Boomers grew up in a time when certain services came free of charge because they were seen as basic utilities. Over time, those conveniences started to cost money due to changing policies, corporate decisions or infrastructure shifts.
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Here are seven things that were once free but now come with a price tag.
Calling 411
411 is a telephone number for local directory assistance in the United States. Until the early 1980s, 411 calls were free. But this changed when AT&T began charging customers to curb the “misuse” of the service. Today, these directory calls cost around $2 to $3, depending on the provider. Note that many phone companies have phased out the service altogether.
Public College Tuition
Higher education used to be much more accessible than it is today. For example, Huffington Post reported, the University of California had free tuition until the late 1960s and kept it pretty affordable into the early 1970s. And the City University of New York (originally the Free Academy) waived tuition until 1976, according to the New York Times archives. Fast forward to today, in-state tuition averages almost $10,000 per year, and out-of-state tuition averages over $28,000, according to Education Data.
After-School Activities
Back in the day, public schools used to sponsor sports, music, drama and field trips as part of standard budgets. But starting in 2004, “pay-for-play” fees became the norm. Schools in at least 34 states were charging families anywhere from $15 to $1,500 a year just for their kids to participate in after-school programs.
That said, not every state allows this. California, New York and Oklahoma require that any school-sponsored curricular or co-curricular activity be free of charge.
Checked Baggage on Flights
When you pay for a flight ticket, you used to get checked luggage, meals and reasonable legroom. But with rising fuel prices and economic shifts in the early 2000s, airlines began unbundling these perks. American Airlines led the change in May 2008, and other airlines quickly began following suit. Now, a typical checked bag costs $30 to $50 each way.
Online Newspapers
Most online newspapers used to be free, especially when the internet was just starting to become a place for people to consume content. This all changed in 1996, when The New York Times briefly experimented with charging international users $35/month to access the site.
The rollout didn’t stick, but it planted the seed. After more research and internal debate, the Times introduced a metered paywall in 2011, which allowed readers to access 20 free articles per month before hitting a paywall, shows a Harvard Business School report. After that, many other major outlets followed with similar subscription models.
Plastic Bag Fees
California made history in 2014 by banning single-use plastic grocery bags statewide, effective in July 2015, according to Time. Stores in the state now must charge a 10-cent fee for paper or reusable bags. The initiative has since spread to major states across the U.S., like Hawaii, New York and Oregon.
Bank Checking Accounts
Many checking accounts used to be free of service fees, minimum balance requirements, and hidden charges. But, according to a 2016 survey by Moebs Services as reported by the Chicago Tribune, that’s changed a lot in the recent decades. Nearly 80% of banks offered free checking accounts in 2009, but only 46% provided them as of 2016. And today, most banks require you to pay monthly maintenance fees unless you meet conditions like minimum balances or direct deposits.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Calling 411 And 7 Other Things Boomers Have To Pay For That Were Once Free
