When you’re young, you believe that money pretty much grows on trees. But as you get older, you realize that many of the things you’ve enjoyed your whole life are actually quite pricey. Well, Redditor notnowmom-1802 asked, “What’s something you didn’t realize was expensive until you actually had to buy it?” Here are the items that gave adults a rude awakening when they realized they cost a pretty penny.
1.
“Dental care. My husband needed all of his teeth crowned or filled, thanks to years of neglect growing up. Our newest dentist offered to do it for free if he could use his photos to show off a new process they were implementing (3D printing the caps to go over the teeth). It would have been close to 20k, even WITH insurance. My husband smiles more now than he has in years, and I feel less bad about the $500+ work I’ve had done to catch up with cavities in the last year.”
2.
“Trash cans. That they are meant to hold the stuff you are throwing away somehow makes the prices even more upsetting.”
3.
“Health insurance. You pay money every month so you can go to the doctor and then pay MORE money. I just got a quote for almost $10k for an outpatient surgery I might have to have down the road. And that’s with insurance.”
4.
“Outdoor furniture. Turns out, patio furniture is just as (if not more expensive) than indoor furniture.”
5.
“Dying. I just learned that a cemetery plot can cost 10k.”
6.
“Quality sheets and bedding did it for me. I’m thankful I have a Home Goods nearby with name brand sheets for a fraction of the price.”
7.
“Food. I spent $400 at Publix and our fridge looks the exact same as it did before $350 worth of groceries.”
8.
“Lamps. I only buy them second-hand because new lamps seem insanely expensive for no reason.”
9.
“Formal outfits. For women, dressing up for a formal occasion likely includes expenses from head to toe. I’m talking about dress, shoes, matching purses, jewelry, and possibly hair accessories. Then consider special undergarments and add onto that hair and makeup.”
10.
“Pillows!! Especially decorative ones. How is a throw pillow 49.99, bro?”
11.
“I was just quoted $20k for a new front door, so I’m going with that.”
13.
“Nuts. Especially almonds. Who knew that a little tub of unseasoned almonds is nearly $20?!”
14.
“Childcare. Never in my life did I ever think I had extra tens of thousands of dollars to pay for this, but it came from somewhere!”
15.
“Berries. It’s like four bucks for those motherfuckers, and they get moldy so fast.”
16.
“A new furnace. Ours broke down and the price for a new one damn near gave me a heart attack.”
17.
“Rugs. Even smaller area rugs cost hundreds of dollars…”
18.
“New tires for your car. In fact, I’d expand this to cars in general. Everything automotive is expensive. The car itself, obviously, but also the cost of insurance, gas, maintenance, and parking.”
19.
“Bras. If you have anything larger than a C cup, that’ll be $75. You can never wear any tank tops without showing these seatbelt-sized straps, and instead of lace, you get a kind of shitty polyester satin that pills around the edges. Have fun with your over-the-shoulder-bolder-holder!”
20.
“Birthday parties. As a kid you don’t think about the amount your parents spend. Now, we’re looking at a minimum of $300 for a smaller gathering at a brewpub. And at places like Legoland Discovery Center, it’ll easily cost you a thousand dollars 😭.”
21.
“Do you know how expensive dirt is? The stuff you used to roll around in, make mudballs with, and kick at your neighbor’s fence? Why the heck is topsoil so expensive?”
22.
“Taking the whole family out to dinner. Man, that shit adds up.”
Do you have something to add? What is something you didn’t realize was so expensive until you became an adult and had to start paying for it yourself? Tell us in the comments or in this anonymous form.
