Life in the 1980s was different in many ways, but one of the most striking changes was the list of things that were once free but now come with a significant cost. The shift from an analog to a digital world, combined with new business models that monetize every convenience, has put a price tag on services and amenities that people once took completely for granted. This slow creep of costs has fundamentally changed our daily expenses and our relationship with consumption.
1. Checking a Bag on an Airline
In the 1980s, flying was a more formal affair, and checking one or even two suitcases was included in the ticket price. Today, unless you have elite status or a special credit card, almost every major airline charges a hefty fee for checked baggage. This has led to a chaotic boarding process as passengers try to cram everything into carry-on bags to avoid the extra cost.
2. Air for Your Tires
Pulling into a gas station to fill your tires was a simple, free service. Most stations had a basic air compressor hose available for use at no cost. Now, you are far more likely to find a complex machine that requires you to feed it quarters or swipe a credit card just to get a few pounds of air.
3. Choosing Your Seat on a Plane
When you bought a plane ticket in the 80s, you chose your seat from the available options at no extra charge. Now, airlines use a tactic called “unbundling” to charge extra for almost everything. If you want to choose a specific seat—even a standard middle seat—you often have to pay an additional fee. Otherwise, the airline will assign you one at random during check-in.
4. Single-Use Grocery Bags
For decades, grocery stores provided paper or plastic bags for free as part of the service. Due to environmental concerns and new local ordinances, this is no longer the case in many parts of the country. Shoppers now either have to bring their reusable bags or pay a fee for each single-use bag they need at checkout.
5. Watching Television
In the 1980s, television was free. You put up an antenna and received broadcasts from major networks like NBC, CBS, and ABC at no cost. While that option still exists, the vast majority of modern television viewing requires paying for multiple services, including cable or satellite packages and a growing list of individual streaming subscriptions like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.
6. Getting a Copy of Your Credit Report
The concept of a personal credit report was not part of the public consciousness in the 1980s. Today, your credit score is a vital part of your financial life. While you are legally entitled to one free report from each bureau per year, accessing your score more frequently or using credit monitoring services almost always involves a monthly fee.
7. Basic Hotel Amenities
When you checked into a hotel, you expected things like Wi-Fi, access to the pool, and a local newspaper to be part of the room rate. Now, many hotels, especially in tourist destinations, bundle these costs into a mandatory and often poorly disclosed “resort fee” that can add a significant amount to your nightly bill.
8. Incoming Mobile Phone Calls
In the early days of mobile phones, cellular plans charged you by the minute for both the calls you made and the calls you received. People had to think twice before answering their phone. Today, unlimited talk and text plans are standard, so the idea of paying for an incoming call seems completely alien.
9. Water at Restaurants
While most sit-down restaurants still offer free tap water, many fast-food and fast-casual chains are now exclusively selling bottled water. The self-serve soda fountain with a water spigot is disappearing, forcing customers who just want a cup of water to purchase a plastic bottle instead.
10. Classified Ads in the Newspaper
If you wanted to sell a used car or rent out an apartment in the 80s, you could place a small classified ad in the local newspaper for free or a very nominal fee. The rise of the internet initially made this even easier with sites like Craigslist. However, many online marketplaces now charge fees to list items or promote your listing for better visibility.
The Price of Modern Life
The slow monetization of once-free services reflects a broader economic shift. Companies have found ways to charge for every small convenience, adding a host of new expenses to the modern cost of living. It serves as a stark reminder that while technology has given us much, it has also created a world where everything seems to have a price tag.
What other things can you remember being free that now cost money? Which of these new costs do you find the most frustrating? Let us know your thoughts!
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