The Rachel Cruze Show - When Did We Start Paying for Stuff That Used to Be Free?

Starting point is 00:00:05 I recently saw an article with 10 things that used to be free and aren't anymore. So we're going to go through that list and rate them on the most annoying to not. And let me know your thoughts in the comments as we go. Make sure to like, subscribe, and share this episode with your friends. So I'm going to rate these, 1 to 10, 10 being the most annoying and frustrating, and one being somewhat understandable. First up is air. That's right.

Starting point is 00:00:28 You used to not have to pay to put air in your tires. You go to the gas station, they'd have it there, and you just go. And now it's like a coin machine. You got to have some stuff or even a couple of bucks to fix your tire pressure. Where before air was free, not anymore. It's kind of funny because you're paying for air, but also like it's not that big of a deal. So I'm going to be like a three on my annoyance scale. Number two, the news.

Starting point is 00:00:53 Yes, I grew up with, you know, the newspapers and all of that. You could either watch the nightly news or the newspapers. But now, thanks to the Internet, you could get news anytime, anywhere. And so for a good bit of time, the news was just free on the internet. And now if you go to certain news outlets like the New York Times and the Washington Post, all of that, there's usually a paywall. You can only read so far down and then it stops and says you have to have a subscription. And so they charge you a subscription fee, which makes sense because the actual, like,

Starting point is 00:01:23 I know they need to make money because they used to make money on newspapers. And now that's like a thing that is in the past. I understand it, but also it's kind of annoying where you're like, okay, I want to read this article. and now I've got to pay for my news. My annoyance scale, it's pretty high, y'all. I'm going to go like seven. I don't know. I mean, I know you can get a lot of things for free,

Starting point is 00:01:41 but if there is a great article up there that we need to know about in the world, like, I don't want to pay for it. So I'm going to say that. Number three, airline extras. This is tough. So some flights, they may be cheaper, but so many of the amenities

Starting point is 00:01:54 and other things are not included in the price. So checked bags, even some charge for carry-ons, and flight snacks or beverages, and flight entertainment, the list goes on. And so it is kind of frustrating. And I'm going to put this at a frustrating number. I am going to say nine. I don't know why.

Starting point is 00:02:14 This bothers me so much. Like, you pay for a ticket, and there is, like, a level of service that you kind of just expect, and when they nickel and dime you for everything, I get very annoyed. So I don't like that one. Number four, food delivery. You guys, pizza delivery used to be free, and then you would just tip on top of that. Like, that's what it was. But now, everything when it comes to delivery, because of app culture and there's so many restaurants now delivering all of it, they tack on a delivery

Starting point is 00:02:41 fee plus the tip. So this is a real thing. Now, I'm not going to be as annoyed with this one because there is a part of me that you're paying for the convenience. So I'm, like, going to give it, like, a two. It doesn't bother me as much because you know what you're paying for. But also, pizza delivery used to be free. Now, the next item on the list will blow you away. But first, I have to tell you about Delete Me, which is one of our sponsors for today. So if you don't remove your personal data from the internet, it's basically like a billboard out there with your name, your address, your email, even your kids' names, and they're out there on sketchy data broker websites. And those data brokers then collect your data, then they sell it, make money off of you,

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Starting point is 00:03:53 Number five, plastic bags. Yeah, did you know that some states have banned the use of plastic bags in an effort to reduce environmental damage. And since then, it's become more normal to charge a couple of quarters for a single bag. And Europeans have been charging for shopping carts, baskets, and bags for decades, but America, we're kind of getting there now. So, yeah, paying for a bag, that's pretty annoying, in my opinion. I don't know why. I just expect, like, if you're buying something for the retailer, they'll give you a bag to put the things you bought from them in. So, yeah, I mean, annoyance. I would say maybe an eight, because if you weren't preparing for it, because not all stores do that.

