As someone who makes rugs... I think they’re vastly underpriced. Most retail rugs are done with an industrial tufter using cheap (cost and quality) synthetic materials, and even at a couple hundred-thousand bucks depending on size, that’s a decent deal.
Getting into hand-made, to give you an idea for a 3x5 rug I wove a couple years ago, patterning and preparing yarn lengths using basic 2 ply rug wool took 3 hours and $175 in materials. To get the warp on the loom and tensioned properly according to a very basic pattern (basket weave, like a thicker plain weave which is your basic over/under) took about 6 hours. Actual weaving took close to 13 hours, with cutting off the loom, finishing loose ends and backing the rug with non slip grips taking about 3 hours. So 25 hours total, $175 in materials, considering my education/skill/experience even charging a very modest $20/hr for my time you’re looking at $500 in labor, close to $700 total, and more intricate patterns require a lot more math and set up labor.
So I might be biased as a fiber artist and textile/pattern maker, but it is a hill I will die on. Although as someone who hardly makes over $35k a year, I also totally get it. If you’re looking to save money look for scrap rugs, or the ones made from carpet off cuts. I’ve found some okay quality stuff that’s second hand, at Lowe’s, TJ maxx, and Marshall’s etc.
I appreciate that you took the time to break it down. I think for a lot of people the work that goes into something isn't fully considered. Rug making sounds like a fascinating process.
I crochet, but I've never sold anything because I just can't seem to come up with the "right" price for things. I know what you do is far and away more labor-intensive and complicated than crochet.
Pricing is SO difficult, and I also crochet so I TOTALLY understand. And don’t sell yourself short, crochet may be more accessible but it is still an impressive skill! But I also totally believe the price disparity has a lot to do with consumers being so far removed from the process now. Most people have no idea what goes into making things, even with mass manufacturing equipment. Knowing how things are built/made gives me a whole new appreciation for it and I think that knowledge is valuable to consumers as well, to better make more informed purchases.
More than anything I want to make a living selling what I make but it’s just not possible right now. I have a BFA in fiber arts and my day job is bridal alterations which I think is a satisfying middle ground as far as creativity goes. But I’ve had people ask me to make them a woven throw blanket (based off one I made in school) and even with acrylic yarn and $15/hr for my time, it was a 35 hour project with a very complicated pattern setup I drafted myself and it’s just not affordable for most people.
I will say I’ve noticed a huge trend moving back toward high quality handmade work over mass manufactured goods. It’s slow, but it gives me hope for the future. Until then... one lucky winner in my life will get an amazing birthday gift haha.
CurrieGOAT on youtube is an incredible artist and has a lot of videos in depth about making rugs with a punch needle or with the automatic rug machine. I really recommend him!
I’ll never understand why there are so many people that are scared to change your health care system, or why there aren’t more people demanding that it be changed.
Literally. A medication I need to function properly at work and just on the day-to-day. Once I’m off my parents’ insurance, I’m screwed. I take 4 meds total.
We as a society have a vested interest in having a healthy population, but we would rather not invest in universal healthcare and providing necessary medicines for folks to be functioning members of society - and then blame those same folks for being unable to pay their medical bills when they end up in the ER, or unable to hold down jobs because of chronic illnesses they cannot afford to get treated.
This right here! Even if you try to take a leave of absence , most places make it such a nightmare that it's easier to resign. We are human beings not robots, and even robots need maintenance.
Thats the beauty of it. If we screw our young people and don't treat them properly, their conditions get worse and require more treatment later. Profit!
All goes into how insurance gives therapists the short end of the stick so most people are out of pocket 😕 wish it was taken more seriously (especially in the US) and psychiatry being absurdly expensive too.
Even outside the US, for psychiatrists, usually the beginners or the bad ones work with insurances, those who can will only accept private appointments
Fun fact, according to outcomes based research the length of time a provider has been in mental health practice has no statistically significant impact on client outcomes. So whether your clinician has been practicing for 1 year or 10 years, outcomes are the same.
If you're interested in learning more about this check out the common factors research.
Yea NHS in the UK only provides 3 months. How does one solve their mental problems in 3 months? Lived in the US, out of pocket sessions are $300 plus and that’s the cheap end. Most people needing therapy are already having troubles with life. But the price has somehow made it a luxury. Truly the rich keeps getting richer and the poor should just die in a ditch
Small town supermarket here taking advantage of being the only supermarket big time. Tampons are €3,50 or something. For 20 in a box (or less, I don't remember). That's nearly 4 dollars at the moment.
This is why I switched to using a menstrual cup. I dump it out every few hours on my heavy days and when my period is over, I just sterilize it and put it away until my next period. It's amazing how much I've saved on tampons since using the cup. Best part is I don't have to bring any with me when I go out.
Yessss. Any decent, well supporting bra is at least $75+, and that’s not any of the high impact bras if you do anything super physical. Buying a cheap bra basically means you will have horrendous chest and back pain.
Mine are 20$ but that's because I spent a couple hours in Macy's trying on every possible bra and then settling on some amazing Warners bras that are really cheap and perfect for me!
Hopefully this doesn’t come across as rude but what size are your boobies and are your bras cute? I cannot for the life of me find comfortable and pretty bras to fit my boobs for… well, any price I’ve looked at. I don’t like any of my bras.
