People Are Finally Pointing Out How Everything In Life Is So Pointlessly Expensive, And It's Honestly Infuriating
It's no secret that life's expensive — just ask those pesky rent, insurance, student loan, and credit card bills.
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Recently on r/AskReddit, u/Cochrane01 asked, "What do you wish wasn't so expensive?"
Most of the responses are straight-up jaw-dropping when you consider exactly how much we pay for life's necessities.
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"What depresses me is that most of these responses are for things people actually need," wrote u/DoctorTaco123. "It’s almost like without major policy reform, life itself is a luxury."
"My pay is spent before it's even in the bank," wrote u/Alanna83. "I can't begin to save. I don't spend on frivolous stuff either."
Here are 21 of some of the most infuriating (and honestly, kind of heartbreaking) expenses people frequently deal with that have no business being so costly:
1.By far the most popular response was housing, and TBH, I get it. In the past year alone, housing prices in the United States have increased by an average of 18%.
2.Other redditors pointed out that rent prices are just as dismal, sometimes even costing more than a mortgage.
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"Where I live, since I moved here four years ago, rent has pretty much doubled. Sucks because I moved states, and got this job because of the good pay and low cost of living in the area. That completely changed in such a short amount of time." —u/rura_penthe924
3.Talk of medical care and expenses also dominated the thread.
4.Getting sick or injured will often leave you with thousands of dollars in medical bills.
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"Broke my wrist in a bike accident. Doctor pulled on my arm a little bit before putting on a cast. They marked it down as surgery. Bill was $3,000+." — u/JDPhoenix-8632
5.Essential medical supplies like inhalers, insulin, and EpiPens can cost hundreds a month, which is especially messed up considering how relatively cheap they are to produce.
6.And even though health insurance technically is supposed to help you avoid paying so much in medical bills, it costs a pretty penny.
7.Not to mention that some medical expenses just can't be helped. A new pair of glasses can set you back hundreds...
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"Why doesn't my health insurance pay for it? I'm not even allowed to drive without glasses, but they see it as a luxury." —u/Goukaruma
8.... and dental work can cost thousands.
9.Therapy and caring for your mental health can also take a toll on your bank account.
10.Saving up to afford a car is one thing, but you also have to consider gas, insurance, and maintenance.
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"Just owning a car is likely to cost you between $6,000 USD and $12,000 USD per year, depending on the car. Take a close look at 'total cost to own' ratings, which attempt to take into account depreciation (a hidden cost) as well as maintenance and repair estimates." —u/Unlucky_Emu_8560
11.And while public transit is in theory a great alternative, a lot of places don't have a system that's reliable enough to be truly effective, which can end up costing you in the end.
12.Getting a college or graduate degree (which, BTW, is a must for a lot of jobs), often means you're stuck paying off student loans for years after you graduate (thanks, interest rates!).
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"Here in the US, the government student loan is 5%–7% appreciation with an average of $30,000. Most people I talk to on the political spectrum become hysterical when college student loan forgiveness becomes the topic, but then I point out the interest and how your typical person pays 3x the amount borrowed, and then everyone starts to agree that anything over 2% is robbery (even then I think paying the amount you borrowed should just be enough)." —u/Helms81
13.Buying groceries is often a huge hit to your bank account, especially when it comes to buying fresh produce for an entire family.
14.And if you ever have to deal with the legal system, prepare to pay up.
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"If you enter the court system without a lot of money, do not expect a good outcome. It can happen, sure, but more often than not you pay huge amounts in lawyer fees, court fees, penalties, etc. It moves far slower than you’d like, and you miss significant amounts of time you could be working." —u/Frnklfrwsr
15.Don't even get me started on the Pink Tax, which essentially means that products for women are waaaay more expensive than those designed for men, even though they're basically the same exact thing.
16.Tampons, pads, and other period products are another monthly cost that people with periods have to deal with.
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"In my country, there's a tax on sanitary napkins, while condoms are tax free." —u/ham_sandwich23
17.If you want to give your precious pet the best care possible, just be prepared when the bills are approximately the same as a human's medical bills.
18.Raising a child is beyond expensive, between supplies, childcare, and the medical costs associated with actually giving birth.
19.Adoption can be a long and emotional process, and the financial toll only adds to the stress.
20.Even picking up a new hobby to enjoy in your free time can set you back at the bank.
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"I never had hobbies growing up because we were kind of poor. I also never really learned or knew what things I enjoy and/or am good at. But since corona hit the fan, I've been dabbling in arts and crafts. I've started with cross stitch and now I'm into drawing, but all in all, all of that shit you need for it is really incredibly expensive." —u/witchdoctorhazel
21.And finally, even dying is expensive.
Any other life essentials that are outrageously expensive come to mind? Come vent about them in the comments!
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.