A Viral Thread Of Tweets Sharing What Things Should Really Cost

A viral thread of tweets kicked off when one person posted their own “pricing changes” list, basically daring the internet to argue about what everyday stuff should cost. And people did not hold back. Sodas, hotdogs, popcorn, milkshakes, bagels, even the sad little drink machine snacks all got their turn in the spotlight.

At first it was funny, like “$8 for an entire meal sounds doable” and “$1 for a hotdog is the only acceptable price.” But then it got weirdly real, because the replies kept stacking up with specific numbers, like $10 for popcorn and a drink, $4 per case “because it’s usually watered down anyway,” and the big shocker: some folks remembered paying $30 to $40 back in the day, while now a milkshake can hit almost $15.

Here’s the full story of how a joke about pricing turned into a full-blown debate over what we’re all being charged now.

This person provided us with their entire list of pricing changes that they would expect.

People began naming various items, such as sodas, foods, and products that should cost a certain amount.

@damnfoodcourt

Eight dollars for an entire meal sounds doable, and that's what it used to be, but now you will pay over ten.

@Pig_Mentality

There's no better answer to this than free, because education should absolutely be free.

@gsbishop1

$4 per case would be great because, I mean, it's usually watered down anyway, right?

@sadsmcgee

Maybe ten dollars if you are getting popcorn and a drink as well.

@jacobraleigh

That's just too funny, but they are right.

@nsfwbanter

Not that it should be 2003, but it should be priced like it's 2003.

@prof_aunty

This is so funny because people are starting to realize just how difficult it is to determine prices.

@boobbob9

I don't know what they are talking about, because they used to be around $30 to $40.

@SansMain3

This is also like the AITA where someone refused equal bill splitting and argued costs by what each friend ordered.

Yes, $1 for a hotdog is the only acceptable price.

@okaymando

It seems that pricing varies quite a bit, and posts like these really demonstrate how much.

@booishaving

Even in the drink machines, they are usually more than a dollar.

@Boppedoff

This is hilarious because many of us will likely never see that price again.

@ForgetTheMoose

If only things were priced like they were back then.

@vidman

Now, it's a normal price for a milkshake, and some of them are even more than double that.

@HarassmentChamp

Well, I guess that's pretty fair.

@mrnastynodrama

I mean, for a bagel, that's just ridiculous. In some places, you can get a whole dinner for that price.

@drivingme_mads

Yep, and all of us are frustrated with the results here.

@DooPwee44

Nothing, because they are actually quite bad for your health.

@MichaelAvolio

That’s when the thread started firing back with “It used to be $8 for an entire meal” and “Now you pay over ten,” right alongside the nostalgia talk about prices from 2003.

Then someone dropped the “$1 for a hotdog” take, and suddenly the replies weren’t just funny, they were petty, like “in some places you can get a whole dinner for that.”

The vibe shifted again when people started comparing modern prices to what’s hiding in drink machines, where even a soda isn’t coming anywhere near a dollar.

By the time the thread circled back to milkshakes and the “almost $15” reality, everyone was basically agreeing the prices feel outrageous, but arguing about what “fair” even means.

These products that people listed definitely highlight just how outrageous the prices are now compared to what they used to be. Years ago, our parents would have never expected to pay even $5 for a milkshake, as some people mentioned, but now we find ourselves paying almost $15 for one.

Nobody wants to pay almost $15 for a milkshake that used to be half that, and this thread proved it.

Wait, is it fair to ask friends to pay back an overcharged dinner bill? Read this AITA about demanding reimbursement after the restaurant bill.