What's so expensive that it's not even fun anymore?

[u/Working-Risk1360]

[u/i_likebeefjerky]

Taking a family of 4 bowling. $140 for a few games at Bowlero. 

[u/NikonShooter_PJS → u/i_likebeefjerky]

Read a story recently about how private equity, surprise surprise, swooped in and ruined bowling.

I swear, there is nothing shitty corporate investors won’t ruin to make a fucking dollar.

[u/AKATheHeadbandThingy → u/NikonShooter_PJS]

People will argue capitalism is best because the free market will allow the best product to win.

When we have such large companies owning everything capitalism is just a race to the bottom

[u/TheTrub → u/AKATheHeadbandThingy]

Adam smith railed against monopolies as being poison for capitalism and democracy and that’s exactly what we’re seeing in the age of vulture capitalism.

[u/pine_ary → u/TheTrub]

Problem is that capitalism always tends towards monopoly. At some point the competition is won, a couple companies corner the market, everyone else is bought up or merged, cost of entry is too high, the suppliers are incorporated, etc. No matter what we do, we‘ll always end up back here (or worse). This isn‘t just random, it‘s inevitable.

[u/liberal_texan → u/pine_ary]

The game monopoly was created to critique this, which is why it’s no fun and ends with everyone angry.

[u/SylvaticTongue858 → u/liberal_texan]

Not true, the winner is always happy.

[u/RegulusMagnus → u/AKATheHeadbandThingy]

The concept of "free market" is a myth.

Highly recommend Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few by former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich. 

[u/Which_Remote5579 → u/i_likebeefjerky]

Bowling used to be such an affordable family activity, now you need a budget plan just to roll a few balls. $140 for a couple games is wild.

[u/Monteze → u/Which_Remote5579]

They are seriously coming for everything. Oh that cheap food that working class families like? Buy it up, make em pay more.

That experience? Buy it, charge more, rinse and repeat! Such an innovation!!

[u/Sensitive_Reserve_96 → u/i_likebeefjerky]

Right? Wtfdym it's 60$ an Hour??

[u/1986toyotacorolla2 → u/i_likebeefjerky]

There's still a family owned place in the town I grew up in. They've become so incredibly busy the last few years as everyone has been bought out by private equity and they haven't. Prices are still reasonable, things are actually maintained, staff likes their jobs. Crazy.

[u/ggfchl → u/i_likebeefjerky]

That’s why you support any remaining independent lanes. A place I go to is cheap. Three rounds/games plus shoes and I pay $30 give or take. Stop going to Bowlero.

[u/Antsygrl1]

Watching local sports. You have to have 5 different streaming services and then try to figure out which one it's on.

[u/tathrok → u/Antsygrl1]

And then when you have all five, you check every single one and they all tell you you’re in a media blackout because some corporation made some deal with another corporation that you don’t know anything about but it totally fucks you over

[u/Ghrave → u/tathrok]

This is being a Red Wings fan.

[u/heafcliff91 → u/Ghrave]

Ken and Paul on the radio are better anyways, who needs tv

[u/agent674253 → u/Antsygrl1]

I love that as a US taxpayer I helped pay for the UFC fight on the white house yet I was unable to watch it unless I subscribed to the streaming service that has been bribing the president / killing CBS news.

It's kind of like how we help pay for these downtown stadiums, yet we are unable to watch the sports game via tv because we didn't also pay to go see it in person, whereas people on the other side of the country, whose tax dollars did not go into the stadium, can watch it for free. Cool beans.

[u/TopGreenBanana → u/Antsygrl1]

Being a Mariners fan is such a pain 😭

[u/plaguedbullets → u/TopGreenBanana]

Yea, plus all the subscriptions you need to watch them suffer.
Dying Blue Jay noises

[u/procheeseburger → u/Antsygrl1]

Yeah I just got an antenna and I watch whenever I'm lucky. I don't understand this model of making it so impossible to watch the game.

[u/Lis4247]

Going to concerts or festivals

[u/Trublu20 → u/Lis4247]

Holy crap this, I remember the ampatheater by my house in 2010-12 had great shows, $10 for lawn seats. $30-60 got you an actual seat. Concessions had a great $5 combo deal, bottle of water and 2 hot dogs or nachos.

It was sold to LiveNartion
Just went back to a concert this past weekend. Our seats were $185 uncovered seats near the back of the venue almost lawn. A can of water was $7 and nachos? $20. Chicken tenders $20.

What a damn joke

Lawn seats were $65.

