There's a new list making the rounds of things that used to be free but now cost money.
And as Michiganders, we're already dealing with potholes, road construction, unpredictable weather and the emotional trauma of watching grocery prices climb.
We don't need this.
Some of this stuff should STILL be free.
1. Phone Chargers
Remember when you bought a new phone and it actually came with the stuff you needed to use it?
Headphones. Charger. Everything.
Now you open the box and there's a phone sitting there looking at you like:
“Good luck.”
It's basically buying a new car and finding out the steering wheel is sold separately.
2. Concert Ticket Fees
This one hurts.
You see a concert ticket advertised for $50.
You think, “That's not bad!”
Then you get to checkout.
$50 ticket.
$14 convenience fee.
$9 processing fee.
$7 facility fee.
$6 delivery fee.
Suddenly you're paying $86 to sit in Section 317 and watch somebody who you can barely see.
And don't even get us started on Michigan concert parking.
3. Checked Bags
Airlines used to let you check a bag without making you feel like you were smuggling gold.
Now you have to pay extra to bring the suitcase you packed with your own clothes.
At this point, I'm waiting for an airline to charge me a “shirt fee.”
4. Picking Your Airplane Seat
You bought the ticket.
You paid the taxes.
You paid the fees.
And now the airline says:
“Would you like a seat?”
Yes.
That's generally why I bought the plane ticket.
And if you don't pay extra to choose one, you could end up in the middle seat between two strangers who are both apparently trying to expand their personal space into your lap.
5. Free Airline Food
Remember when airlines actually fed you?
Now you're lucky if they hand you a tiny bag of pretzels and a beverage.
Meanwhile, you're sitting there thinking about the glory days when airplane meals were free.
Were they good?
Absolutely not.
But they were free bad food.
And that makes a difference.
6. Disney FastPass
Disney used to have a system that helped you skip some of the long lines for free.
Now there are paid options.
Michigan parents already know the feeling of paying admission and then realizing you're going to spend half the day standing in a line.
It's basically Cedar Point without the roller coaster at the end.
7. YouTube Without a Million Commercials
You click on a 10-minute video.
Commercial.
Watch for a while.
Commercial.
You're almost finished.
Another commercial.
At this point, the video is 10 minutes long and the advertising campaign is 45 minutes.
8. Internet Content
Remember when you could just read an article?
Now you click on something interesting and get:
“You've reached your free article limit.”
Apparently, the internet has developed a cover charge.
In Michigan, we're used to paying for parking.
Now we have to pay to read about why Michigan has the best pizza?
Come on.
9. Parking
This might be the most Michigan thing on the list.
You find an empty parking spot.
You park.
Then you look for the sign.
Then you scan a QR code.
Then you download an app.
Then you create an account.
Then you enter your license plate.
Then you enter your credit card.
Then you confirm your email.
By the time you're finished, someone has already parked behind you.
And somewhere in Michigan, there's still a guy saying:
“It used to be a quarter.”
10. Pizza Delivery
Pizza delivery used to mean you ordered pizza and tipped the driver.
Simple.
Now you've got a delivery fee, service fee, small-order fee, online ordering fee, mysterious fee and then the tip.
Pretty soon the pizza itself is going to be the cheapest part of the order.
And honestly, that's where we draw the line.
Because Michigan has survived winter.
We've survived potholes.
We've survived construction season.
We've survived the Lions.
But we're not paying $38 to have a $17 pizza brought 2.3 miles to our house.
So here's today's question:
What's something that used to be free that absolutely should NOT cost money now?
Parking? Bags? Chargers? Ticket fees?
Or maybe something completely different?
Because apparently we're living in a world where breathing is still free...
but we're probably on borrowed time.
