As technology advances and supply chains improve, most purchases tend to become cheaper and better—like smartphones, for instance. But that doesn’t always hold true; for some everyday essentials and luxuries, costs have risen alongside declining quality. Here, we compiled a list of 19 things we would go back in time to buy if we only had a time machine!
Higher Education
The cost of college tuition has skyrocketed in recent years. CNBC reports that the average cost of a public four-year college course has more than doubled since the 1980s. With no associated increase in quality, students are nonetheless burdened with debilitating debt, greatly impacting their financial future.
Housing
Unfortunately, the ‘American Dream’ of owning your own home remains a dream for many Americans. Trading Economics states that house prices were “reaching an all-time high of 568700.00 USD in December of 2022 and a record low of 39500.00 USD in January of 1975.” With wages and build quality failing to rise in kind, buying a home is more difficult than ever.
Healthcare
With healthcare and healthcare insurance premiums rising, many people are struggling to afford to pay for lower-quality medical care. According to Fitch Ratings, “both single and family premiums increased faster in 2023 than in 2022, with early indications suggesting that the rate of increase will be even higher in 2024.”
Gasoline
Another essential item that has increased in price recently is gas, with fluctuating prices revealing an overall rising trend. Drivers are now paying more and more at the pumps for fuel of poorer or equal quality. The causes include reduced supply from countries such as Saudi Arabia and increasing overall demand (CNN Business).
Childcare
If you have children and you need to work, childcare is a crucial requirement, yet costs have surged in recent years. Many parents now struggle to afford quality childcare and may be forced to leave their children in the care of family members or nurseries with lower standards (like those with less well-trained staff or larger groups of children).
Groceries
What’s more essential than food? Despite a general overall reduction in food quality, Time Magazine reports that the price of everyday items like meat, butter, eggs, and vegetables has risen steeply in recent years. Global inflation and disruptions to supply chains are the most likely causes.
Movies
While not quite as crucial as groceries, visiting the cinema has become increasingly expensive compared to a few decades ago, when it was an affordable leisure activity even for lower income brackets. Nowadays, rising living costs and the advent of streaming services have made going to the movies more expensive and undesirable than ever before.
Air Travel
Although it’s certainly more accessible than it was in the ‘60s, recent changes in how flights are marketed and sold have made modern air travel surprisingly expensive. Additional fees for baggage, seat selection, and other previously included services also make the whole experience feel decidedly ‘downgraded.’
Cable TV
Government Technology states that the cost of cable TV and high-speed internet has increased significantly since 2020, prompting many consumers to seek alternatives to cable TV, like Netflix and other streaming services. With no advantage in terms of quality, we may soon see the end of cable TV as an entertainment provider.
Cars
A new car has never exactly been an inexpensive purchase, but costs are rising beyond mere inflation. MoneyGeek says the average price of a new vehicle in the U.S. was $48,000 in March 2023, a 3.8% rise over the past 12 months. This is largely due to increased production costs and the inclusion of expensive tech in even entry-level models.
Textbooks
If you’ve been to college, you’ll likely remember the notoriously high cost of required course textbooks. Many students end up spending hundreds of dollars on so-called ‘essential’ course materials each semester, severely cutting into their funds for other necessities like housing, food, and utilities.
Dining Out
While the quality has stayed the same or worsened, many eateries have increased their prices due to rising labor and operating costs. This has made dining out an activity reserved for those with enough disposable income to absorb such inflation. Thus, despite their convenience, restaurants are being increasingly snubbed for cheaper alternatives like home cooking.
Prescription Drugs
According to The Center for American Progress, the cost of medication has surged, putting a strain on those individuals relying on them. Many are being left with two choices: stop taking their prescription drugs or struggle to pay the exorbitant prices. If their medical decision impacts their ability to work, their situation is particularly tenuous.
Utilities
The costs of electricity, water, and heating have all risen sharply over the past 5–10 years, severely impacting an average household’s monthly outgoings. The causes include reduced energy generation and distribution expenses. Despite these increased charges, the quality of utilities hasn’t improved.
Tuition
For parents hoping to give their children the best start in life, private school tuition is important. However, it has recently become a luxury for all but the wealthiest families due to skyrocketing fees. Unfortunately, this helps widen the divide between rich and poor and causes social division.
Weddings
Although a steep rise in the average cost of a wedding is now reaching a plateau, getting married is still progressively more and more expensive each year (CNBC). Many couples spend tens of thousands of dollars on their special day, largely due to the rising costs of venues, catering, and outside vendors like photographers.
Home Repairs
With the costs of materials and labor continuing to climb, hiring professionals to fix damage or make improvements to your home is more expensive than ever. Many homeowners hoping to improve their spaces have to reduce the scale of their projects, use cheaper materials, or use up more of their savings in order to do so.
Vacations
We’ve already mentioned air travel, but vacations, in general, are becoming less and less affordable. Accommodation and transfer costs, as well as more expensive activities and dining options, have forced many to scale down their holiday plans or skip the trip altogether.
Retirement
Retiring is a lot more expensive and challenging than it once was. Not only are pension products more expensive, but a rise in the general cost of living has stretched many people’s funds beyond their budgets. Retiring later, taking partial retirement, or downsizing their homes have all become more common among the older generation.
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