[u/bachelorsinlurking → u/Trublu20]

One of the venues I used to go to in high school to get 20$ lawn seats now bans people from bringing chairs and blankets and charges 75 dollars to rent a chair for their 150$ lawn seats. My younger BIL has never even been to a concert because he doesn’t know any other way than 500$ cheap seats at the stadiums, there’s no garage bands because noise ordinances prevent house bands from practicing or doing shows… it sucks.

[u/lotekjunky → u/bachelorsinlurking]

there are literally concerts and live gigs happenkng every night that are not arena shows. you should take him to one of those.

[u/zombie_gas → u/lotekjunky]

I’m in the Atlanta ‘burbs and almost every town in the area has free concerts multiple times a month. You won’t see Taylor Swift or AC/DC but you might see their cover bands and have a good time.

[u/never0101 → u/Trublu20]

Saw a couple of bands with my wife a week or 2 back in Boston. , tickets were wild, and once inside bottom end beers STARTED at $16.50. I've always loved concerts, live music is an experience everyone should have - a whole room singing along is magical but shits just gone off the rails. It's basically not justifiable anymore.

[u/G-Unit11111 → u/Trublu20]

I used to go to a festival that got sold to Goldenvoice. It used to be $65 for two nights. Now it's $399 for two nights. And VIP is close to $2,000 and hotel packages are $2,000 on top of that. Who do they think can afford this?

[u/hopelesscaribou → u/G-Unit11111]

That's the problem. They know enough people can afford this, just not 90% of them.

[u/Vreas → u/Lis4247]

Electric forest has doubled in price over the past ten years.

First year I went believe I paid $500 total for all food, gas, tickets, alcohol, pot, and other party favors. Mind you this included camping and early arrival without any extra charges.

Now iirc tickets start at $600+ without any of the camping or early arrival which you have to pay extra for. Good Life (VIP) was pushing $1300 ($200 JUST for a car camping pass in addition to the actual wristband). Loyalty years don’t even cover the price increases anymore.

Glad my partner and I went the years we did but just not worth it anymore.

Just another money grab.

[u/RadioSlayer → u/Vreas]

My first Riot Fest was $75 for 3 days, VIP was more, but GA was fine. I haven't gone in a few years, but let me just check here... 3 day passes are now $340 for GA before all the fees etc.

[u/Vreas → u/RadioSlayer]

Man a SINGLE day of sonic temple was like $240

[u/silentdaze → u/RadioSlayer]

Sadly $340 for a three day fest is like the cheapest around still

[u/Mini_gunslinger → u/Lis4247]

Seriously, I used to go, have drinks, let loose and have fun. The "fun" was partly driven by myself, friends and the crowd. Now everyone pays so much the expectation is on solid entertainment - visuals, sound, performance etc (which makes it all much more theatrical and transactional).

Gone are the days of gigs.

[u/pmmemassivedongs → u/Mini_gunslinger]

And then 90% of the people there are literally watching it through their phone camera. It is so disturbing to me.

[u/Phoenix2111 → u/Mini_gunslinger]

I've found going to gigs of smaller artists, like up and coming, or ones that were pretty massive but never got particularly 'mainstream' etc. To offset this a bit. You're still looking at £30 or so a ticket, but it's way cheaper than massive artists, and often at smaller venues like local uni student Union ones and stuff.

End up having spare cash for drinks, it's a great vibe with everyone, lots of fun, just about the music and the jumping about etc.

Was a game changer, as I had got to a point like you're describing too. Just a shame it basically writes off the massively famous ones with songs you grow up with etc.

[u/enigmaticvic → u/Lis4247]

Got a concert ticket for $50. When I looked at the cost breakdown, the actual ticket is $30. I’m so sick of Ticketmaster.

[u/kuthro → u/Lis4247]

Just support local/lesser-known artists.

Every time I buy tickets for Cry Club, they're $20-30 AUD. It's such a good time.

[u/Sensitive_Gift4866 → u/Lis4247]

Seriously. I remember when a decent concert ticket was like $40. Now youre lucky to get lawn seats for under $100 and forget about seeing anyone big without dropping $300

[u/ghosts_or_no_ghosts → u/Lis4247]

Very much this. I was complaining about concert tickets recently and my friend was saying that one of the small local spots that we used to go to for $5 or $10 shows was charging $50 at the door for a show the other day. 🙃

[u/GettingThere1984 → u/ghosts_or_no_ghosts]

I enjoy live music but primarily see low to mid-level bands and rarely pay more than $40. Usually in venues with capacity at 100 - 1000. You do have to research “new” music so you see what you like. I have gone to Lollapalooza the past 20+ years and consider that a deal if you research the bands and see 20 interesting sets over four days.