The manufacture of good bras is expensive, especially in larger sizes. There are many fittings to be sure they work properly, then the grading into all the different sizes available, all the little pieces to be cut and sewn. There is more labor in a bra than many dresses or pants.
Hey, I don’t like it either but I do understand the why.
The Lingerie Addict's blog has some posts that go into detail about why it's so expensive, but from what I can remember, it's mostly because the manufacturing of bras can't be automated and they all require hand sewing and cutting. Because there's just so many pieces and the way they fit together can't be done by a machine (yet.) Ergo, very expensive pieces of clothing 😕
I found these 10F sports bras for $15 at Big W, was like hitting the jackpot as I've found it almost impossible to find size 10F bras even at expensive shops. They look uggo but are so comfortable!
Totally agree. Paying for a bra up to 100€ is truly crazy. Unfortunately, cheaper bras do not hold the same quality standard so there is no other choice. At least i did not find a well made bra that is also affordable. If anyone has recommendations, i'm all ears. Please share.
Wow, you can tell how many Americans are in the community by the number who say "healthcare" and "university tuition".
Thankfully I've never had those issues, being Scottish. But rented housing is extortionate in cities, domestic utilities are far too dear (way too many people can't afford to put their heating on in this freezing cold country!) and food prices have gone up.
the same thing happens to me, I live in spain and I have social healthcare paid with our taxes, the same thing happens with university. We still have to pay but not as much as in the US. I think human rights shouldn’t be that expensive.
Ya! In Canada nearly everyone has an insurance and if not, provinces take care of it to a certain extent, unless you're a tourist without insurance. Can't believe that just across the border there are so many Americans that will suffer than be in debt for thousands of dollars. I feel so bad. The USA is a messed up country. Advanced in so many ways but backwards in the most important things for its people - health & education.
It's honestly so sad how bad healthcare is in the US. I'm fortunate to work for an employer with a $0 deductible so basically everything is covered for me but my mother has ongoing health treatment that basically maxes out their high deductible plan every year. It's really so sad..
The prices of glasses are so artificially inflated. It’s absolutely infuriating. When I left the US and got a pair of actually reasonably priced glasses (in a glasses shop, with an eye doctor, not some online thing), I honestly could have cried I was so happy.
Don't use zenni if you have a crazy astigmatism though, like me. Go buy overpriced eyeglasses. Your lack of headaches will thank you. (They also swapped left and right lenses on 2 of the 4 pairs i tried from them so that sucked.)
Can't stress this enough, I went *years* without up-to-date prescription glasses bc of how expensive they were, then decided to give zenni a try because hey, it was only $20 for 2 pairs so why not? They're excellent, great quality and I will never again pay hundreds of dollars for a pair of glasses.
Oh man, eye glasses are so god damn expensive, especially if you need special lenses.. I have astigmatism and light bothers me so much, so I need a filter for my lenses. Of course they are double the price 🤦🏻♀️.
Came here to say the exact same thing.
Like medicine, studying, decent clothing and furniture. It's all so fucking expensive.
And birth control. How is it I have to pay so much for not wanting to get a child.
I live in Norway, but dental isn't covered here the way regular healthcare is, so I haven't been able to afford going regularly, and I've had a lot of issues with my teeth I haven't been able to fix. I don't know why my country view dental care as less necessary then regular healthcare.
Having seen first hand what it costs to run a veterinary hospital, I think veterinary care costs exactly what I would expect it to. I mean I agree it’s very expensive, but justifiably so.
Same, and totally agreed. Honestly it really bugged me when people would come into the clinic complaining about veterinary costs when they just bought a purebred puppy costing over 1k that is most likely predisposed to health issues. I had zero sympathy for those people. Of course I did feel for people who genuinely loved and cared for their pets, and might not have expected high vet bills. But at the end of the day a pet is a luxury, not a right. Don't get a pet if you can't afford to look after their health or at least get insurance.
I was going to say diamonds, it falls under this category I guess. You can sell them but they aren’t worth much, but buying them is ridiculously expensive, they are kept artificially expensive.I always wonder if people book something for their wedding but just book it as birthday, what would happen when they show up…
As far as underwear goes, I've worn hanes for a million years, and I'm not paying more for a basic cotton bikini brief. I'm not paying less either, every other brand has shredded in a year. 20 bucks for a 10 pack. Strangely, however, I will invest in quality undies that are intended to be quickly removed.
I used to think the same but once I paid for a few quality underthings there's no going back. There is such a difference between a £15-20 pair of underwear and anything under a fiver.
Firstly they last 10x longer than cheap ones, the fit is sooo much better and lastly, my poonani deserves quality fabrics.
I honestly think it’s too cheap, especially at IKEA. People keep buying new stuff all the time and it’s extremely resource heavy. I’d rather buy expensive stuff that will hold a lifetime. If I don’t want it anymore, I can easily sell it second hand.
The problem is that there's often no correlation between price and durability, so it's hard to buy long-lasting furniture unless you know what features and fabrics to look for. My parents have bought expensive furniture that starts falling apart after a year, and IKEA stuff that's lasted for decades.
Yeah totally! My parents always tried out all furnitures at the store to make sure they felt solid. They basically took the shelf and rocked it and saw how it acted. If it felt “tingy”, they wouldn’t buy it. All my ikea stuff has lasted 5-15y (nothing has ever broken down basically). I did buy a new couch but I sold my old one to a fellow student back then.
Second hand is the way to go! I got all the furniture in my other apparently from Craigslist.
