtrot Oscar.
RELATED:
#2
Depends where you are, but here in Toronto, Canada owning a home is out of most people's reach.
Dog Mom to Zoe 1 week ago
San Franciscan here and I feel this comment. Luckily, I purchased my condo in 2009 when real estate took an awful downturn. I couldn't afford my own condo today.
#3
Cocktails at many bars or clubs- they’re in most cases over $10 and closer to $20, the drink is half ice so the alcohol is watered down, and the liquor used is usually a well liquor.
Nice Beast Ludo 1 week ago
Same with coffee drinks or smoothies. You might as well go to Starbucks cause Wawa and McDonald's are the same price and way crappier
You can't find many threads in the AskReddit community where the number of comments far exceeds the number of upvotes - and this thread, initiated a couple of months ago by the user u/sweetselene_, is definitely one of them. As of today, it has almost 500 upvotes and over 3.4k various comments, simply because the topic is incredibly relevant for many of us.
#4
Fast food. Might as well get a decent burger from a local restaurant, ultimately might end up getting more food and spending less food.
The convenience isn't worth the price anymore.
BookFanatic 1 week ago
Yeah. Went to McDonald's for dinner and their combo meals were nearly $20. Turned around and went home. I refuse to spend that much for a subpar burger, drink, and fries.
#5
Everything... $50 is the new $20 and every time I leave my house, I spend at least $100 one way or another.
#6
Eating out. Stupid inflated prices with mandatory tips. Nah dang, I can make all that food at home and just have friends over.
ChickyChicky 1 week ago
Again when did this one "become" too expensive? Prices have risen steeply recently, that's true. But eating out has always been a treat for the budget-concious.
Many commenters in the original thread say that some things that are considered completely ordinary in society are becoming almost unavailable to them today, for example, living alone (or vice versa - creating a family with children), attending concerts and shows, vacations in numerous distant places of interest, and housing. Affordable housing in particular is a true scourge of our time.
#7
Thrifting has become crazy expensive. All of the thrift stores I used to go to have increased prices. On top of that garage sales are crazy, My favorite is pulling up to garage sales and see the owners have just printed out random listing from ebay. "No, I am not gonna pay $100 dollars for a microwave from 2010 because it sold for that on ebay 5 years ago".
#8
Going to the movies. And don’t think about buying popcorn.
#9
Cable TV is no longer worth it. I got rid of it about 2 years ago.
Mark Fergel 1 week ago
Yeah, but internet connection is still crazy high. I cancelled cable. Saved $20.......a couple months later they raised rates $15. I pay $110 for internet service.
This is largely due to the growth of inflation and the decline in the real purchasing power of our salaries - after all, the rate of price growth often outpaces the growth of wages. Accordingly, while earlier, decades ago, the salary that the average American received allowed them to count on a certain set of material and non-material benefits, today this set is significantly reduced.
#10
Disney vacations.
Gavin Johnson 1 week ago
Who’d have thought that one of the greatest gods of the capitalist system would be dedicated to rinsing as much money as they can from their patrons? Who’s next?
#11
Retirement.
TheRightToArmBears 1 week ago
This one hits home. I have done everything right and it still seems unobtainable
#12
Beauty luxuries.
Eyelashes, nails, hair color, etc.
I used to get a cut and highlights for around $80 - last quote was for $350!
When eyelash extensions first came out, I got a full set for $40+tip. Now they're charging $200.
It's way too expensive to have the beauty wants that are definitely not needs, the irony is that now that I can afford it, I no longer want it. There's been so much peace in learning to accept and love my natural maintenance-free beauty.
I have some friends that do monthly spray tans, eyelashes, mani+pedi, botox, lips, hair cut/color, etc - easily spending around 2k/mo on just beauty maintenance - just insane to me.
Marissa Voleta 1 week ago
All so they can look exactly the same as everyone else on the socials.
"The problem, in particular, is that after a relatively calm decade, when the world emerged from the economic crisis of 2008, there followed years of turbulence," says Olga Kopylova, Ph.D., associate professor of economics at Odessa National Maritime University, to whom Bored Panda reached out for a comment here.
"First, it was the pandemic, which created serious risks for the global economy. Risks that have not existed for a very long time. Usually, economists expect a serious surge in business activity after the end of pandemic restrictions - but this time it didn't happen."
"And several years in a row with military and financial tension in the world put the world economy on the brink of a crisis. Even more serious than it was in 2008. And life in a crisis always brings significant problems for every member of society."