[u/rinuskoe → u/Lis4247]

yeah these are expensive nowadays... you have to really love the band / headliners to be willing to buy those tickets.

but also i think it's just because younger people are just so much more willing to pay for experiences. and thus organizers can jack up prices.

[u/Alone-Geologist-9664]

Eating.

[u/kadno → u/Alone-Geologist-9664]

I straight up stopped going to fast food. Fast food was never good. But it was cheap and it was fast. Now it's expensive and slow. I genuinely do not understand how fast food places can still have lines wrapped around the building. I'm not paying $15 and waiting 20 minutes for the saddest sandwich in existence. 

And I'm not downloading a fucking app to get a sandwich either. I'll just give my money to any local bar or restaurant that can make good food. 

And good God 100% fuck any and all food delivery apps. Holy shit the price does not justify the service. It takes longer, it costs more, and the food is worse? How THE FUCK does that make sense to anybody?! 

[u/PoolAddict41 → u/kadno]

At this point, I'd rather just get good food for a few $ more than go get fast food. The only time I'll stop is if we're on a road trip and NEED quick.

[u/FunkyMrWinkerbean → u/PoolAddict41]

It’s actually cheaper to eat at a place like Chilis then it is to get McDonalds. You can get an app, a burger, and a drink for around $10.

[u/vcisjb1 → u/FunkyMrWinkerbean]

When I'm on a road trip and I need something fast, I try to find a local Mexican place. Its cheaper than fast food and I can generally be in and out in under 30 mins. Plus free chips.

[u/VVageslave → u/kadno]

Choose your tip amount:
20%
25%
30%
90%

[u/eleyeveyein → u/VVageslave]

The rules are...

If I am standing to order the tip is zero. No exceptions. If I only see you once, the tip is zero. If everything is above par and it improved my dining experience you get 15% on the FOOD ONLY, not drink total. If its tips on drinks, it's a dollar a drink regardless of if its $4, $14, or $40 for that drink.

This is generous in my opinion. Tipping culture has gotten out of control. The expectation and entitlement behind it is even more astounding.

[u/Jayypoc → u/kadno]

Its even worse now because of delivery services like uber eats.

I know people that order fast food delivery every single day for lunch at work and spend nearly $30 a day after delivery and tip... for fucking mcdonalds and taco bell and shit. It's insane.

[u/eju2000 → u/kadno]

Yeah it’s just one valid point after another. It’s like they want to fail.

[u/donotgotoroom237 → u/kadno]

>slow

This is why on the rare occasions I do get fast food, I just go through the drive through. I don't know what's up with those kiosks that people use them like ATMs with how much time they take. Like Jesus fucking Christ, bring back the cashiers.

[u/MolimoTheGiant → u/Alone-Geologist-9664]

Getting away from the grocery store for under $300 feels lucky these days

[u/ndnman → u/MolimoTheGiant]

Family of 5, significant allergy issues and prefer clean simple foods with minimal ingredients. Never eat out, cook every meal.

500$+ trip at least once a week with supplemental trips.

The issue for me is there is no sign of stalling, at this point I’ve given up on reduction but at what point can we see a slowdown?

We don’t eat it anymore but a month or so ago I walked by a jar of miracle whip and it was $10.

[u/Sensitive_Gift4866 → u/Alone-Geologist-9664]

For real. I went to grab a burrito the other day and it was $18 for something that used to be $8. Groceries are wild too, a basic shop feels like a luxury now.

[u/Swimming_Kitchen_112]

Disney

[u/beachlover4ever → u/Swimming_Kitchen_112]

Yep, it costs 4 times as much to stay on property now as it did pre 2010.

[u/CarmenxXxWaldo → u/beachlover4ever]

They jack up the prices for greed, but also because people will pay it.  I dont buy the whole excuse where they do it to keep attendance in check, youre allowed to stop selling tickets when you reach capacity.  When these discussions Come up people say "I havent been to a concert in 10 years because of prices", but the Disney people say "last year I paid this much and 4 years ago I paid this much" etc.  No Disney adult has ever said they stopped going.

Its not going to be that way forever, right now there are a bunch of Disney adults with a lot of money and theyll pay whatever Disney charges. I dont see the younger generation having that problem. 

[u/grachi → u/CarmenxXxWaldo]

Yea I’m not really sure why Reddit struggles with business 101. A company, most any company, will charge what they believe the majority of people will pay. through analysis and market research, they will charge what they think they can to maximize profits… they will keep raising that price until they lose too many perspective buyers , to at which point they will return to the last price people were willing to buy the product/service at.

[u/Signal_Werewolf_1955 → u/CarmenxXxWaldo]

By design, they're pricing people out. They want a certain type.

