People Are Sharing The Things They Stopped Buying Because The Prices Increased, And It’s Just Not Worth It Anymore
Brian Galindo
·8-min read
Without a doubt, lately, conversations seem to circle endlessly around inflation and the relentless rise in prices, which impacts nearly every aspect of daily life. Sometimes, even the simplest of pleasures become hard to justify because of the cost, and cutting back on them becomes the only option.
A few months back, redditor Glamour-Ad7669asked the r/Frugal subreddit: "What are the things you stopped buying since the price increases because it’s just not worth it anymore?"
The thread got 4K responses. Below are the top and most-often repeated things people have stopped spending their money on:
1."Most restaurant food."
2."We deleted food delivery apps. The fees, even with a membership, are high. SMH."
3."Steak. Usually sticking to cheaper roasts when I want my red meat fix because I can't justify the cost of a ribeye in these times."
4."Concert prices have gone absolutely wild. Completely out of touch with reality?! I still can't wrap my head around it. Yet it will keep getting worse as they seem to sell out where I live. I don't get it. :("
5."Cable TV. We canceled our TV service, kept the streaming service, and went from almost $200 a month to whatever Netflix is charging now. Also, taking advantage of the library — free books, movies, video games, and passes to do things."
6."New clothes. There are a few nice thrift stores in my area, and everything I wear comes from there."
7."I started doing my nails myself. It used to be that I could get a nice manicure and pedicure for under $100, and it would last a few weeks. Now, if I tried to go, it would be well over $100 plus tip. It’s not worth it for me to spend that much every time I want to get my nails done. Now, I do them myself, and I save nail salon trips for special occasions."
8."Chips. I'm sorry, but I'm not paying $6 to $8 for a bag of potato chips. I buy the store brand if I buy them at all."
9."Iced tea at restaurants. I used to always order it. Now, I typically just order water."
10."No more movie theaters. Prefer watching things at home via streaming for free or super cheap (YouTube, Netflix, etc.)."
11."Name-brand cereal (I have to have cereal; it’s not negotiable). Sometimes, I can get name-brand from Costco and not feel so bad."
12."We don’t go out for drinks anymore. A bottle and mixer is much cheaper at home."
13."Macadamia nuts. Miss them."
14."Books 😭😭. I only download them now. I want to support authors, but I'm too broke to do that. However, I just changed my perspective and instead am somehow saving trees (for my guilt)."
15."Real talk…buying coffee in the morning. That shit adds up fast!"
16."Delis and such where you order at one spot, pick out your chips or drink from the aisles, pay for your food at a register, pick up your food where you order it, find a table, eat, then bus your own table, and there is the 'How much tip do you want to leave? 15%, 20%, or 25%' when you check out."
17."Baked goods. I have celiac disease, and gluten-free ones were barely worth the price five years ago. Now, none of them are worth it at all. I have learned to make my own crackers and pizza crusts, and I don't miss bread at all. I'm also experimenting with making my own granola bars."
18."Fast food. I already knew I shouldn't be buying it, but moving from $10 to $15-plus sealed the deal."
19.And lastly, "Soda, but more importantly, I avoid name brands like the plague food-wise."
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