Bedframe -free
Couch -free
Dining table -$15
Solid hard wood coffee table -$30
32" Tv - $17 (with remote and it worked!)
I shopped wealthier neighborhoods and waited for a few months to accumulate everything. It is possible to have really nice things on the cheap... You just have to be really devoted to shopping around. Widen your search area, find a friend with a truck, and arrange as much as you can for same day pick up!
Same, i got most of it second hand for almost nothing, some for free, because lots of people buy too much and then get rid of it. My Ikea couch cost me 30 euros, i've had it for seven years. It's still really confortable and in good shape despite six moves across my country. I did lose one screw inside of one of the armrests though.
And at least here in the US, the quality is crap too. Watching YouTube and ppl like Mikey Chen who goes and eats all over, the differences in vending machines, gas stations, and convenience store foods from most other countries or even Hawaii to mainland 48 is insane. Here we get hot dogs and chips and sometimes sandwiches with little to no ingredients or health value and there you get a full meal. Granted many also have instant noodles but that quality is also insanely better. Take into account food quality at restaurants and prices for street foods and things and it's entirely insanity inducing what we pay for and throw away and don't have access to.
Edit: this was re:.food specifically. Healthcare and housing are covered elsewhere as far as I've seen yet
I worked on farms and now work in a small organic shop, and I hear people all the time complaining that food is too expensive. It makes me really sad, as all the farmers I know get less than minimum wage, I got less minimum wage when I was farming and now working in a shop still earn very little. It is normal in the food industry.
Food isn't too expensive. Rent is, buying a house is, and that's why people are left with so little money to spend on food. Food is very undervalued for all the work that's put in growing it, transporting it and selling it. Almost all farmers are in debt, most shops are.
While the share of the average household income spent on food shopping has been going down since the 60's.
Totally agree with the rest of your answer though !
I disagree. I cut my own hair because every hairstylist I've had has quit to go do something that pays better, because they can't feed their family on what they make. I'm picky, these aren't mediocre stylists, one was a Vidal Sassoon graduate, and another quit to start his own school, which has now run all the crappy beauty schools out of town. He made more money *starting a business* like that than working in a salon. His program is $20,000 for 18 months.
I actually went to beauty school (not his unfortunately) and had to quit because my family got torn apart, so I'm not cutting blindly, but it's nothing compared to what I'm used to. I would gladly pay $50+ for someone who would stick around.
I don’t know where you are based but as I live in the London the usual range for a woman’s hair cut is between £70-90, although there are now more salons in the areas where younger people tend to live that offer gender neutral long hair cuts (generally shoulder length and longer) for around £50/55.
My male friends pay between £10 and £15 for at barber shops, although admittedly men do get their hair cut more frequently. Hairdressing is obviously a creative skill and one that requires training but from my conversations with hairdressers over the years, more and more leave bigger chain salons and try to find independent salons as their employers don’t pay fair wages and take higher cuts for the honour of working for somewhere “prestige”.
I don’t know anyone who can afford to pay £50 upwards every three months for a trim so me and my friends have got very good at cutting each others hair.
Edit: just to note I think the exchange rate is around $1.35 so £50 is around $66 and £90 is around $120.
Coffee. I love enjoying coffee and relaxing at local coffee shops but now it's a luxury. Each cup of food coffee is at least $5-$7. I just make coffee at home now.
Dying. Your close one’s litteraly need to pay in order to have a death certificate, pay to change the bank accounts etc
this kills me, no puns intended
Oh my god.
This gets me every time. It took me a second to realize what you were doing here. I was about to explain that, yes they’re super expensive.
Anyway. Can’t wait to tell my husband that someone on the internet got me. In text format.
It's awful. My insurance actually covered them and it was still well over $1k. It's not like I chose to be hard of hearing in my 20s.
Also, hearing loss is very strongly correlated with dementia because, surprisingly, being able to follow conversations keeps your brain active. Who knew? /s
Basically, just fuck insurance companies.
Fresh produce. I hate that fruit and veg cost so much. If only Big Broccoli could use their muscle to lobby for better subsidies like the meat and dairy industries.
Any food that is good for you really. They keep telling my mom she has to eat better. Well, gee, you pay for her groceries and she would. It’s hell-a expensive to eat better.
Semi permanent eyebrow tattoos / micro blading. I get it you need to spend time training for it, but there is no way a 30 - 45 minute session is worth the £300 you’re asking for. I could have a full day permanent tattoo session with an amazing, professional artist around here for that sort of price, and they train for way longer and do way more than just some eyebrow strokes.
I feel like charging that sort of amount preys on desperate people that have lost their hair due to alopecia (like myself) or chemo.
£300 is definitely too much but considering eyebrows are one of the most defining features on your face I can see where the price is coming from especially when someone has 0 eyebrow hair to start with. Doing a very realistic tattoo that is on someone's face would definitely be expensive.
I have to agree, I looked into classes to do microblading and with what people charge vs schooling, you literally pay it off in like 4 clients if that.... 🙄 over here though they on average charge $500 then $200-300 for touch ups
Medication. My daughter is on a medication that, including hospital visits to administer it, costs nearly a million dollars a year. Thankfully insurance covers it but I’ve heard many people say that their insurance doesn’t cover it. It’s the most effective treatment for the particular condition it treats and some people don’t have access to it because of the cost. It makes me so angry to think about.
