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46 Ridiculously Overpriced Items That People Just Refuse To Buy Anymore
Interview With Expert
With inflation hitting nearly every corner of daily life, many people are quietly saying goodbye to items they once grabbed without thinking. From name-brand toothpaste to favorite snacks, what used to be basic necessities have now turned into guilty splurges.
So when someone online asked, “What has become so expensive that it’s just not worth it anymore?” the responses came flooding in. From breakfast staples to simple grooming habits, people shared the exact moment they decided, nope, not paying that anymore. Whether you're nodding along or rethinking your next shopping list, this one hits close to home.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Fast food and lower-tier restaurant chains. The original point was that you put up with the quality and the conditions under which it was served in exchange for it being cheap. If it’s no longer cheap, why would you subject yourself to that?
RELATED:
#2
Dolls. Probably only gonna get 2 for Christmas instead of my usual 30.
LusciousDs:
You could probably guild your new office in gold with all the money you saved on dolls and pencils.
#3
New vehicles.
Similar_Dirt9758:
Specifically pickup trucks for people that would actually need a pickup truck. You'll see farmers and construction workers driving 20 year old trucks and office workers driving brand new $100K trucks.
top_value7293:
Yep, my husband had a 2003 Dodge Ram he used for all his remodeling and yard work stuff he did for us and other people… No frills. No backseat. Hail damage on the hood lol. But he kept that thing running! He passed away and my daughter drives it now. Still going!
Geoffrey Scott 6 months ago
Just got rid of my 08 Chevy. Yeah, I coulda spent 7k on body work (Michigan winters suck) and still had a truck with 170k miles. Went 11 years newer for another 4k it would have cost for body work.. Do lawns and haul my tractor and trimmer/blower, so I need one.
We all enjoy the little joys in life. Maybe it’s treating yourself to a juicy steak or booking a spa day after a tiring week. Those tiny indulgences once felt routine. But now? They’ve become harder to justify. What used to be a simple reward suddenly feels like a luxury.
And while many of us have adjusted our spending, small businesses are feeling it, too. Rising costs aren’t just about consumer prices—they hit the supply chain hard. Business owners are juggling materials, shipping, and staff costs. It’s a constant battle to stay affordable. And not everyone can keep up. That’s where the strain starts to show.
#4
Movie tickets is the big one for me. I can't justify going to the theater anymore.
Moonface_chunker:
I took my kids to the movies last weekend. Just the three of us. It cost $150 with snacks included. Never again.
No-Understanding-912:
I think if movies/theaters want to survive, they need to suck it up and drastically cut ticket prices. Sure, it will hurt for a bit, but I bet more people will start going to the theaters and it will more than make up the difference. People love to complain about there's nothing to watch, everything is a sequel/prequel/remake, well it's because those have been guaranteed to make money and they can't take chances now with less and less people going to the movies.
#5
Alcohol! I stopped drinking back in February and I swear I have saved so much money while eating out and also just by not buying bottles of alcohol anymore. I’m so happy with my decision to stop drinking.
Potential_One8055:
It’s amazing how when you’re drunk, you want to feast on fast food. In the past, it was pizza delivery only or that Chinese place that stays open till 1am. Now you can get hammered and order literally from anywhere as though you’re going out to a fancy restaurant. It’s destroying my wallet.
wobbly jelly 6 months ago
But beware the price of soft drinks - we were out recently a bottle of wine was £20-25 - not too bad, a pink of Cobra £6.50 - my large coke £7 - it came from 2 small bottles - but how is it more than beer? Water next time (which is my drink of choice normally).
#6
Concert tickets. And it's doubly not worth it to go because everyone has their d**n phone in the air the whole time, completely obstructing your view.
howaboutsomeotherday:
My favorite band has a firm “no recording, cameras, cell phones” policy. Security has kicked people out of venues when spotted with phones recording. My assumption, other performers don’t mind cameras at their shows - free advertisement and exposure.
Frosty_Coffee6564:
Security needs to crack tf down on that! Also, I saw Stevie Nicks in Hershey last year, and everyone was STANDING, blocking the view of those behind them! You wouldn’t have been able to get away with that at Virginia Beach Amphitheater, and they had staggered seats!
We spoke with Ankita Chopra, owner of Ankita’s Fashion Hub—a home-based business that specializes in affordable kids’ gifts and party favors. “I used to be a housewife,” she shares. “This all started as a hobby. I began with a few items, working out of my home.” What began as a passion project slowly turned into a thriving business.
