16 Things That Are Getting Too Expensive for the Middle Class

Prices are climbing higher every day, and the impact is hitting hard. For the middle class, the squeeze is real and rising costs and stagnant wages mean even basic essentials are turning into unattainable luxuries. The items on this list were once considered necessities but are slipping out of reach for many families and individuals alike. Affordability is becoming a thing of the past, especially when it comes to these items. Take a look and see if you agree that these things are getting too pricey for the average person.
Travel

For many middle-class families, an annual trip on a plane is a major part of summer vacation. Unfortunately, the price of travel is skyrocketing due to inflation, and most middle-class wages are not keeping up. As a result, those trips are probably going to be a thing of the past in the next couple of years.
Medical Care

To a point, many people would argue that medical care is already unaffordable for the average American. The price of insurance keeps going up, and yet, we’re getting worse care for it. Americans pay more than any other country in the world. Many of us go without care despite desperately needing it due to the price alone.
Retirement

Retirement used to be what we all looked forward to when we were stuck on the grind for 30-ish years. Unfortunately, it’s beginning to look like Gen X is the last generation to have a serious shot at retiring as middle-class Americans. Being able to save anything for a Roth IRA is downright impossible with the prices of food and shelter these days.
Dental Care

Much like with medical care, dental care is starting to become unaffordable for many families today. Even with dental insurance, families struggle to make ends meet enough as they are. For reasons unknown to most of us, dental insurance is not part of general health insurance. So, if you need braces, you have to pay double: extra insurance and extra for dentistry.
Car Loans

The average car loan payment now tops over $700 for new cars and over $500 for used cars. Not too long ago, that used to be rent in most of the smaller cities in America; this means that people are feeling the squeeze just to get to work. To make matters worse, public transit is virtually nonexistent in much of the country. Getting to work is going to be tough.
Mortgages

Getting to work is hard enough, but going home is even rougher. Mortgages are now firmly out of reach for most American families. The difficulty getting down payments and the ever-increasing standards for getting a loan approval make it a rough time, even for people who would be very wealthy by normal standards.
Many Millennials are grieving the fact that they won’t ever be able to afford to buy a home. This is hard to accept.
Rent

Owning is generally the cheaper option over the years, but renting is cheaper short-term. Unfortunately, that doesn’t bode well for new generations. Rents are skyrocketing throughout the country thanks to the rise of “luxury” apartments being built. No one wants these, but they are the only ones being built.
Rising rents will likely push many long-term residents out of their homes in five years.
Weddings

Every young girl dreams of her wedding growing up, but now, it’s more of a nightmare. The average wedding costs over $30,000 for a basic event, which has led to a rise in lenders who specialize in wedding costs. Thankfully, eloping is still fairly affordable, as are courthouse ceremonies.
Fancy Clubs

In the 1970s and 1980s, it wasn’t unusual to hear about people going to their favorite golf club or country club for a tee time. Today, annual memberships are well out of reach for most Americans. Besides, it’s a little silly to splurge thousands of dollars just so you can swing a club on a lawn, don’t you agree?
College

Not too long ago, college was considered a ticket to the middle class. It was affordable, gave you access to better jobs, and acted as a networking platform. Today, college can cost $40,000 a year or more. This would be fine if the middle class could get scholarships or financial aid. Sadly, they can’t.
Today, college isn’t as mandatory as it used to be. So, you can get similar salaries as your grad friends without the crippling debt. Maybe it’s not all bad.
Emergency Savings

Flat tire? Broken bicycle? Computer smashed? These used to be a minor issue that could be easily fixed. Today, most Americans can no longer afford a $1,000 emergency. Thankfully, every bit of savings can help avoid calamity, so if you can’t afford $1,000 now, just try to aim for $200 first.
Nightlife

Are you fed up with the rising costs of entertainment? You’re not alone. We all remember the major scandal involving Ticketmaster’s fees and how many people started to boycott concerts because of it. With some concert seats topping $1,000 a pop, it’s not shocking to hear that people got fed up with the high price of watching their favorite DJ spin.
Divorces

Divorces can be incredibly expensive! On average, when husband and wife decide to end their relationship, they end up paying $7,000! Middle-class couples may soon decide to live separate lives without a proper divorce to save money. However, this may cause several problems if one of the two decides to remarry and for other legal issues.
New Cars

New cars may also soon be considered a luxury that not many will be able to afford. Most people will start looking at second-hand vehicles to save thousands of dollars on their purchase. On top of this, families may be able to afford only one car per household. This is because cars have plenty of related costs we often don’t think about, from fuel to insurance, parking tickets, regular maintenance, and so on.
Food Delivery

While getting a food delivery every once in a while is not a terrible thing, all of those orders do add up. Not only has the cost of food gone up, but many food delivery apps charge huge fees on top of it all. You may think you can afford that take-out food, but once you see the total with all the taxes and service fees, you may change your mind. If you have to order takeout, consider picking it up in person rather than using a driver. Also, think about skipping the take-out altogether and cooking your own meals. This is the most affordable option by far.
Family Vacations

Families used to be able to plan annual vacations and go on fun trips around the country. Now, planning a vacation may force you to take out a small loan. Between the price of airfare, the cost of rental cars, pricey accommodations, and extremely high restaurant bills, going on a family vacation seems almost impossible. A middle-class family may need to save money for months or even years just to afford one family trip. If you have been thinking about taking a family vacation, you better start saving now!