10 Overpriced Goods That Fall Short of Expectations
The cost of living is steadily increasing worldwide, but what's particularly interesting is how the quality of some items is steadily getting worse at the same time. In an online discussion, people shared the following ten things they've noticed are simultaneously becoming more expensive and of poorer quality.
1. Cable Television
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“Cable television. More commercials, channels upon channels of nonsense, ridiculous monthly bill,” someone commented. Between endless commercials, reality TV shows, and reruns of old sitcoms, it's hard to justify the high cost of cable these days.
2. Fast Food
Many fast food chains now use lower-quality ingredients and cut corners to save costs, resulting in less tasty and unhealthy food. “Fast food,” one person said. “You guys remember the dollar menu?” one man added.
3. Streaming Services
As more and more companies enter the streaming market, with each service focusing on its exclusive content, finding everything you want to watch in one place is becoming more challenging. “Streaming in general,” one man said. “Now there are like 50 services, and nearly everything they have is exclusive, and when you want to watch a certain movie or show, you have to first Google to find out what service it's on and see if you even have access,” he continued.
4. American Candy Bars
Have you ever noticed that your favorite American candy bars have become significantly more expensive? Still, the quality isn't what it used to be? “American candy bars. They're downright tiny now and cost 2-3 times as much as they did 10+ years ago. Also, you can tell the manufacturers are using inferior ingredients- the chocolate is dry and chalky,” one woman said.
5. Appliances
“Appliances. Washers, dryers, refrigerators. New stuff is 30 times more expensive and fails in 5 years,” one man said. Lately, appliances are breaking down more frequently and needing repairs sooner.
6. Hot Pockets
Hot pockets have gotten smaller and less flavorful in recent years. “Hot pockets. They're made with worse quality bread, barely have half as much meat, don't cook well, and they cost about 50% more,” someone said.Â
7. Housing
Housing prices have been skyrocketing in many parts of the world, making it increasingly difficult for people to afford a place to live. “Rent. The price keeps climbing, the wages are stagnated, and the houses keep getting worse,” one person said. “I pay almost $900 a month for a roach and rat-infested duplex that is literally rotting and has the worst mold problem I've ever seen,” someone added.
8. Restaurant Food
Restaurant food quality in recent years doesn't always justify the high prices. “The food you get at restaurants nowadays. Low quality, small portions, but the prices are insane,” one woman said.
9. Newspapers
With the rise of digital news and social media, traditional print has been struggling for the last few years. As a result, newspapers have become more expensive with far less interesting content. “Our newspapers. The Gaston Gazette in Gastonia, NC, is 300% more expensive with 90% less content. Today's had 50% ads,” someone said.
10. Vehicle Prices
The price of a new car has steadily increased over the past decade. Some argue that vehicles are becoming less reliable and more prone to breakdowns than they used to be. “When monthly car payments are what mortgages used to be, and people are getting 10-year loans, you know vehicles are way too expensive,” one man said.
This post was inspired by this thread.
She started her blog, The Money Dreamer, when she realized the 9-5 job was not the lifestyle she wanted anymore. After designing for a while, she wanted a more meaningful life, which was freedom, so she decided to venture out. She took action so that she can live her dream life and decided to help people to live theirs by helping them how to save, budget, and invest.
