Oddball things that are strangely expensive now

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Bowling. A place near us costs $99 for an hour and a half! Crazy.

That seems pretty high but what is that for? Like how many people, anything included in it?

The closest bowling alley to me charges $4.50 per game per person for open bowling or $13/ per person for 90 mins. However if you have a group of 5 people you can pay just under $66 for 1 lane (I believe it's just one game) but it comes with shoe rental and small drinks. If you're wanting alcohol you'd likely choose the package that is $4 more and you get a pitcher of beer instead of the small drinks.

The other place where we used to bowl frequently (every Tuesdays and my husband did a bowling league for 3 consecutively seasons a bit more than 11 years ago) they have more plans available because they do cosmic bowling but even at the most expensive (cosmic bowling or in the evenings on Friday and Saturday and holidays) 1 hour is $34, 90 mins is $51 and 2 hours is $68 (doesn't include tax nor shoe rental) but that is the price for up to 6 people on the lane.

We also have several Main Events which I don't think is too too much different from the above.

I guess I don't find those pricing to super expensive but if you're paying $99 for 1 person without anything included even for 90 mins then that's outrageous!

 

[flowergirl45]

Bleach! The smaller container is $5.29 at my Walmart. Yikes!

 

[Smugpugmug]

First-run movie theatres. We've got every streaming service known to man, and a really nice second-run discount movie house close to us, so it's really not very often that we see a new release movie at the Cineplex. It was hella hot here a few weeks ago so one evening we thought we'd treat ourselves to the A/C while seeing Twisters. Two general admissions, one senior admission, one large popcorn, two fountain drinks, two boxes of candy and a bottle of water = $101.00 including tax.

This is exactly why I've been bringing my own snacks and drinks into movies. I brought my own water and candy to a movie I saw last night and saw others in my packed theater do the same. I did see someone bring in Moe's (which is a fast food chain similar to Chipotle) which is certainly a choice.

 

[ronandannette]

Bleach! The smaller container is $5.29 at my Walmart. Yikes!

I just got home from a WalMart run for laundry stuff. I bought a gallon-sized jug of Great Valu (their store brand) bleach for 2/$7; it was $3.98 because I only got one. Name-brand Clorox was quite a bit more.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

Greeting cards!

No way am I paying $7 for a Hallmark card! I don’t use them much anymore anyway.

If I do buy them I get them at discount stores.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/article-13728303/uproar-shrinkflation-crisis-item.html

If you aren't getting your cards at the dollar store then you are making big mistakes!

 

[TippyThomas]

If you aren't getting your cards at the dollar store then you are making big mistakes!

That's where I buy mine now. Agree completely.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Costco shredded 2 pack of cheese shot up in price too. I stated buy shredded and sliced cheese at Aldi because it’s cheaper.

The blocks of cheese are much cheaper. I used to get shredded but just switched when my adult child informed me it is rolled in some sort of waxy goo to keep it from sticking. To be honest, it is better now because I am better able to select more flavorful cheddar.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

First-run movie theatres.

The only first-run movies we see are while on a Disney Cruise ship, so they are extra expensive!!

(Or else they're "free" like so many other things on the cruise).

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

The blocks of cheese are much cheaper. I used to get shredded but just switched when my adult child informed me it is rolled in some sort of waxy goo to keep it from sticking. To be honest, it is better now because I am better able to select more flavorful cheddar.

It's usually just potato starch it's coated in to keep it from clumping. Also prevents it from melting smoothly. And I agree, I always shred my own.

 

[Squishypig]

Baked goods. A small tray of brownies for $8? Dozen cookies for $6? Pound cake loaves for $6? Sales help but all of those things were easily half the cost pre pandemic.

For years anytime I brought a summer dessert to a party, my go to has been sliced strawberries, whipped cream, angel food cake. Strawberries used to be the expensive part but we went to a pool party a few weeks ago and I was shocked I couldn't find an angel food cake for under $8. Ending up baking my own and the mix was still over $3.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Stacy's Pita Chips prices are crazy prices lately ... $8.99 for a bag where I've seen them. No thanks, don't need them that much.

Oops, just working on my online grocery order and discovered they're up to $9.99 for a 16 oz. bag. Not that I was going to get them, was just curious if there was a sale on them or anything.

 

[Tinkerbell58]

Dog food and dog treats. The price went up and the bags got smaller.

 

[barkley]

Dog food and dog treats. The price went up and the bags got smaller.

cat food too. i just looked at my purchase history on chewy-wet and dry food both increased over 30% in cost over the past few years.

 

[kimmar067]

What dynamic and peak pricing has done to hotel rooms. The Holiday Inn Express near Yosemite is $284 a night now. Last October in the off season, we paid $79.

WOW! That's quite a difference!

 

[kimmar067]

GF products have always been notoriously priced higher than their non-GF counterparts, but they have gotten even higher in price than ever! For example, I've been purchasing Aleia's Italian breadcrumbs for years, at $5.49-$5.79/container [which, in itself, was quite ridiculous]:

...and now it's jumped up to $7.99!!

 

[ralphie]

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but chicken wings were free from the butcher!!!

 

[disneyseniors]

Candy. I don't really buy candy anymore but I'm seeing a movie tonight so this morning I went to buy some to bring into the movie with me. A 8 oz bag of Buncha Crunch is almost $7. Reese's Pieces are $5.99. Doesn't help that similar to chips, half of the bag is air rather than actual candy.

I guess it's not as bad as at the theater where you're paying more for less candy but still.

Also briefly glanced at the bags of Halloween candy and those prices are nuts too.

Our Dollar Store sells the movie theatre candy much cheaper. You might check those stores out!

 

[disneyseniors]

Yes!!!! I stopped buying for the reason. Thankfully Kroger was having a mass e sale on GM cereal. $1.99, yes!!!!! I bought 5 boxes. Sadly they’ve become so slim a week later I’m down to two. I try to stay with name brand cereal. Oatmeal which is also more expensive these days, I will buy store brand if noticeably cheaper.

Costco shredded 2 pack of cheese shot up in price too. I stated buy shredded and sliced cheese at Aldi because it’s cheaper.

I used to only buy brand name cereal, but it's so expensive. I tried Walmart's brand and I have found that there is not any difference in Most types of cereal. Their Crispy cereal is better than Rice Krispies to me.

 

[disneyseniors]

all beef prices are outrageous BUT i have (for years) purchased sale roasts and other cuts of beef to grind into ground beef when it's price is higher. you end up paying less and get the lowest fat content. before we bought a kitchenaide grinder attachment i would have the butcher at the grocery store make ground beef out of a roast (and if i did'nt want to put in the time-cut roasts into soup/stew meat, london broils into stroganoff and fajita strips).


you can get hunts 14 oz. at dollar tree for $1.25 (their generic brand at 24 oz). i get it, bulls eye bbq sauce and a1 there b/c while the bottles tend to be smaller the per unit price is MUCH lower.

The Dollar Tree also has greeting cards for 50 cents or 1 dollar. I usually stock up for upcoming birthdays. I can't see paying upwards to 7 dollars for a card!!! Most people just take the gift card or money out and barely look at the card.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I used to get shredded but just switched when my adult child informed me it is rolled in some sort of waxy goo to keep it from sticking.

I think it’s either cellulose or cornstarch- whatever it is I don’t want it