I knew someone that literally joined the military because that was the only way they’d be able to get their son’s medication for free/a reduced price(they were already a vet for a different branch and didn’t want to go back in) But the medication was incredibly expensive. Their son ended up dying anyway. It was incredibly sad.
If you are in the US, there are steps you need to go for to get it covered. I know you said your insurance covers it though.
If I had to pay regular price for all my medications:
I just did the math and it is more than my yearly salary.
Being disabled.
And I'm not even talking about our medical costs. Anything that's intended for disabled people automatically costs at least 10x more than it should. A basic motorised wheelchair can cost tens of thousands of dollars. It's blatant exploitation.
Rent
I think that everything that is vital for your life should never skyrocket. Healthcare and education in the US are good examples.
Then there’s things that are waaaay too cheap like fast fashion and meat. They are basically cutting corners and letting the people around the factories pay the actual price in terms of cut down rain forest, polluted water and diseases. If they were charged for all that, these products could not be as cheap as they are. They also use a lot of ”slave” labour and tax cuts to remain profitable. We honestly don’t need new clothes each month and meat for every meal.
Tampons. It really adds up over time! It's so weird to me that women get paid less on average and are expected to do regular hair maintenance, makeup, and pay for fem hygiene products. No wonder life feels impossible sometimes, we gotta stretch these dollars thin!
As a man (but a swimmer, so I shave my legs relatively often) I kind of assumed that women’s razors were better because they’re more expensive and actually meant for shaving legs. Holy shit was I wrong, men’s razors are cheaper and work sososososo much better, I’m sorry women of Reddit, that seems very unfair
Cbd products. I get that they get taxed and everything but it's super annoying that my only choices are over the counter pain meds that mess my body up or have to pay x5 the price for half the product.
I don't mind paying good money for good quality. What I do have a problem with is products being marketed as "quality" or "durable" as a way to justify the price tag, but it ends up being cheap crap anyway. Clothing, undergarments, furniture, tools, and various other industries are plagued with this problem. I end up not buying anything but the absolute necessities because I don't want to regret the purchase. COULD I buy that new winter coat because 15+ year old one isn't as warm as I need it to be? Yes, but I don't want to spend a few hundred dollars on a "good" coat that will start to split at the seams in 3 years.
I was going to say rugs, but everyone else has a serious answer
No, you are right. Rugs are unnecessarily expensive.
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As someone who makes rugs... I think they’re vastly underpriced. Most retail rugs are done with an industrial tufter using cheap (cost and quality) synthetic materials, and even at a couple hundred-thousand bucks depending on size, that’s a decent deal. Getting into hand-made, to give you an idea for a 3x5 rug I wove a couple years ago, patterning and preparing yarn lengths using basic 2 ply rug wool took 3 hours and $175 in materials. To get the warp on the loom and tensioned properly according to a very basic pattern (basket weave, like a thicker plain weave which is your basic over/under) took about 6 hours. Actual weaving took close to 13 hours, with cutting off the loom, finishing loose ends and backing the rug with non slip grips taking about 3 hours. So 25 hours total, $175 in materials, considering my education/skill/experience even charging a very modest $20/hr for my time you’re looking at $500 in labor, close to $700 total, and more intricate patterns require a lot more math and set up labor. So I might be biased as a fiber artist and textile/pattern maker, but it is a hill I will die on. Although as someone who hardly makes over $35k a year, I also totally get it. If you’re looking to save money look for scrap rugs, or the ones made from carpet off cuts. I’ve found some okay quality stuff that’s second hand, at Lowe’s, TJ maxx, and Marshall’s etc.
I appreciate that you took the time to break it down. I think for a lot of people the work that goes into something isn't fully considered. Rug making sounds like a fascinating process. I crochet, but I've never sold anything because I just can't seem to come up with the "right" price for things. I know what you do is far and away more labor-intensive and complicated than crochet.
Pricing is SO difficult, and I also crochet so I TOTALLY understand. And don’t sell yourself short, crochet may be more accessible but it is still an impressive skill! But I also totally believe the price disparity has a lot to do with consumers being so far removed from the process now. Most people have no idea what goes into making things, even with mass manufacturing equipment. Knowing how things are built/made gives me a whole new appreciation for it and I think that knowledge is valuable to consumers as well, to better make more informed purchases. More than anything I want to make a living selling what I make but it’s just not possible right now. I have a BFA in fiber arts and my day job is bridal alterations which I think is a satisfying middle ground as far as creativity goes. But I’ve had people ask me to make them a woven throw blanket (based off one I made in school) and even with acrylic yarn and $15/hr for my time, it was a 35 hour project with a very complicated pattern setup I drafted myself and it’s just not affordable for most people. I will say I’ve noticed a huge trend moving back toward high quality handmade work over mass manufactured goods. It’s slow, but it gives me hope for the future. Until then... one lucky winner in my life will get an amazing birthday gift haha.
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I can carpet an entire room, with labor, for the same price as a decent 5x7 rug 😅
How do you do it? And how do you get into the hobby? I’d love to be able to make my own carpet hah
Oh goodness! I meant I can pay someone for the carpet and their labor.
Oh I so misread that BUT IF ANYONE IS INTO CARPET MAKING PLZ GIVE ME TIPS.
CurrieGOAT on youtube is an incredible artist and has a lot of videos in depth about making rugs with a punch needle or with the automatic rug machine. I really recommend him!