Starting point is 00:04:35 It's like, oh, my gosh, I have to, like, carry all this stuff out. I may not have enough if I buy a ton. All right, number six is banking. So when the Card Act was passed in 2009, banks started charging fees just for keeping your money in a checking account. And since then, we have seen an increase in service fees, overdraft fees, ATM fees, all of it. So, yeah, I mean, this is like kind of one of those things. They just nickel and dime you. all the way. And I don't like this one either. I'm going to go have a lot of annoyance in this

Starting point is 00:05:05 this whole list. I mean, I'm going to say like an eight or a nine because part of me is like you're giving someone your business. And so there are services that, I don't know, to me, I'm like, yeah, I expect that. Like if you want me to keep my money in your bank, I should be able to use an ATM to get my money out because I'm being putting more money back in your bank that you're using my money to go and lend out and make a ton of money off of my money is really how it works. So I'm annoyed by it. I'm going to go eight. Number seven, water.

Starting point is 00:05:35 So at some restaurants, you have to specify that you want tap water, or automatically they may bring you a bottle of still or sparkling, and that will get tacked onto your bill. And this is very common in big cities if you're traveling around the U.S. and outside the U.S. as well. This one doesn't annoy me as much. I'm going to go too, because if you are getting a bottle of water, like, or a glass bottle or sparkling, like, yeah. Like, there's a part of me that I'm like, yeah, that's probably a nicer quality of water than just from the tap. But you do have to specify, so make sure you do. But usually a great waiter or waitress is, like, going to ask you beforehand.

Starting point is 00:06:10 So that's not a problem. Number eight, school sports. So back in the day, parents would have to cover the cost of gear and maybe a uniform. But now pay-to-play policies are requiring fees simply for students just to participate. So this puts really talented kids at a disadvantage if their parents. parents can't afford these dues, and it has just gotten more and more expensive. The whole sports thing and youth thing, like, it just kind of drives me nuts, so I'm going to go eight out of my annoyance for this. Because I think I see the heart of it. Like, I have so many

Starting point is 00:06:42 friends, and they talk about it so openly, but, like, the amount of money that some of these sports industries make off of the kids is insane. Like, it is absolutely insane. And the parents are right in the scoop of it all, all in the flurry and the anxiety. But then to do it on top of, like, just their school, especially if they go to a public school. And it's like, yeah, like, this is part of your education and your, like, livelihood as a youth. And now we're having to tack on more fees above that. Like, that is, that's kind of annoying. So I'm annoyed by it. I'm going to go eight. Number nine, hotel amenities. So resort fees have become more popular over the past couple of decades, covering things like the pool and gym use, newspaper delivery, looky there,

Starting point is 00:07:27 where they're back to the news. And there's also processing fees very common now, which can bump your total price up by like $100 or more. And some hotels have even added an Airbnb style, a cleaning fee to the bill, which is wild. So yeah, I mean, it is crazy. Anytime we book a hotel and you, like, see the price of the room. And then when you get to the final paying, I mean, I mean, lines, y'all. I mean, seriously, four to five lines, including taxes, but it's just like all of this that gets added on. And it's wild. And I think they can just do it, right? And I get why some of it, I mean, part of it, there's, especially if you're staying at a nicer hotel, there's going to be nicer amenities and all of that. Like, I guess I get it. I'm going to go five here. It is kind of

Starting point is 00:08:08 annoying. I may go six. I'm going to go six. Like, middle of the road annoyed, but like a little bit more than that. So we'll go six. All right, number 10, directory assistance. So you used to be able to dial 4-1-1 to get someone's phone number, but now Verizon charges $1.99 for directory assistance. Okay, I didn't even know this existed. I'm going to give it a one. This doesn't bother me in my life at all because why would you not just Google it? I don't know. This one I don't get, but it is funny that it's a service. So, yeah, if you're paying for that service, don't pay for that service. Just Google. Just Google. So, times are changing, you guys. It just does feel like life is getting more and more expensive,

Starting point is 00:08:48 and you may not be able to control how the hotel is going to spend their money after you pay all those fees, but you can always control the money that you spend. And so making sure that you have a budget, that you are in control of your money is key, and every dollar is the best budgeting app out there. So I'll put a link down below to check it out. But if you're not budgeting, you need to be. Have control of your money. And some people are taking this shift to the extreme. So make sure to check 11 items frugal people are not buying anymore so I'll put a link down below all right you guys remember to take control of your money and create a life you love

The Rachel Cruze Show - When Did We Start Paying for Stuff That Used to Be Free?

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