#13
Vacation. We rented a house oceanfront in North Carolina in 2021. We checked the price for the same house in 2022 and it went up by $3,000 for the week. It wasn’t a fancy house AT ALL.
#14
Ordering delivery.. used to be same price as ordering in person with a small fee and tip per item.
Now most places have signed with a "service", so they no longer do it themselves and now your have to go thru Door Dash or Uber Eats.. etc which add on additional fee's, increased prices from menu price and larger tips expected for what in most cases amounts to worst service then back when restaurant or pizza joint did their own delivery.
Upstaged75 1 week ago
I tried to order Chinese food recently but my local one no longer delivers - you have to go through one of the delivery apps. Which ends up being stupidly expensive.
#15
Streaming services. DoorDash.
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 1 week ago
I pay $17 per month for the Disney/MAX/Hulu bundle and use the free services like Tubi. Unfortunately I also pay $80/month for internet.
Be that as it may, all that remains for us is to try to save and spend wisely, and just live our lives. To live in the hope that stability will sooner or later return to this world, and decades from now we'll tell our grandkids about today's financial problems as just scary tales... But for now, please feel free to read these stories, and maybe share your own ideas in the comments below the list.
#16
My f*****g body. I can’t tell you how much I’ve had to spend on this mf’er. Six brain surgeries are expensive.
Kelly Scott 1 week ago
I'd guess a million plus for each one. And so many insurance companies cap out at a million, no matter whether it's brain surgeries or cancer or what have you.
#17
Soda. It wasn't too long ago that you could get a case for $5. Now they run around $13-15.
Chicken Mitten 1 week ago
As someone who drinks ginger ale for nausea, the prices are ridiculous!
#18
Camping. You have to reserve a year in advance and it costs half the price of a hotel. In Cali anyway.
#19
Living alone. It’s almost worth going back to my ex just to save some money.
#20
Car insurance.
Antoinette the Red 1 week ago
This one does not belong here. It's illegal to drive in the US without insurance. I mean, you can do it, but if stopped for something unrelated or involved in a crash, it's going to be another charge and you may get your car impounded.
#21
Bloody olive oil.
Captain Grump 1 week ago
The cost of olive oil is a direct consequence of climate change. Draught is killing the crops and dramatically shrinking the supply.
#22
Meat.
#23
Getting foods you want at the grocery store.
The last time I made a steak has been at least 3 months because I don't want to buy them, and I for sure am not stealing it.
Upstaged75 1 week ago
Recently I was shocked by how expensive cereal is! It's always been a cheap alternative for me, but not anymore I guess.
#25
Skiing.
Michael Largey 1 week ago
Why would I pay thousands of dollars to plummet down an incline and break my leg when I can stay home and fall down my basement stairs for free?
#26
Living in the UK. Even the basics are too expensive. If I could leave, I would.
Isis905 1 week ago
PREACH!! I had disc replacement surgery on my neck back in 2012. My portion of the bill after insurance? $10,000. Now I need both hips replaced. I'm now looking into home equity loans to pay for it.
Load More Replies...
Robert Beveridge 1 week ago
Chengmai has an incredible cost of living right now, according to a friend teaching at the university there. Of course, you have to be able to afford the plane tickets to GET there...
Load More Replies...
Nice Beast Ludo 1 week ago
I wish I could leave the US but I can't even get out of Maryland. Hell I can't even get the f**k out of Charles county
Petra Peitsch 1 week ago (edited)
Hm, leaving the EU wasn't a good idea, isn't it? But okay, you'll maybe voted to stay, so let's be helpful. You can still leave for sure, the trick is 1. You have to have a profession what is wanted (that won't be necessary something with university degree). 2. You have to speak another language, than english. 3. You have to have some financial fund, like savings, what will be enough for you for 6 months in your new place, even if you won't get a job just after 2-3 months. How do I know? I left my eastern-european country before it was EU-member, moving to Austria. I didn't have a certain job-offer, but I was self-confident enough, speaking 4 languages, willing to leave my comfort-zone, willing to deal with the bureaucracy, and sure, saving up a bit for the move. I don't say, it was easy, I was living in hostels for like 1 year. But I really wanted it. If I could do it, coming from a more poorer european country,than UK, sure you'll succeed too. The first 1-2 years won't be fun.
MoMcB 1 week ago
Bollocks. Lies spread by the Media to hide the s**t being done by government and their rich cronies.
Load More Replies... #27
Broadway shows.
#28
* Buying regular milk. Buying lattes at cafes. Buying a cup of coffee in general. I buy 6 month shelf stable boxed milk for $1.20. I use two boxes a week for my home made lattes for my partner and I. He needs more milk than I, I go through 1 box alone in 2 weeks. My lattes cost $0.75 or less.