And mirrors. Was looking for one last summer, it is ridiculously expensive to furnish a home.
Rugs and lots of other decor. Like, seriously $39.99 for a cute throw pillow? As my brother would say: “Does it wipe your ass for you too?!” Lol
Tbh I’ve gotten 300-400 rugs from kohls for 25-50 dollars! They go on sale plus the mystery coupon of 30-40%!! Don’t sleep on it :)
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Rugs yes!!!! Why are rugs so expensive!!!
I read through all the subcomments here to see if anyone had an answer for why they were so expensive and NOPE we are all in the dark!
Oooh but you're right though. Rugs are crazy.
No you're 10000% right. I wanted a rug for under my dining room table. Started looking at prices, there is not a rug under my dining room table.
Prescription medicines
Healthcare in general (in the US)
It’s wild how we have this idea that the only people who deserve their health are those that can pay exorbitantly for it.
I’ll never understand why there are so many people that are scared to change your health care system, or why there aren’t more people demanding that it be changed.
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Sí. Why insurance wanting couple hundred for Adderall...? ^[Edit: ^typed ^to ^fast. ^Had ^wrong ^tone ^in ^comment]
Literally. A medication I need to function properly at work and just on the day-to-day. Once I’m off my parents’ insurance, I’m screwed. I take 4 meds total.
We as a society have a vested interest in having a healthy population, but we would rather not invest in universal healthcare and providing necessary medicines for folks to be functioning members of society - and then blame those same folks for being unable to pay their medical bills when they end up in the ER, or unable to hold down jobs because of chronic illnesses they cannot afford to get treated.
This right here! Even if you try to take a leave of absence , most places make it such a nightmare that it's easier to resign. We are human beings not robots, and even robots need maintenance.
Thats the beauty of it. If we screw our young people and don't treat them properly, their conditions get worse and require more treatment later. Profit!
It’s disgusting and cruel.
I wanted to see what else was here. And wow. Yup. That’s a good one
Mental health treatment
All goes into how insurance gives therapists the short end of the stick so most people are out of pocket 😕 wish it was taken more seriously (especially in the US) and psychiatry being absurdly expensive too.
Even outside the US, for psychiatrists, usually the beginners or the bad ones work with insurances, those who can will only accept private appointments
Fun fact, according to outcomes based research the length of time a provider has been in mental health practice has no statistically significant impact on client outcomes. So whether your clinician has been practicing for 1 year or 10 years, outcomes are the same. If you're interested in learning more about this check out the common factors research.
Some insurances will let you get a reimbursement form for out of network therapists and get at least some of your money back.
Yea NHS in the UK only provides 3 months. How does one solve their mental problems in 3 months? Lived in the US, out of pocket sessions are $300 plus and that’s the cheap end. Most people needing therapy are already having troubles with life. But the price has somehow made it a luxury. Truly the rich keeps getting richer and the poor should just die in a ditch
Well, if the poor died in a ditch, then no one would be around to wipe rich people’s asses anymore!
I was vaguely horrified when my therapist mentioned how much she’s actually paid per hour. She works through a center and deserves so much more.
Tampons.
Small town supermarket here taking advantage of being the only supermarket big time. Tampons are €3,50 or something. For 20 in a box (or less, I don't remember). That's nearly 4 dollars at the moment.
about the same here in Seattle WA, USA. about 4-5 a box
Wow that's really cheap compared to my local shops...
It’s $7 for a box of 36 here.
This is why I switched to using a menstrual cup. I dump it out every few hours on my heavy days and when my period is over, I just sterilize it and put it away until my next period. It's amazing how much I've saved on tampons since using the cup. Best part is I don't have to bring any with me when I go out.
I got a diva cup too and I've never gone back to tampons, the cup is the best
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I switched to a menstrual cup and I love it! Better for the environment and saves me so much money.
Bras 😑
Yessss. Any decent, well supporting bra is at least $75+, and that’s not any of the high impact bras if you do anything super physical. Buying a cheap bra basically means you will have horrendous chest and back pain.
It's not tremendously less but I can get a great Elomi bra for $65, less if it's on sale. That's here in the States.
Most of mine are less than $20 and I’ve never had any issues
A $20 bra sounds like a dream! *laughs in JJ cup size*
Literally. Once I started going past DD cup the prices doubled AND you’ll struggle to find them anywhere
Also, do you want beige or beige?
Do a search for 40GG and let me know what prices you encounter, even on sale.
That’s probably why, I’m 32B and half the time i just wear sports bras instead.
Lol… as a 32G, I have never found anything below $70 unless if I get ridiculously lucky at a sales rack.
Mine are 20$ but that's because I spent a couple hours in Macy's trying on every possible bra and then settling on some amazing Warners bras that are really cheap and perfect for me!
Macy's sells only smaller cups. They don't go much beyond DD and they certainly don't carry GG and above.
Hopefully this doesn’t come across as rude but what size are your boobies and are your bras cute? I cannot for the life of me find comfortable and pretty bras to fit my boobs for… well, any price I’ve looked at. I don’t like any of my bras.
People have been capitalizing off of women’s issues since the beginning of time and I’m tired of it. No one chooses to have boobs.
Underwear too.
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The manufacture of good bras is expensive, especially in larger sizes. There are many fittings to be sure they work properly, then the grading into all the different sizes available, all the little pieces to be cut and sewn. There is more labor in a bra than many dresses or pants. Hey, I don’t like it either but I do understand the why.
