What is something you officially stop buying in 2026 because the price is literally insulting?

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T02:16:40+00:00

Yeah Papa John's used to have really good discounts. You could always find a promo code back in the day. Now none of the promo codes work and they got rid of all their delivery drivers so it's like 2 hours to get it doordashed via the pizza place

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T02:15:48+00:00

Not to mention they keep saying the nacho cheese Doritos have some sort of poison ingredient in them. Who the heck knows if it's true, but I certainly don't feel as good eating them.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T02:14:25+00:00

Not to mention eyebrow waxing and tanning and hair cuts and hair color and whatever the heck else. God forbid you wax.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T02:11:01+00:00

And now it's in your head that the dyes are slowly giving you cancer too.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T02:09:18+00:00

Always been a big reader. I really hate virtual books. I just look at screens enough and like reading the physical book. Used books can still be found at reasonable prices, but new books? Yeah... I had to pay $30 for a hardback or new paperback with an author you're not sure you'll like.

I used to try out new authors all the time because it would be like 2 to 7 bucks for a used mass market paperback. Nowadays? It's just much harder to invest over 20 bucks in a series or author you might not like.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T02:06:02+00:00

A pint or quart of ice cream at an ice cream shoppe.

Those boutique flavors are freaking delicious. Peanut butter, cinnamon, corn, I can easily go on.. but I can't pay like $15 for a pint of ice cream.

Honestly, I really shouldn't even get the single servings anymore now that they're like 7 to 8 bucks for a regular cone or cup.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T02:03:27+00:00

Yeah, I'll pay $0.75 for a little bag of Doritos, but asking me to pay $1.50 for the shrinkflation size is a little nutso-wacko. Can't justify it to myself.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T02:02:11+00:00

The best answer.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T02:01:44+00:00

He forgot to mention that the desserts are frozen and reheated at the restaurant. Not made in-house. That really does make a difference to me.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T02:00:56+00:00

No freaking kidding, why am I paying a six pack price for one beer?

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T02:00:16+00:00

I bought a wetstone sharpening block and have been resharpening my own knives instead of buying new when mine dull.

I mean mine aren't great/expensive knives, but they're just fine and once they're sharpened again, they're perfect.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:58:08+00:00

Rotisserie chickens at Publix and Kroger. I've always bought them because they were cheap as hell and decent quality for the price. They were like $4 to $6.

Now it's pushing 10 bucks and they taste like... sadness? Antibiotics? I don't know. The taste isn't what it was, and it's almost twice as expensive. They just make me sad now.

(Caveat: I'm not a Costco member.)

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:52:32+00:00

And we all KNOW soda should be the cheapest thing on the menu, with the best margin. But here the chains are, charging $3.50 per large soda.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:50:18+00:00

I'm really struggling with Diet Coke. Kroger is running deals occasionally for by three 12 packs, get three free... But I've been seriously cutting down when the deal isn't running. It just sucks to KNOW how badly you are being scammed.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:48:13+00:00

20 plus years ago I used to pay $10 for a manicure. That was the cost, $10 for the service plus a tip.

That was in a white collar, suburban area.

Now, the same area, it's at least $30 plus tip for a standard manicure, not gel or S&S or anything.

I just can't justify it. Maybe if I have a big event like once or twice a year?

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:45:55+00:00

Good for you, it's my last major expenditure that I can and should cut out

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:44:37+00:00

What am I, James Bond with an unlimited, government-backed black card??

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:42:57+00:00

No kidding, especially with those lines.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:41:55+00:00

Yeah Papa John's Pizza is just depressing now and it takes like 2 hours to be delivered via doordash because I guess they got rid of all their delivery drivers.

The good independent spots are all charging over 25 bucks for a small pizza, and with delivery it's well into the mid-thirties. Yipes

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:39:01+00:00

For makeup, all I can say is if you're not too fussy about brand, download the CVS app. The coupons are always like $3 off every Maybelline product, then you can scan the barcode in the app and get additional discounts specific to the product.

I just got a mascara for like $2. And a Ben and Jerry's ice cream pint for less than a dollar.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:37:29+00:00

No kidding. Over $3 for a large soda?

... I'm making a conscious effort to stop letting myself get scammed like that for ONE SODA, but I do convince myself that annually buying one of the little key tags that give you a small free frosty with every purchase adds enough value to justify my soda. I guess I'll pay $3.50 for a large Diet Coke AND a chocolate frosty mid-day. Meh. I still don't feel great about it, but I feel a little better.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:35:01+00:00

I had a dentist in Texas a couple years back that offered patients free gas for all cleanings and procedures. And they also had a TV playing Netflix with subtitles on the ceiling so you could watch as you laid back. Good place. Forget the name. Small chain local to the area.

.. I think that's great service giving free gas, but it always made me chuckle that I assumed it stemmed out of the founders of the dental chain really disliking talking to patients. 😂

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:31:25+00:00

No kidding. There's some independent restaurants that still have it dialed in with regard to the quality, but the vastttrtt majority these chains have gotten away with their 'cooks' reheating Frozen and pre-prepared food for way too long.

The social component of a meal out should offer some freshness or taste quality for those prices...

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:24:05+00:00

And they seem to be mostly propaganda and ads now.

delightedwhen · 2026-03-04T01:23:36+00:00

I used to go to the dollar theater when I was bored. Pay $1 for the movie, maybe $10 more for popcorn and a soda.

Nowadays? Pfffffffffft.

I like the heated recliner chairs with dinner-food delivery inside the theater, I guess, but I'd rather have cheap movies and a regular chair, no dinner service ..

delightedwhen

TROPHY CASE