“I started getting lots of orders,” Ankita shares. “People wanted budget-friendly gift options.” Whether for return gifts, small birthday presents, or wedding favors, her customers kept coming back. “It felt good to know I could help people find quality gifts.” She found a sweet spot between cost and creativity.
#7
*Gestures broadly at everything*.
monkeyballpirate:
Yea. Hard to pick one. Healthcare? Rent? Not being homeless?
SweetAsPi:
Even goodwill raised their prices lol.
#8
AirBnBs were the cheap alternative to hotels but now they are just as if not more expensive and they charge you extra to clean.
KatSaidWhat 6 months ago
AirBnB self imploded in the US but is still pretty much ok here in UK.
#9
A great deal of the shoes & clothing from ‘budget’ retailers like Kmart or Target. I feel you’re better off biting the bullet and sinking money into something more expensive and having less items, rather than being sucked into outlaying the increasingly more expensive prices (but still less than elsewhere) they’re charging in the budget stores. The prices they’re charging for absolute c**p - you might as well just pay the bit extra and get something better.
Princess Possum 6 months ago
The Sam Vines' Boot Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness: The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles. But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that’d still be keeping his feet dry in ten years’ time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet. Men at Arms
But then the market shifted. “Things I used to sell for ₹99 now cost ₹199,” she says. Raw materials became more expensive. Labor charges climbed, too. The same products now cost nearly double to make. “It’s frustrating because I still want to keep things affordable.” But rising costs don’t leave much room.
“Shipping is another big headache,” she adds. “Rates have gone up and up.” Whether it’s local or courier, nothing’s cheap anymore. “Packaging materials, boxes, even tape, it all adds up.” Every order comes with hidden costs. And most people don’t see what happens behind the scenes. “It eats into our margins.”
#10
Haircuts. It used to be $25 for a shampoo + cut + dry. Now it’s $60 base without tip. I cut my own hair now.
atx2004:
I just looked at my local salon's price for an all over color. No highlights, nothing but a single color, all over. $250. If I just wanted my roots done, $125. I think it's time to just let my grays show.
imacone417:
Hirstylist here. It’s because our overhead is getting expensive. Last year my overhead, taxes, personal property taxes, and state licensing fees equaled just under $40,000. I am in WA state.
StrangeOne 6 months ago
I go just once a year. Maybe twice. Sometimes I'll trim my bangs a bit. I hate going to the salons and have to explain myself as if I'm doing something wrong with the hair that grows on my head, while they make snide comments here and there, and act like my hair is theirs.
#11
Dining out. I can afford it but it’s not worth the value + I enjoy cooking my own food.
ale-Confection-6951:
Right. When I think about dining out, I think how much cheaper and healthier the food is when I make it at home. And I don't like wasting the food I bought.
#12
Sports tickets and team merchandise.
thefox47545:
Or knock-offs. Knock-off manufacturers are uping their quality because they can make it better and cheaper than the "officially licensed" stuff. Lots of times their quality and appearance are so good that the avg person can't tell that it's a fake. And if they can, they likely won't care, unless they work for fanatics.
Operating costs are higher than ever. “Even basic tasks are expensive now,” Ankita explains. Margins used to be wider, giving her room to grow. But with everything costing more, profits shrank. “We have to work twice as hard for the same returns.” It’s not sustainable long-term. “Something needs to change.”
#13
Steaks. I used to buy red meat a couple times a month, and now I when I go to the store and look at it I simply can't afford it.
Negeren198:
Yeah even chicken is expensive.
Luckily we have a big supermarket where meat is 70% discount on the last day, wouldnt know how i could eat some meat without it.
Child of the Stars 6 months ago
I won't buy steak, but a pound of ground beef will stretch into 3-5 meals for my 2 kids and me when I make a casserole.
#14
Fabric. I used to sew a lot of our clothes and do quite a bit of quilting. But the fabric is so expensive now that it's cheaper to buy clothes.
Child of the Stars 6 months ago
Or fix what you have. Very basic mending like stitching closed a small hole before it gets bigger is super simple to do.
#15
Remember when McDonald’s had a dollar menu?
Biff2019:
I remember when a McDonald's hamburger was $0.29, and a cheeseburger was $0.39.