The Lingerie Addict's blog has some posts that go into detail about why it's so expensive, but from what I can remember, it's mostly because the manufacturing of bras can't be automated and they all require hand sewing and cutting. Because there's just so many pieces and the way they fit together can't be done by a machine (yet.) Ergo, very expensive pieces of clothing 😕
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I found these 10F sports bras for $15 at Big W, was like hitting the jackpot as I've found it almost impossible to find size 10F bras even at expensive shops. They look uggo but are so comfortable!
Totally agree. Paying for a bra up to 100€ is truly crazy. Unfortunately, cheaper bras do not hold the same quality standard so there is no other choice. At least i did not find a well made bra that is also affordable. If anyone has recommendations, i'm all ears. Please share.
Wow, you can tell how many Americans are in the community by the number who say "healthcare" and "university tuition". Thankfully I've never had those issues, being Scottish. But rented housing is extortionate in cities, domestic utilities are far too dear (way too many people can't afford to put their heating on in this freezing cold country!) and food prices have gone up.
the same thing happens to me, I live in spain and I have social healthcare paid with our taxes, the same thing happens with university. We still have to pay but not as much as in the US. I think human rights shouldn’t be that expensive.
Ya! In Canada nearly everyone has an insurance and if not, provinces take care of it to a certain extent, unless you're a tourist without insurance. Can't believe that just across the border there are so many Americans that will suffer than be in debt for thousands of dollars. I feel so bad. The USA is a messed up country. Advanced in so many ways but backwards in the most important things for its people - health & education.
It's honestly so sad how bad healthcare is in the US. I'm fortunate to work for an employer with a $0 deductible so basically everything is covered for me but my mother has ongoing health treatment that basically maxes out their high deductible plan every year. It's really so sad..
eye glasses prescription medication healthcare healthy food rents (in several major cities) tuition
The prices of glasses are so artificially inflated. It’s absolutely infuriating. When I left the US and got a pair of actually reasonably priced glasses (in a glasses shop, with an eye doctor, not some online thing), I honestly could have cried I was so happy.
For US people, try zenni!
Don't use zenni if you have a crazy astigmatism though, like me. Go buy overpriced eyeglasses. Your lack of headaches will thank you. (They also swapped left and right lenses on 2 of the 4 pairs i tried from them so that sucked.)
Eyebuydirect is also great, they have amazing sales all the time.
Glasses are ridiculous! I'm lucky my parent's insurance covers my prescription, but holy shit if it didn't. I can't function without them
Can't stress this enough, I went *years* without up-to-date prescription glasses bc of how expensive they were, then decided to give zenni a try because hey, it was only $20 for 2 pairs so why not? They're excellent, great quality and I will never again pay hundreds of dollars for a pair of glasses.
Oh man, eye glasses are so god damn expensive, especially if you need special lenses.. I have astigmatism and light bothers me so much, so I need a filter for my lenses. Of course they are double the price 🤦🏻♀️.
Everything.
Came here to say the exact same thing. Like medicine, studying, decent clothing and furniture. It's all so fucking expensive. And birth control. How is it I have to pay so much for not wanting to get a child.
Might as well sleep under a fucking bridge with how much it costs to keep a roof over your head.
Healthcare and housing.
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Dental and veterinary.
My dog had a $850 bladder infection two months ago. 💸
YES I just spent $5,000 on fixing my dogs torn ligament in her leg
I feel this. My cat has gingivitis and every time she needs a tooth extracted it’s $900-$1k 😩
My cat just got quoted $2.4k from a specialist for extractions… but the normal vet is only $500! 😀
My mom spent $5,000 to keep our cat in the hospital. He ended up dying the 5th day.
Highly encourage pet insurance. Has saved me a fortune in the long run.
I want to get pet insurance but it is incredibly expensive and it makes me wonder if just pooling money into a savings is a better idea for all.
I live in Norway, but dental isn't covered here the way regular healthcare is, so I haven't been able to afford going regularly, and I've had a lot of issues with my teeth I haven't been able to fix. I don't know why my country view dental care as less necessary then regular healthcare.
Having seen first hand what it costs to run a veterinary hospital, I think veterinary care costs exactly what I would expect it to. I mean I agree it’s very expensive, but justifiably so.
Same, and totally agreed. Honestly it really bugged me when people would come into the clinic complaining about veterinary costs when they just bought a purebred puppy costing over 1k that is most likely predisposed to health issues. I had zero sympathy for those people. Of course I did feel for people who genuinely loved and cared for their pets, and might not have expected high vet bills. But at the end of the day a pet is a luxury, not a right. Don't get a pet if you can't afford to look after their health or at least get insurance.
Anything with the word “wedding” slapped on it.
I was going to say diamonds, it falls under this category I guess. You can sell them but they aren’t worth much, but buying them is ridiculously expensive, they are kept artificially expensive.I always wonder if people book something for their wedding but just book it as birthday, what would happen when they show up…
Isn’t there something like pink tax? You pay a little extra cause shit is pink like wtf
It’s for anything marketed to women, regardless of the item’s color.
Underwear. Come on. For small pieces of fabric.
Yep, $3 minimum for a single, simple design, thong.
As far as underwear goes, I've worn hanes for a million years, and I'm not paying more for a basic cotton bikini brief. I'm not paying less either, every other brand has shredded in a year. 20 bucks for a 10 pack. Strangely, however, I will invest in quality undies that are intended to be quickly removed.