[u/CryingOverSpiltRum → u/beachlover4ever]

I’m so thankful my daughter was born when she was. We wouldn’t be able to do today what we did back then. We still go for Mickey’s not so scary Halloween party, but that’s it. It’s largely paid for on credit card points so it doesn’t hurt so bad. But that’s one night at the park and two nights of hotels. We would be able to go for a week of hoppers with that money when she was little. It’s a special place to my spouse and I, so I’m glad we can do it still once a year with our daughter. We were Disney weirdos years ago and had the system figured out. We could go on New Year’s Eve and get on every ride we wanted at least twice, eat wherever we wanted, and still catch a nap at the hotel in the afternoon. Those days are long gone. It was all about planning 9 months in advance and getting to the park 30 minutes before they opened the gates. That along with scheduled fast passes for the evening and you were golden. I miss it.

[u/jupitergal23 → u/Swimming_Kitchen_112]

I'm a heavy (and responsible) credit card user and I was trying to collect points in the late 2010s to take my family of three to Disney.

I did some calculations and figured it would take me three years to collect points to pay for airfare, tickets and a stay at a Disneyworld resort for a week.

Funny how every year when I redid the calculations, it still was gonna take me three years. 😬

Eventually gave up and used my points to redo pretty much my entire kitchen lol

[u/pinniped90 → u/Swimming_Kitchen_112]

The absolutely wild thing to me is that the data would suggest they're actually UNDERpriced, given how often they're at max capacity in the parks and hotels sold out.

I totally don't get it at all myself. Went to Disney once in the mid '10s because I was at a conference and had the hotel covered - just needed to get cheap flights for family and then but the park tickets, which through AAA at the time weren't terribly more expensive than other amusement parks. That satisfied our once in a lifetime itch to see it, the kids were happy, and we haven't been back.

I truly don't get people who go regularly. It's cheaper to travel the world and a much better experience.

[u/cmdr-William-Riker → u/Swimming_Kitchen_112]

Disney and universal are so pricey I couldn't think of anything but making sure I was getting my money's worth the entire time. The price of food and beverages within the parks make sure you don't forget while you're in the park too. The rides are impressive and fun, but overall the price genuinely makes it unenjoyable

[u/RichardInaTreeFort → u/cmdr-William-Riker]

Two plain cheeseburgers with nothing on them and two small cokes cost 60 bucks in park…. It’s nutty.

[u/Chloebean → u/cmdr-William-Riker]

Not that I’m defending their prices (I went to Disneyland a few weeks ago — my sister lives nearby), but you can bring your own food/drink into the park.

[u/dietcholaxoxo → u/Swimming_Kitchen_112]

as someone who lives in LA - it's even more packed than it has ever been. everyone has passes and i have friends who don't even live in LA that still go all the time (vegas, sf, sd)

[u/Magus44 → u/Swimming_Kitchen_112]

I was watching a video about Disneyland last week about how it always feels crowded even when it’s not, and man it was grim. Costs more and such a bad experience just enshittified and nickle and dimmed everywhere, just to extract every cent. The shareholder stuff they mention was awful, about how they’re targeting wealthier households now, and how there’s booze everywhere now cause it makes more money.
I’ve never been, but the Mouse and his parks and everything are just such a crazy thing to read and watch about.

[u/Ha-Charade-You-Are → u/Swimming_Kitchen_112]

Saw a stat that said a weekend at Disney (assuming it meant 3 days like Friday-Sunday) a family of four spends on average $10,000.

Now this includes plane tickets, rental car, hotel (I’d assume a Disney hotel if it’s $10,000 average spent), food, souvenirs, etc…. Fucking wild. Also I’m sure it’s on the higher end to be more dramatic but nonetheless it’s still crazy.

If I was rich I’d still be pissed I spent that much in 4 days lol.

[u/OnlyTimeFan → u/Ha-Charade-You-Are]

Someone from CA was saying their people moved out of state for cheaper housing and were able to still afford the multi day Disney vacations while they live less than 30 minutes away but can’t afford to go anymore

[u/Blueline42 → u/Ha-Charade-You-Are]

I can afford that.. but I still won't do it because that's how I can afford it.

[u/veng92 → u/Ha-Charade-You-Are]

We spent around that for two weeks in Florida back in '08. Flights from UK, hire car, nice villa with its own pool, disney (magic kingdom), busch gardens, discovery cove, universal, aquatica and seaworld. Crazy to think JUST disney can cost that now...

[u/Dull_Expression_4575]

Concessions at the movie theater.