WinnerAwkward480:
Also years back Taco Bell had a Sunday special that was 4 Taco's for a dollar . Wendy's use to have a taco bar on I think it was Wednesday's all you can eat for $5. And it was either Denny's or Shoneys that had a AYCE (all you can eat) breakfast bar for $5 When our 3 boys were teens they would put a hurting on them.
KatSaidWhat 6 months ago
Yeah, McD and Burger King getting pretty pricey now. KFC as well. Meantime my local chicken shop does a massive chicken wrap for £2.99...
Suppliers are also under pressure. “It’s hard to get the stock I want,” she says. Some items are out of stock. Others are priced far too high. “You can’t plan properly when inventory is unstable.” Restocking is a constant challenge. She has to adjust daily. “It’s exhausting, honestly.”
#16
Delivery food! The delivery charge alone is ridiculous, and you've gotta tip the person whose doing something for you... I'll just go pick it up myself!!
brandee61:
I always was too cheap to pay the $3-5 delivery fee and then need to tip another $5-10 on top just to get even pizza for my family. I don’t understand how people afford to door dash even a couple of times a month. My job told us we could door dash a lunch mid Covid and a $10 salad was going to be $29 by the time I had the feed and tip - I declined even though it wasn’t my money. Instead I had my husband pick up an app and entree from a nice restaurant and had more than enough for two of us.
Oskar vanZandt 6 months ago
Having fast food delivered makes no sense to me... It's barely hot when you get it over the counter (McDonald's for example).
#17
Junk food. A simple bag of chips is like $5.
IslandEquivalent2565:
Can we talk about how the quality of their snacks has downgraded and they're less flavorful and generally not good.
Geoffrey Scott 6 months ago
Here in US, you can generally get 'lightly salted' chips for about $3. Try them, they taste like chips did when I was a kid (60's). Which just goes to show you how much sodium has been added over the years.
#18
Soft drinks in a restaurant. Nope, I'm not paying $4 for a coke.
StrangeOne 6 months ago
If there's free refills, I'll pay for that. But it's hard to find any beverages on the menu under $4.
Cash flow has taken a hit, too. “Delayed payments create a ripple effect,” she says. It’s harder to keep the business moving. “If one thing gets stuck, everything else slows down.” Ankita says she’s constantly juggling. “I have to be very careful now.” Every rupee counts more than before.
#19
Apple products.
Little Bit 6 months ago
Apple products are over priced, over rated and obsolete by the time they've hit the shops.
#20
Streaming. Streaming was touted as a cable k**ler when it was released, and now it’s just as, if not more, expensive than just having cable. The only difference is that you don’t have to pay for equipment.
TheRightToArmBears 6 months ago
Not even close. Netflix, Hulu and Max all together is still much cheaper than cable
#21
Kids.
Capt-Camping:
Like $35000 a kid.
Neat-Professor-827:
You mean $5000 won't cover 18 years of having a kid? I'm shocked.
She also wants to support her team. “My staff have their own bills,” Ankita says. “I want to pay them fairly, especially now.” But increased wages add to costs. “You can’t ignore people’s needs, though.” That’s the tough part. “Balancing kindness with business pressure isn’t easy.” But she tries anyway.
#23
Concert tickets are an absolute scam. I used to be able to go see any band I wanted at any height of their fame for under $20. Now it’s $200 for almost anybody no matter how popular they are.
Customers are more cautious, too. “I’ve seen a drop in orders lately,” she admits. People are cutting back, even on gifts. “They’re still shopping but more carefully.” It’s not personal, it’s economic. “We’re all watching how we spend.” Ankita understands. She’s a shopper, too.
#25
Anything recreational, like a boat or RV.
It will just creep up your costs and responsibilities and break you as a person.
“I want people to get value for their money,” she says. “But there’s only so much I can control.” Prices are rising faster than she can adjust. “It’s not just profit, it’s survival now.” Still, she holds on to hope. “My customers matter to me.” And she’s not giving up.
Costs are up, and it’s hitting everyone differently—from consumers skipping luxuries to small shops fighting to stay afloat. Have you cut back on anything recently? What’s one item you used to love but now feels out of reach? Let’s hear it.
#31
Cauliflower. One cauliflower can run $6 or $7. I was astounded one day when I bought 3 that it was over $20 for 3 m’fn cauliflowers!
LeSkootch:
It's waaay more expensive nowadays because it's being used for pizza crusts and rice substitutes and all that. Crazy how much the price has shot up.