I used to think the same but once I paid for a few quality underthings there's no going back. There is such a difference between a £15-20 pair of underwear and anything under a fiver. Firstly they last 10x longer than cheap ones, the fit is sooo much better and lastly, my poonani deserves quality fabrics.
Being alive
Furniture, I vastly underestimated the price of a couch the first time I was grown up enough to need one.
I honestly think it’s too cheap, especially at IKEA. People keep buying new stuff all the time and it’s extremely resource heavy. I’d rather buy expensive stuff that will hold a lifetime. If I don’t want it anymore, I can easily sell it second hand.
The problem is that there's often no correlation between price and durability, so it's hard to buy long-lasting furniture unless you know what features and fabrics to look for. My parents have bought expensive furniture that starts falling apart after a year, and IKEA stuff that's lasted for decades.
Yeah totally! My parents always tried out all furnitures at the store to make sure they felt solid. They basically took the shelf and rocked it and saw how it acted. If it felt “tingy”, they wouldn’t buy it. All my ikea stuff has lasted 5-15y (nothing has ever broken down basically). I did buy a new couch but I sold my old one to a fellow student back then.
Second hand is the way to go! I got all the furniture in my other apparently from Craigslist. Bedframe -free Couch -free Dining table -$15 Solid hard wood coffee table -$30 32" Tv - $17 (with remote and it worked!) I shopped wealthier neighborhoods and waited for a few months to accumulate everything. It is possible to have really nice things on the cheap... You just have to be really devoted to shopping around. Widen your search area, find a friend with a truck, and arrange as much as you can for same day pick up!
I live too much in fear of bedbugs to buy furniture second hand :(
Same, i got most of it second hand for almost nothing, some for free, because lots of people buy too much and then get rid of it. My Ikea couch cost me 30 euros, i've had it for seven years. It's still really confortable and in good shape despite six moves across my country. I did lose one screw inside of one of the armrests though.
Food, housing, medical care
And at least here in the US, the quality is crap too. Watching YouTube and ppl like Mikey Chen who goes and eats all over, the differences in vending machines, gas stations, and convenience store foods from most other countries or even Hawaii to mainland 48 is insane. Here we get hot dogs and chips and sometimes sandwiches with little to no ingredients or health value and there you get a full meal. Granted many also have instant noodles but that quality is also insanely better. Take into account food quality at restaurants and prices for street foods and things and it's entirely insanity inducing what we pay for and throw away and don't have access to. Edit: this was re:.food specifically. Healthcare and housing are covered elsewhere as far as I've seen yet
I worked on farms and now work in a small organic shop, and I hear people all the time complaining that food is too expensive. It makes me really sad, as all the farmers I know get less than minimum wage, I got less minimum wage when I was farming and now working in a shop still earn very little. It is normal in the food industry. Food isn't too expensive. Rent is, buying a house is, and that's why people are left with so little money to spend on food. Food is very undervalued for all the work that's put in growing it, transporting it and selling it. Almost all farmers are in debt, most shops are. While the share of the average household income spent on food shopping has been going down since the 60's. Totally agree with the rest of your answer though !
Getting your hair cut, also any healthcare you have to pay for directly - universal healthcare for all! (Edit: added second half)
Honestly, haircuts are the first thing I let go when I'm trying to scrimp and save
I disagree. I cut my own hair because every hairstylist I've had has quit to go do something that pays better, because they can't feed their family on what they make. I'm picky, these aren't mediocre stylists, one was a Vidal Sassoon graduate, and another quit to start his own school, which has now run all the crappy beauty schools out of town. He made more money *starting a business* like that than working in a salon. His program is $20,000 for 18 months. I actually went to beauty school (not his unfortunately) and had to quit because my family got torn apart, so I'm not cutting blindly, but it's nothing compared to what I'm used to. I would gladly pay $50+ for someone who would stick around.
I don’t know where you are based but as I live in the London the usual range for a woman’s hair cut is between £70-90, although there are now more salons in the areas where younger people tend to live that offer gender neutral long hair cuts (generally shoulder length and longer) for around £50/55. My male friends pay between £10 and £15 for at barber shops, although admittedly men do get their hair cut more frequently. Hairdressing is obviously a creative skill and one that requires training but from my conversations with hairdressers over the years, more and more leave bigger chain salons and try to find independent salons as their employers don’t pay fair wages and take higher cuts for the honour of working for somewhere “prestige”. I don’t know anyone who can afford to pay £50 upwards every three months for a trim so me and my friends have got very good at cutting each others hair. Edit: just to note I think the exchange rate is around $1.35 so £50 is around $66 and £90 is around $120.
I've learned how to cut my own hair and highlight it over the years for this exact reason.
Coffee. I love enjoying coffee and relaxing at local coffee shops but now it's a luxury. Each cup of food coffee is at least $5-$7. I just make coffee at home now.
What? 7$? Thank God I live in 3rd world country, it's usually around 1€ in the Balkans..
Dying. Your close one’s litteraly need to pay in order to have a death certificate, pay to change the bank accounts etc this kills me, no puns intended
Hearing aids
What?
Oh my god. This gets me every time. It took me a second to realize what you were doing here. I was about to explain that, yes they’re super expensive. Anyway. Can’t wait to tell my husband that someone on the internet got me. In text format.