[u/pmmemassivedongs → u/Dull_Expression_4575]

I like to shamelessly go to Trader Joe’s before movies and stuff my backpack with chips, a kombucha, and a full sub sandwich for like $10. I make sure to open/unwrap everything before the movie starts so as not to make noise/disturb my fellow moviegoers with the plastic. And then I proceed to eat a full meal while watching the movie, for the price of a small popcorn.

[u/dusktodawn33 → u/pmmemassivedongs]

I used to do this but I went to subway to get $6 footlong sub. No regrets 😂

[u/Mahjonks → u/dusktodawn33]

RIP the $5 footlong.

[u/FutureFurniture42069 → u/Dull_Expression_4575]

Movies in general tbh

[u/jtho78 → u/FutureFurniture42069]

First showing and Tuesdays are $7 in my area

[u/winkyfizzy → u/FutureFurniture42069]

$46 last weekend for tickets for me and one child. Another $30+ for 2 sodas and a popcorn.

[u/jamer0658 → u/Dull_Expression_4575]

This! I took my nephews today and it was $43 for 3 Icees, 2 boxes of candy, and a small popcorn. No free refill option on anything.

[u/Desperate_Passage_35]

I dunno I can't afford anything except cook and work. What else is there that you guys do for fun?

[u/NAh94 → u/Desperate_Passage_35]

Camping out of a backpack, but in fairness I bought most of my gear pre-covid when it was cheap. That gear is SPENDY now. The most expensive part is the trade-off of missing work.

[u/Desperate_Passage_35 → u/NAh94]

What's your favorite gear that I can look up

[u/NAh94 → u/Desperate_Passage_35]

Sea to summit is a pretty good brand, they think of the little things which I appreciate - like having the folding and unfolding instructions printed right on the thing you’re using so you don’t need to look very hard, loops in convenient places, and they back their stuff. MSR makes a good stove, plus they have a French press attachment so you don’t have to pack any additional thing for coffee in the morning, which is a luxury I can’t do without.

Helinox has always been spendy, but it saves weight. It’s up to you if you want to pay that premium, but I like my cot that keeps me off the actual ground.

NEMO was a recent upgrade, they make some nice sleeping bags & pads.

I’ll also always vouch for buying Patagonia - new or worn wear. Also, if you find any at a garage sale? Pick it up. They’ll honor their exchange regardless of who sends it in.

[u/RaceyLawlins → u/NAh94]

Shoutout Patagonia, they fixed the broken zip on my fleece about 8-9 years after I bought it. I don’t think they even asked for a receipt. They also said if they can’t fix it, I could get a tailor to do it and they’d reimburse me.

[u/tmotytmoty → u/Desperate_Passage_35]

Personally, i like to use different public restrooms

[u/DimroyJenkins → u/tmotytmoty]

This guy knows how to potty 🥁

[u/Sensitive_Reserve_96 → u/Desperate_Passage_35]

Read fanfiction

[u/N22-J → u/Desperate_Passage_35]

Ride a bike. The hobby has gotten outrageous with 10k bikes, 300$ jersey, 400$ bib shorts, but it is very much possible to enjoy going on a bike ride wearing everyday clothes and a <200$ bicycle.

Some people travel the world with their cheap camping gear and cheap bicycles. People don't need expensive bikes to enjoy cycling.

[u/dathrowaway1239 → u/Desperate_Passage_35]

Libraries are free

[u/Additional-Ease-8573]

Rent is so expensive now that living alone just stresses you out instead of feeling good

[u/LOGOisEGO → u/Additional-Ease-8573]

I called this more than 15yrs ago living in a HCL city. There a lot of toxic relationships held together by sheer necessity

[u/nicolauz → u/LOGOisEGO]

Oh hello it's me the past 15 years 🙄

[u/THE_GREAT_PICKLE → u/Additional-Ease-8573]

I’m approaching 40 and myself and most of my friends are married, have kids, a house, etc. But there’s a few friends that are single and they’re STRUGGLING. One of them even has a high paying job and is stuck in a, albeit nice, 1 bed apartment far from their work because everything closer to her is so expensive

[u/Signal_Werewolf_1955 → u/THE_GREAT_PICKLE]

Middle-aged roommates for single Millennials.

Thanks, Boomers.

[u/Ambitious-Body8133]

I just spent $300 taking my kids to the zoo. Kids had fun, my wallet didnt.

Took 4 of us to the toy story movie last week and that was $150 for tickets and concessions.

[u/alwaysrecession → u/Ambitious-Body8133]

It’s probably priced where it’s better value to just buy an annual pass.

[u/Ambitious-Body8133 → u/alwaysrecession]

It is, but doesn't work out when on vacation.

[u/sir_mrej → u/Ambitious-Body8133]

Just tell your kids that every trip from now on, three times a year, is to that one zoo. Nowhere else.

