Back when we were kids, we thought that by the time we reached adulthood, we’d have life all figured out. Cue: the rising prices of everyday essentials, shattering our dreams. 

Merely existing as a human being is expensive (especially in the Philippines), but that hasn’t stopped us from shelling out extra on “overpriced” items. Here’s what Pinoys are spending on, based on one discussion on Reddit.

Iced coffee

You know you’ve officially transcended into a bona fide slave to capitalism when your system needs caffeine to function. Think of it as a rite of passage. With countless coffee shops tempting you left, right, and center, it feels like the only way to cope is to surrender to your iced coffee cravings. Is that a bad thing? It depends on how busy and stressed the adult you ask is.

Collectibles

Whether you’re drawn to K-pop photocards or adorable Sonny Angels figurines, collecting can be an expensive hobby. Yet, no one can deny the priceless self-fulfillment these little treasures bring! As millennials and Gen Z love to say, it’s a way of healing your inner child.

Fast-food meals

Once upon a time, fast food was pretty affordable. You could even get a decent meal for PHP50. Now, people typically shell out PHP200 to PHP300 for a single meal. This cost goes even higher if you opt for more premium meal options or add-ons.

Concert tickets

Just ten years ago, most people would balk at the sight of five-digit ticket prices, but now, these sky-high prices are the norm. That hasn’t stopped us from buying tickets. The recent bloodbath for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” shows just how far Pinoysare willing to go to score concert tickets.

Skincare products

Remember when all you thought your face needed was baby powder and facial cleanser? Now,  product stands and online stores offer moisturizers, serums, face oils, cleansers, exfoliators, and night creams, and the list keeps growing!

Subscriptions

We might have said goodbye to our cable subscriptions, but online subscription services are now a staple of people’s budgets. And we don’t even settle for one service. We gotta have them ALL, budgets be damned.

Ride-hailing services

Commuting in the Philippines is a struggle. That’s why the advent of ride-hailing services was a game-changer because it made short and long-distance travel hassle-free. Sure, it’s almost like daylight robbery, but after a long, grueling day, you’d pay anything just to go home ASAP.

Medicines

“Health is wealth,” and in the Philippines, that’s probably cause medicines are hella expensive. Not everyone has the means to avail the medicines they need, and it often puts a strain on people’s finances. Even though every cent you spend on your health is worth it, we can’t deny the tragic fact that healthcare here is overpriced.

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