18 Things That Were Free Growing Up (But Cost You Today)

A lot of the things we didn’t think twice about as kids now cost money. This shows how inflation and changing times have affected our daily lives. Today, everything seems to have a price, including simple things like phone calls and TV shows as well as more complicated things like healthcare and transportation. This article looks at 18 things that used to be free but are now cost money, it shows how our spending habits are changing in small ways.

1. Cable TV

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As kids, we watched basic cable or even free-to-air TV without ever considering paying a monthly fee. But these days, cable TV is more of a luxury because there are so many services that you have to pay for. Streaming services have replaced cable TV, and we now pay a monthly fee for things that used to be free.

2. Phone Calls

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When we were kids, long phone calls with family and friends cost nothing. These days, almost every call, even one made over the internet, costs money, especially one to other countries. Plans for cell phones and landlines are getting expensive and adding up over time.

3. Public Parks

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People used to be able to hang out, play, and even go to free community events in public parks. Some parks today charge to get into events, or you may have to pay to park and use certain park attractions. More and more, getting into outdoor spaces means paying money.

4. School Supplies

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Many schools gave kids everything they needed, like notebooks, pencils, lunch, and more, without asking parents to pay extra. Parents now have to buy many things for their kids, which can cost hundreds of dollars a year. Less money for schools and higher costs have put more of a burden on families.

5. Gas for the Car

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It looked like gas prices didn’t change much or at all when we were kids. These days, gas prices change all the time, and a trip to the gas station can really cost a lot of money. The price of gas going up is now a big worry for everyone.

6. Healthcare Visits

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Basic healthcare and regular trips to the doctor used to be cheap or even free through school or community programs. We now pay for our own health insurance, doctor visits, and prescriptions. It’s getting harder for people to get the medical care they need because healthcare costs are going up.

7. School Lunches

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It used to be that most kids got a free or very cheap lunch from school. However, lunch prices have gone up because more schools are outsourcing their meal services. Many families have to pack their own meals or pay more to use the school’s meal services. The cost of school meals keeps going up because food prices are going up overall.

8. Bus Fare

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In the past, students and young people could often ride the bus or take public transportation for free or at a low cost. These days, public transportation costs have increased in many cities, making it harder for people to travel for less money. The cost of commuting is making it hard for many families to pay their bills.

9. Playgrounds

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Playgrounds were easy to use and fun, and there were no rules about who could use them. Now, many public playgrounds have been updated with better equipment, and some of them charge a fee to get in or a membership fee. The change shows a move toward more commercialized leisure activities.

10. Music

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When we were kids, we could easily record radio shows or listen to music on the air for free. Now, streaming services have made music a paid service that you have to pay a monthly fee to access. It’s now normal to pay for music, but in the past, it was a free way to pass the time.

11. Video Games

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Back in the day, video games were easy to buy once and gave people hours of fun. These days, games often have extra content that you can download or buy inside the app that costs extra. Microtransactions have made gaming more expensive for many people.

12. Newspapers

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Before, many homes got newspapers for free or as a community service. Today, most newspapers have paywalls that make it expensive for people to read them online. The free flow of information that used to be open to everyone has been replaced by digital subscriptions.

13. Movie Rentals

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We used to be able to rent movies from the video store, choose a movie, and watch it for a small fee or even for free during a sale. These days, you usually have to pay for a subscription for each movie you want to rent or stream online. It used to be cheap and fun to do these things, but now they cost extra.

14. Library Books

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There used to be a huge number of free books that you could borrow from libraries. Libraries are still free, but there are now costs for things like e-books and audiobooks. The fact that reading materials are now digital has made what used to be a free service even more difficult.

15. Fitness Classes

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A long time ago, many schools and community centers let kids and adults take free fitness classes. These days, gyms and fitness programs charge a lot for memberships for each class. What used to be a public health project is now a business that makes money.

16. Sporting Events

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It was free for kids to play sports at school, and it was often cheap or free to join community leagues as well. Now, youth sports leagues usually have high costs to join, buy gear, and travel to games. Pay-to-play models have changed how people play sports, making it hard for some families to afford to join.

17. Online Education Resources

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Tutorials, lessons, and educational games that you could find online used to be easy to get and didn’t cost anything. Many educational websites and apps today charge for extra features or need you to pay for a subscription. The push to make money from education has changed how we get information.

18. Socializing with Friends

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People used to hang out with friends by getting together in person, playing outside, or having free sleepovers. These days, going to the movies, eating out, or doing other expensive things are common ways to hang out with friends. The idea that we need to spend money to hang out with friends has turned into a social norm.

• Tags:
• Free
• growing up
• childhood
• Memories
• lifestyle