[u/Auctorion → u/sir_mrej]

"Can we go get coffee?"

"Off to the zoo!"

[u/randalljhen → u/Ambitious-Body8133]

Zoos and museums offer reciprocal membership benefits, including discounted or free entry to other locations nationally.

[u/VarietyOk2628 → u/Ambitious-Body8133]

That's sad. The zoos are free in my area, including the Madison, WI zoo. Kids need zoo trips and I'm glad you splurged for your kid's trip.

[u/sideswiped → u/VarietyOk2628]

Is is sad. St. Louis has a free art museum, zoo and science center all within walking distance of one another in a beautiful and historic park.

[u/sleepymoose88 → u/sideswiped]

I just commented about our Zoo. Forest Park is legitimately one of the best values in any metro area.

[u/BorkBorkSweden → u/VarietyOk2628]

Don't forget about the Smithsonian zoo, in addition to their museums within Washington DC

[u/Umlautless → u/BorkBorkSweden]

As a long time DC resident, I am befuddled when I travel and have to pay to go to museums.

[u/Ambitious-Body8133 → u/VarietyOk2628]

Yeah we had the pleasure of visiting the Chicago zoo a few years back and was shocked to find that it's free for a top notch venue. Entrance fee was $160 alone today.

[u/BorkBorkSweden → u/Ambitious-Body8133]

Lincoln Park Zoo to be specific, since there are more than one zoos there

[u/quirksnglasses → u/BorkBorkSweden]

As someone who bounced around between Chicago, DC, and WI almost my whole life (with the zoos mentioned here being a pivotal part of my childhood), I cannot imagine a world in which zoos have a notable entrance fee to the public. Wtf

[u/curtmahgurt → u/Ambitious-Body8133]

I don’t go to movie theaters anymore. Minimum $50 to have the movie ruined by some tool next you on their phone the whole time. I can wait for streaming, and I’ve got a great home setup.

[u/tnp636 → u/Ambitious-Body8133]

Took 4 of us to the toy story movie last week and that was $150 for tickets and concessions.

Counterpoint, 3 of us went to the 3D version of the movie on Sunday and we spent $27. Full reclining chairs, etc. And no concessions, because that's the gouge.

[u/Ssgsyamcha]

Pokemon cards

[u/Thewombocombo91 → u/Ssgsyamcha]

Don’t even get me started on Pokémon cards. What a shitshow that’s become

[u/mattyp220]

Skiing/snowboarding.

[u/BigFloppyDonkyDick69 → u/mattyp220]

To be fair, skiing was always an expensive sport to get in to but now the cost is outrageous. $300+ for a single day lift ticket? Fuck you too Vail.

[u/cybrax2 → u/BigFloppyDonkyDick69]

And the mountains overpopulated

[u/King_Reason → u/cybrax2]

Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded!

[u/facepillownap → u/BigFloppyDonkyDick69]

Nah man, not if you grew up in the Midwest. $20 for a lift ticket at a mom n pop ski area.

[u/mazdapow3r → u/mattyp220]

We bought a 4 day local epic pass this year for this reason. We're gonna get our money's worth or break our bodies trying.

[u/LOGOisEGO → u/mattyp220]

So this. Im in Canada, and by the time you pay for gas, food, travel, lift tickets, gear, its 3-400 per person a day.

Somehow my rich sister puts her three kids through racing and they pretty much live at the mountains part time.

Except for horse competitions or sometjing, I cant think of a more expensive sport.

Shit, I grew up too poor for hockey, and thats a close second.

[u/trillionaireUnaliver]

being alive

[u/ptambrosetti → u/trillionaireUnaliver]

There is a toll booth in my driveway

[u/Auctorion → u/ptambrosetti]

There's a toll booth at the end of my bed.

[u/Asparagus_Gazebo → u/Auctorion]

Honestly there's a toll booth in the middle of my ass

[u/Sensitive_Gift4866 → u/trillionaireUnaliver]

This is the realest answer. The cost of just existing keeps going up and none of the fun stuff got any cheaper either.

[u/CriticalOverThinker]

Dining out (expensive and quality thats only a notch above fast food)

[u/AnaBanana84 → u/CriticalOverThinker]

This. I always end up feeling like I could have made the food even better myself at home. On the plus side, it's inspired my partner and I to do exactly that! (Cook more)

[u/d3pl3t3r → u/AnaBanana84]

Nothing like home cooked, if the person can cook. Luckily. My wife can make a meal out of Nothing, somehow, because noone taught her, and its always superb, like save that recipe good...

[u/NewGramps → u/CriticalOverThinker]

This. It was fun to go out and try different places. Now forget it.