#32
Disney World Tickets.
Sam Trudeau 6 months ago
And in the states specifically, I've heard it's "one does not simply walk into Mordor" levels out there.
#35
Lift tickets for skiing. I know snow sports have never been cheap, but a weekday lift pass used to cost $40 at one of the smaller mountains. That same ticket is now approaching $100. The larger resorts have gotten ridiculous at nearly $200 a day. It’s even more out West. It’s gotten so expensive that I’m considering quitting it altogether. .
Pferdchen 6 months ago
I've read that a lot of the American resorts have been purchased by hedge funds and, that in some circumstances, it's cheaper to fly to Europe to ski. From my browsers AI plug-in: Skiing in Europe can be cheaper than in the U.S. due to significantly lower lift ticket prices, accommodation options, and overall costs for food and equipment rentals. Many travelers find that even with flight costs, a ski trip to Europe can save them upwards of $1,000 compared to skiing in the U.S.
#36
Starter homes for young families.
joseph legatt 6 months ago
Does anyone actually still make starter homes? All I ever see being built are 3 or 4 thousand square foot monstrosities.
#38
Pizza delivery or takeout .
#39
A bag of Frito products is $6 and a 20oz Coke is $3, I dont even go down those aisles anymore.
Featherytoad 6 months ago
You don't have to pay for the name brand. You might be surprised when you buy the store brand for half the price, and you'll never pay for the name brand again. I have heard that a lot of people actually like the store brand better because the name brands are cutting corners.
#40
Medications.
Angie Falzarano 3 months ago
I was going to say medical specially surgeries but meds are just as bad
#41
Cat litter! I guess I never really paid attention to the price before, but I went to a Walmart yesterday and bought three 20-lb. pourable containers of Tidy Cat. Nothing fancy. With tax, it was over $40!
Thee8thsense 6 months ago
I buy 50 pound bags of children's play sand to use as kitty litter. It used to be way more economical compared to regular kitty litter, but it also has gone up a couple of dollars in price. Still, it is less expensive, and my cat thinks it's pretty cool to have his own sandbox to do his duty in.
#43
Kids.
I have one. My deductible was $10k (I had “good” insurance) but that pales in comparison to the $2400 a month we paid the first 5 years of her life for childcare. We can breathe a bit better now that she’s in school but after care still runs about $80 a week, then there’s multiple weeks of summer care that can range from $200-600 per week(not even for overnight camp). And that’s just the easy costs to calculate.
It’s always so hard for me to comprehend the push to have more children when so many families are in a similar situation to me and don’t have family help in general. My own mother cannot comprehend when I say we simply cannot afford another and it would be wrong to have more kids if we know it would cause a financial burden. Especially since I will likely be burned with my parents own poor financial health as they get older.
#44
Not necessarily “buying” but paying for a service; getting manicures regularly.
#45
Smoking.
iseefractals 6 months ago
I quit smoking 12 years ago. Instead of spending the money i saved by not buying smokes, i instead....just actually put the money into a savings account, which as of last month now has $56,193.86.
What do you think ?
Forrest Hobbs 6 months ago
I think when the list of "everyday items" includes boats, ski lifts, and manicures, it's nonsense.
L.V 6 months ago
I went through the list and forgot it was supposed to be everyday things
Load More Replies... Timbob 6 months ago
Why has no one mentioned the Morton Arboretum in Illinois? They must make more money than the U.S. MINT
DeoManus Argentem 6 months ago
Really niche, but ferret food - pre-covid their favorite food was $7/bag... now it's $18-25, and that's on Amazon/Chewy (everything almost always cheaper than local retail)! Now, obviously I still buy it because I love them, but wow. And it's been that way since before tariffs, who knows how much higher it'll go.
Forrest Hobbs 6 months ago
I think when the list of "everyday items" includes boats, ski lifts, and manicures, it's nonsense.
L.V 6 months ago
I went through the list and forgot it was supposed to be everyday things
Load More Replies... Timbob 6 months ago
Why has no one mentioned the Morton Arboretum in Illinois? They must make more money than the U.S. MINT
DeoManus Argentem 6 months ago
Really niche, but ferret food - pre-covid their favorite food was $7/bag... now it's $18-25, and that's on Amazon/Chewy (everything almost always cheaper than local retail)! Now, obviously I still buy it because I love them, but wow. And it's been that way since before tariffs, who knows how much higher it'll go.
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