* Funnel cakes. Pancake batter drizzled in hot oil. Cost $0.33 per funnel cake.
* Fried Oreo cookies. Oreo cookies dipped in pancake batter fried in hot oil. Cost $0.11 per fried oreo.
* Waffle House/IHOP cuz breakfast is the easiest meals to make. $2-5.
*Chinese Food: most meals they make don’t even take 30 minutes start to finish. General Tso: $4-6. Orange chicken $5-8. Sweet and Sour $4-6.
Once you teach yourself something, you realize how cheap it is to make it yourself.
Antoinette the Red 1 week ago
Expect for the milk, OP should be more worried about their medical bills with that entry.
What do you think ?
Gavin Johnson 1 week ago
Stop buying the things, lower your expectations, be more frugal, recycle / share more, stop expecting life to be cheap, being horrified doesn’t change the reality, expensive companies will only continue to exist if we keep paying for their services, buy independent, buy local, walk to your local takeaway, buy less, do more that’s free, there’s plenty of free stuff out there. Or……. Spend your way into debt, moan about it, never recover, your call I guess.
Spencer's slave no longer 1 week ago
It's really easy to grow your own veggies too, even without an actual garden. Group together with family, friends etc buy a beast from a local farmer to grow, kill and butcher it for you.
Load More Replies...
reuben kift 1 week ago (edited)
Being poor would be my choice of things that have become too expensive. I know it sounds weird, but it's the truth. Just think about The Vimes Boots Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness. Although, to be honest, being poor has always been expensive.
Pencil 1 week ago
People who've never been unable to afford the jumbo pack of toilet paper can't wrap their heads around that.
Load More Replies...
Charoltte Mike 6 days ago
I never believed initially that it'll be so successful investing bitcoin and stocks with Mr Harold Kendrick, despite the fact I invested a little amount as a beginner, I'm so glad I withdraw my $31,000 profit successfully. Contact him directly ᴏɴ Watsap+ 44 7407600166.
Sarah Matsoukis 1 week ago
Somehow Germany has the highest electricity prices even though we produce so much of it we could almost give it to people for free we even sell it to nearby countries
Inigo Montoya 1 week ago
I can't believe professional sports didn't make this list. It used to be for the middle class. Now with a single NFL game costing several hundred dollars, not to mention obscene concession prices, it is strictly a playground for the wealthy.
Gavin Johnson 1 week ago
Stop buying the things, lower your expectations, be more frugal, recycle / share more, stop expecting life to be cheap, being horrified doesn’t change the reality, expensive companies will only continue to exist if we keep paying for their services, buy independent, buy local, walk to your local takeaway, buy less, do more that’s free, there’s plenty of free stuff out there. Or……. Spend your way into debt, moan about it, never recover, your call I guess.
Spencer's slave no longer 1 week ago
It's really easy to grow your own veggies too, even without an actual garden. Group together with family, friends etc buy a beast from a local farmer to grow, kill and butcher it for you.
Load More Replies... reuben kift 1 week ago (edited)
Being poor would be my choice of things that have become too expensive. I know it sounds weird, but it's the truth. Just think about The Vimes Boots Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness. Although, to be honest, being poor has always been expensive.
Pencil 1 week ago
People who've never been unable to afford the jumbo pack of toilet paper can't wrap their heads around that.
Load More Replies... Charoltte Mike 6 days ago
I never believed initially that it'll be so successful investing bitcoin and stocks with Mr Harold Kendrick, despite the fact I invested a little amount as a beginner, I'm so glad I withdraw my $31,000 profit successfully. Contact him directly ᴏɴ Watsap+ 44 7407600166.
Sarah Matsoukis 1 week ago
Somehow Germany has the highest electricity prices even though we produce so much of it we could almost give it to people for free we even sell it to nearby countries
Inigo Montoya 1 week ago
I can't believe professional sports didn't make this list. It used to be for the middle class. Now with a single NFL game costing several hundred dollars, not to mention obscene concession prices, it is strictly a playground for the wealthy.
You May Like Job Interview Takes An Unexpected Turn The Moment Candidate Is Shown Expectations And Salary 50 World’s Weirdest Jobs That Pay Out Quite Well “Beyond Petty”: Woman’s Desperate Plot To Smear Coworker’s Reputation Ends In HR Nightmare
Ieva Pečiulytė
Aivaras Kaziukonis
Jonas Zvilius
Related on Bored Panda