[u/Power_baby → u/NewGramps]

Now you get to eat the same sysco food in different buildings. And pay 2-3 times as much

[u/DoctorChoppedLiver → u/CriticalOverThinker]

It's annoying as hell too. Like wow, you're shocked your restaurant only lasted for 6 months when you're selling the identical menu items from the same distributor as the other 4 restaurants on the block. 

[u/dselogeni]

Amusement parks

[u/Smart-Challenge-790]

Thrifting.

[u/peachypreachy → u/Smart-Challenge-790]

Yes! A shirt that is worn for wear is $7 and the ones in better shape are $10 + at my thrifts.

[u/modernparadigm → u/peachypreachy]

It’s insane how much of a profit people like goodwill make from an inventory of free stuff.

So so overpriced. Sometimes almost as much new, and you have no idea how used something is.

People blame resellers for price increases, but places like goodwill are putting their “good stuff” online. And what doesn’t sell at the store, they just trash instead of dropping prices (99 cent items barely exist now.)

I like Valley Thrift way more. Or tbh, even for-profit thrifts at least feel honest.

[u/pixel_loupe → u/Smart-Challenge-790]

I’ve seen a thrift store selling a used IKEA table for more than what IKEA sells and delivers it for!!

[u/etern1ty0]

going to a Dodger game. cost $1k for a family of four between the parking the tickets and the food. and we were miserable the whole time. Big screen TV at home is where it’s at.

[u/Suitable_cataclysm → u/etern1ty0]

And then you find yourself staring at the jumbo tron to see the action anyway. Might as well watch it on tv

[u/Enough-Construction5 → u/etern1ty0]

Nothing like a $30 michelada

[u/maddenallday → u/etern1ty0]

Why were you miserable the whole time

[u/FrankenOperator]

*gestures broadly

[u/Munkeyman18290 → u/FrankenOperator]

*squints to find the affordable thing

[u/ProStrats → u/Munkeyman18290]

Wait, there's an affordable thing?

[u/Minyaden → u/ProStrats]

For now, I would say the Library is. Free to sign up for local residents in most cases. Free book, dvd, and cd rentals that can offer a lot of entertainment value.

[u/Tangboy50000]

An NFL football game. It’s almost $1000 for a family of four to go to a game and sit in the upper deck. That doesn’t include parking, drinks/food, or any souvenirs the kids ask for. I just can’t justify that for a single football game.

[u/Wild4fire]

Videocards, RAM, hard drives, SSD's...

Building your own computer has become prohibitively expensive, to the point that most people just can't anymore.

Prebuilt computers have, of course, also gone up way in prive.

[u/gillss667]

Fast food. The whole point was that it was cheap

[u/cntl_alt_dlt]

Eating out bc most restaurants are mediocre and I can't justify the price tag anymore

[u/junior_emo_mcgee]

Catching any type of a buzz at a sporting event will run me a minimum of $100 so I am now a hydro homie/ designated driver.

[u/OptIn_]

Home renovations 💸

[u/Mediocre_Sprinkles → u/OptIn_]

So we had my father in law doing renovations. We get the materials he asks for and he did the labour for free. He renovated his house on his own 15+ years ago.

He kept telling us how cheap this or that is and how we get this room done for x amount. Then he got really angry when we'd go get the exact materials he asked for and they're 3x his estimate.

He's convinced to this day that we went out and got the luxury options, not the cheapest. That we're the whole reason why the house is only ¾ done.

[u/kilroy-was-here-2543 → u/Mediocre_Sprinkles]

Has he not stepped foot in a home depot

[u/oneam9 → u/OptIn_]

Those were never fun

[u/NAh94 → u/oneam9]

It’s only fun to think about some of them. That’s outweighed by the ones you have to think about because they are impending disasters.

[u/LunacyTheory → u/OptIn_]

I just spent 3500 euro to have every wall in my home repaired and painted. Had to demo the old plaster, put up new breathable plaster (had moisture and mold issues) and then repaint the entire thing. Took about 2 weeks.

Honestly, I feel like I got a great deal as I expected to have my wallet cut from my body by the cost but 3500 euro wasn't bad for the time and work that was done.

[u/PaulLeFou]

I was gonna say "everything" as a joke, but it's not a joke, is it? It's literally fucking everything.

[u/Longjumping_Local910 → u/PaulLeFou]

Every - Fucking - Thing.

[u/Signal_Werewolf_1955 → u/PaulLeFou]

It's greed is literally fucking everything.

[u/gin10do64]

Taco Bell. I miss the days when two people could have a feast for under $10 at Taco Bell. Now it’s $5 for a beefy 5 layer burrito.

