Why Are We Paying for These? The Things That Shouldn’t Cost a Dime

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There’s a lot more in life than just money. 

But without it, life can be made that much more difficult. 

That said, there are likely plenty of things you spend on regularly that you believe you shouldn’t be spending on at all. 

One person asked, “What costs a lot of money but should actually be free?”. 

Here are some of the responses people had to offer that may resonate within your life. 

#1. Burial And Funeral Costs

The loss of a loved one can be an extremely solemn occasion. 

However, many may not realize that losing a loved one isn’t likely the only source of stress you may experience during this time. 

Another common source of stress is financial stress. 

Losing a loved one and properly memorializing them is an expensive endeavor. 

From the costs associated with releasing their bodies to dealing with funeral homes and everything in between, every step of the process costs money. 

Many believe that this makes the funeral industry somewhat predatory and that the costs of putting a loved one to rest should be limited to non-existent.  

#2. Water

There’s an argument to be made in favor of water not being as accessible due to it being a limited resource. 

However, there can also be an argument against bottled water companies that take water, often even from municipal water stores, that residents need and resell to people. 

Like most things on this list, water is something that many believe is a human right. 

Making it free would ensure that no one would go thirsty and that available water couldn’t be impacted by companies seeking to take it and flip it for profit. 

#3. Healthcare

Healthcare is known for its ability to save lives, but it has a reputation for being far too expensive for the average person to afford. 

Basic visits to the doctor can be expensive, especially when they order tests and labs to figure out what’s wrong. 

You are looking at even more money if you need medication or treatment. 

Of course, high insurance costs make this problem worse. 

If you don’t have insurance, you can expect to cover all high costs out of pocket. 

Overall, it’s not a great system that results in many people avoiding care because they simply can’t afford it. 

Even though free healthcare would mean paying more taxes, many would rather have this alternative. 

#4. Education

Education is another necessity quickly becoming out of reach for most people. 

This is due to the rising tuition costs, the living costs required to stay nearby as younger people attend college, and the student loans often accompanied by high interest rates that make the loans very difficult to pay off. 

Pair this with an anticipated recession and a highly competitive job market, and it’s easy to see why many don’t emphasize college as much as they used to. 

With free education, everyone would have the tools to boost their incomes and work towards a better life. 

#5. Parking

Many items on this list so far have been significant issues. 

But this item here is more of a minor complaint. 

Parking is something that many of us do for free. 

Whether at home, on the street when we need to get somewhere quick, or even in front of established businesses, parking for free is relatively commonplace. 

However, in areas like major cities, it’s easy to find a host of parking that you have to pay for. 

This can be a minor annoyance for those who are just visiting but a significant expense for those who live in these areas. 

Free parking should be something that all can access, not something you have to pay for!

#6. Tax Preparation And Filing

Tax season is rarely a season that people look forward to, unless you’re getting a massive chunk of money back. 

It requires you to meticulously track your expenses and do everything twice. 

You may even pay someone to do it for you because something has changed in your life, and you don’t know how to approach your taxes. 

As tax returns have become more complex, a surprising truth has come to light: the government knows exactly how much you owe. 

This has led many to ask if they know how much we owe, why don’t they do away with tax services and send us the invoice? 

That’s a great question, indeed.

#7. Therapy

When people think of healthcare, they often think about issues with the body. 

But disorders of the mind can take a toll on the quality of life. 

Unfortunately, getting mental health services can be a long and expensive process. 

Therapists might not take insurance, cost hundreds of dollars per session, and prescribe expensive medications. 

Free services are out there, but they are generally considered subpar. 

Those in true crisis might not be able to receive the support they need in time. 

If anything should be free, therapy sits at the top of the list. 

#8. Sanitary Products

Sanitary products are not a product that women choose to use but that women have to use.

But because they’re designed for women, they’re often accompanied by the dreaded “pink tax.” 

There’s also the reality that they have to keep investing in these products even if there’s somewhere else that they need to spend their money on things like food, utilities, or rent. 

Free sanitary products have often been a major rallying cry, even though legislation and government have not yet caught up to provide them. 

#9. Ambulance Rides

First responders are there to help us, but this help isn’t always helpful, especially for our bank accounts. 

The call you make to save your life or get someone to help you get through an emergency can end up costing you. 

It turns out that the average ambulance ride totals around $1,300. 

This is a massive chunk of cash to pay for an already dire situation, and it’s why you may come across stories of people who would instead take an Uber or drive themselves to the hospital than pay for a ride on an ambulance. 

#10. Housing

While it’s often controversial, it’s often believed that housing is a human right. 

This comes in the wake of a wide variety of economic developments, including increasingly unaffordable rental prices, houses bought by overseas investors and major institutions like Blackrock, and a stagnant economy that’s putting a lot of pressure on everyone’s finances. 

With free housing, people would have a lot more money and time to dedicate to other areas of their lives that need attention. 

However, until then, out-of-reach homeownership dreams and high prices for basic apartments will likely continue to be the norm. 

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