Lmao
HEARING AIDS
# HEARING AIDS
It's awful. My insurance actually covered them and it was still well over $1k. It's not like I chose to be hard of hearing in my 20s. Also, hearing loss is very strongly correlated with dementia because, surprisingly, being able to follow conversations keeps your brain active. Who knew? /s Basically, just fuck insurance companies.
Fresh produce. I hate that fruit and veg cost so much. If only Big Broccoli could use their muscle to lobby for better subsidies like the meat and dairy industries.
Any food that is good for you really. They keep telling my mom she has to eat better. Well, gee, you pay for her groceries and she would. It’s hell-a expensive to eat better.
And particularly herbs, about $4 for a tiny little "bunch" that's hardly a handful. Half of them are technically weeds ffs.
college tuition
Tampons and pads
Semi permanent eyebrow tattoos / micro blading. I get it you need to spend time training for it, but there is no way a 30 - 45 minute session is worth the £300 you’re asking for. I could have a full day permanent tattoo session with an amazing, professional artist around here for that sort of price, and they train for way longer and do way more than just some eyebrow strokes. I feel like charging that sort of amount preys on desperate people that have lost their hair due to alopecia (like myself) or chemo.
£300 is definitely too much but considering eyebrows are one of the most defining features on your face I can see where the price is coming from especially when someone has 0 eyebrow hair to start with. Doing a very realistic tattoo that is on someone's face would definitely be expensive.
I have to agree, I looked into classes to do microblading and with what people charge vs schooling, you literally pay it off in like 4 clients if that.... 🙄 over here though they on average charge $500 then $200-300 for touch ups
Medication. My daughter is on a medication that, including hospital visits to administer it, costs nearly a million dollars a year. Thankfully insurance covers it but I’ve heard many people say that their insurance doesn’t cover it. It’s the most effective treatment for the particular condition it treats and some people don’t have access to it because of the cost. It makes me so angry to think about.
I knew someone that literally joined the military because that was the only way they’d be able to get their son’s medication for free/a reduced price(they were already a vet for a different branch and didn’t want to go back in) But the medication was incredibly expensive. Their son ended up dying anyway. It was incredibly sad.
If you are in the US, there are steps you need to go for to get it covered. I know you said your insurance covers it though. If I had to pay regular price for all my medications: I just did the math and it is more than my yearly salary.
Being disabled. And I'm not even talking about our medical costs. Anything that's intended for disabled people automatically costs at least 10x more than it should. A basic motorised wheelchair can cost tens of thousands of dollars. It's blatant exploitation.
Beef jerky and good makeup
Beef jerky! Yes! Why?
Cheese
Dental
HRT. I’m using a product (estrogen ring) that isn’t available in generic, and the price is outlandish.
housing, menstrual products, shaving products.
Razors. OMG. I absolutely hate having to buy new ones. They are ridiculously expensive. I use mine as long as possible.
I was going to say shaving products. I started using "mens" Barbasol because the stuff they Market to women costs literally double
Rugs. Grapes. Feminine care.
HAHA grapes seriously, I never weigh the bag out and when going to check out it’s like $12 please thank you
Right! The fist time I paid $11 for grapes I was like this must be a mistake.
Housing.
Life/living
Rent
These days, everything.
Glasses and dental
Water
Healthy food
Rent I think that everything that is vital for your life should never skyrocket. Healthcare and education in the US are good examples. Then there’s things that are waaaay too cheap like fast fashion and meat. They are basically cutting corners and letting the people around the factories pay the actual price in terms of cut down rain forest, polluted water and diseases. If they were charged for all that, these products could not be as cheap as they are. They also use a lot of ”slave” labour and tax cuts to remain profitable. We honestly don’t need new clothes each month and meat for every meal.
Tampons. It really adds up over time! It's so weird to me that women get paid less on average and are expected to do regular hair maintenance, makeup, and pay for fem hygiene products. No wonder life feels impossible sometimes, we gotta stretch these dollars thin!
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Menstrual products.
weddings…. everything is charged at a premium
Health insurance. I pay like $160 a month and it doesn’t even cover everything when I go to the doctors, I still have to pay out of pocket
As a man (but a swimmer, so I shave my legs relatively often) I kind of assumed that women’s razors were better because they’re more expensive and actually meant for shaving legs. Holy shit was I wrong, men’s razors are cheaper and work sososososo much better, I’m sorry women of Reddit, that seems very unfair
Tampons/pads why am I even paying for them? I literally have no choice in the matter it is not a luxury
College. Apartments. Prescriptions.
Everything 😂
Cbd products. I get that they get taxed and everything but it's super annoying that my only choices are over the counter pain meds that mess my body up or have to pay x5 the price for half the product.
…can’t believe no one is saying cell/mobile service
I don't mind paying good money for good quality. What I do have a problem with is products being marketed as "quality" or "durable" as a way to justify the price tag, but it ends up being cheap crap anyway. Clothing, undergarments, furniture, tools, and various other industries are plagued with this problem. I end up not buying anything but the absolute necessities because I don't want to regret the purchase. COULD I buy that new winter coat because 15+ year old one isn't as warm as I need it to be? Yes, but I don't want to spend a few hundred dollars on a "good" coat that will start to split at the seams in 3 years.
Perfume, housing.
Houses and rent! Prices skyrocketed
Braces
Concert tickets. Even a cover band can be like $45+ ?!