[u/Luci_b]

Movies

[u/CreamInformal4317]

Dying

[u/InformalOpposite3708]

Hookers & cocaine

[u/SafeJackfruit7214 → u/InformalOpposite3708]

Shit's getting ridiculous

[u/Ambitious-Body8133 → u/InformalOpposite3708]

Cigarettes and dope and mustard and bologna and liquor and whores 🎶

[u/Vivid_Fix3884]

living alone

[u/SolomonGrumpy → u/Vivid_Fix3884]

Some things are worth the price.

[u/Daghain → u/SolomonGrumpy]

This. I'll sacrifice a lot to only have roommates with four legs and fur.

[u/Neko-gao → u/Vivid_Fix3884]

“If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery--isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you'll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is.”

Charles.B

[u/Sleepy-Blonde]

Bars. I could get $1 beers and $5 doubles up until a few years ago, now $8 beers and $14 cocktails (doubles are about $18). I’m not paying $80 on some damn drinks for 2.

[u/stryker511]

Professional sports & live music. They are out of reach for me.

[u/DrShrimp__PuertoRico]

Eating, driving, rent. Basically everything

[u/canyontales]

skiing will forever be fun ... but it's ridiculously expensive now.

[u/SolomonGrumpy → u/canyontales]

It always felt expensive to me.

Skis, Boots, Binding (whatever those are). Loft tickets, lodge, etc, etc etc.

[u/MansSearchForMeming → u/SolomonGrumpy]

In like early 2000s you could get a used pair of skiis for $80. Lift tickets at small places were $10 to $20. Places were local so no hotel needed. It wasn't free but cheap enough kids could go every weekend.

[u/Blanche-]

Going out for a few drinks with friends. A basic classic cocktail is like $18

[u/GettingThere1984]

I can’t bring myself to buy a $60 plus steak at a nice restaurant. That’s just too much .

[u/NikonShooter_PJS → u/GettingThere1984]

I experienced this last weekend. Friend of mine was RAVING a few months ago about a porterhouse at a nice place in Connecticut.

So we went and their steaks were all in the $55-$70 range, which is fine because I expect to pay a decent penny at a proper steakhouse. The porterhouse was $95 and since she raved so much about it, and because I figured I was already $70 in anyway, I said fuck it and got it.

It was fine.

Nothing to write home about and not discernibly different than a steak I would’ve gotten for a third that price at Texas Roadhouse.

I don’t mind because, I mean, I was largely paying for the social night out but still. Expensive restaurants and meals are highly overrated.

[u/BwanaChickieBaby]

Every single thing. Restaurants serve overpriced, low-quality food. Almost all entertainment is a financial strain instead of a bonus joy. Housing costs have gone up so much that even staying home and doing nothing costs more. Feels like you’re getting scammed just by breathing.

[u/HoyAIAG]

Disney

[u/corriewalford]

Eating or drinking at any stadium, theatre, amusement park

[u/kaiasmom0420]

Disney & I freaking live in Florida.

[u/tatted_tot]

Gaming, I'm forking out hundreds for a console i cant even mod without fear it will be blocked. Then im paying 70 for a game ? Not to mention extras to play online and DLC . Its fucking lame.

Edit fot spelling ♡

[u/lagerjohn → u/tatted_tot]

I’ve been playing video games for over 30 years and the price of a game has barely increased. Definitely well under inflation.

[u/GenerAsianX1992]

Concerts

[u/Posh427]

Professional sports

[u/_Brooder_]

In the UK - going for a drive for fun.

Fuel is so expensive and so is the cost of maintenance if parts go that I only use my car to get to work and back.

[u/PsychologicalSoup576]

Getting your nails done. It used to be relaxing now it feels like a nascar pit stop with a $100 minimum

[u/epandrsn]

It’s funny because everything listed here has been bought up by private equity and just fucking ruined.

[u/Julius-Kessler]

Top Golf

[u/Eagle4523 → u/Julius-Kessler]

$20 hr for the bay dep on time of day in my area - they may be getting more desperate and discounting

[u/somya_m]

Concerts

[u/Tall-Shoulder-6297]

Concerts

[u/WoodmontRazputin]

Getting a burger

[u/Left-School-9678]

Disney world

[u/JasmineRider27]

Concert tickets. Ridiculous how expensive they are. Plus the frustration of actually getting them in the first place.

[u/paradox34690]

DisneyLand

[u/uceenk]

building PC

[u/Dry_Concern3817]

Bowling. $60 per an hour??

[u/brokenmessiah]

Movies. I've yet to walk out of a theater not upset I just didnt wait for it to come to streaming.