When money is tight, we try our best to save it, get back to basics, and only buy the necessities of life. But when folks see ads for “tasty luxuries” that seem within reach, it’s easy to splurge on delicacies that aren’t really necessary. Even though they’re advertised as “cheap” or “on sale,” the harsh reality is that these edible treats eat deeper holes into our wallets than we usually care to admit.
Here are some painfully expensive foods that Americans love to splurge on, even when they’re broke.
1. Crab Legs
Just because a seafood buffet or a restaurant menu features crab legs doesn’t mean that it’s automatically a bargain. While a huge platter of crab legs may appear like a massive supply of seafood, keep in mind that you’ll need to crack them open and hunt for edible meat to squeeze out.
Unless you’re a huge crab enthusiast, you might not enjoy crab legs as much as you think. And unless you live in an area with a robust supply of seafood, crab legs aren’t really a cheap option.
2. Skirt Steak
Perhaps you remember the days when you could walk into any grocery store and find skirt steak on sale for under $5 per pound. Of course, that’s not very commonplace anymore. As skirt steak becomes more popular for barbeques, fajitas, and much more, it now tends to be more expensive than flank steak. Keep this in mind next time you’re looking for “cheap” steak to stock up on.
3. Avocado Toast
At this point, the meme is unavoidable: “Oh, look! Millennials won’t stop eating their avocado toast!” And yes, avocado toast truly can be a tasty way to enjoy a nutritious snack or light meal that also tastes good.
If you do find yourself at a restaurant ordering a $20 avocado toast plate, it does beg the question: Is that really the best way to spend your money? If possible, try buying avocados, bread, and seasonings to make it at home instead.
4. Stacked Milkshakes
When people see massive milkshakes loaded with additional sweet treats like donuts, marshmallows, and even full-size cake slices, they may think they’re getting an incredible deal on the ultimate dessert. But in reality, most restaurants use the cheapest available sugary sweets to concoct this stunt food that’s likely to make your stomach hurt as much as your wallet after you scarf it all down.
5. Gourmet Food Truck Fare
If you’ve ever lived on the West Coast, you’ve likely seen food trucks all over town. Depending on where you go, you might actually find some good deals on simple street food like tacos or pho. But now that the food truck scene has become increasingly dominated by gourmet outfits, this allegedly “affordable luxury” can easily turn into a $20, $30, or even $50+ bill that you may later regret splurging on.
6. Candy
As of late, candy boxes and bags have become much more expensive, especially in the run-up to special occasions like Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Halloween. If you’re really craving something sweet, at least you can get some vitamins with your calories by grabbing some fruit instead.
7. Lobster
Many moons ago, lobster was considered a “poor man’s food.” It was even often used as fertilizer. But after lobster suddenly gained popularity across America late in the 19th century, this cheap meal turned into an expensive delicacy.
Even now, whenever folks see lobster available at a seafood buffet or lobster added to a dish like mac and cheese, they think they’re getting a great deal. But unless you’re actually getting a good amount of high-quality lobster meat, it’s mostly a marketing gimmick.
8. Tacos
If you’re fortunate to live in an area with a large, established Mexican-American community, you might still find “holes in the wall” serving authentic tacos for cheap. But if you’re heading to a trendy “gringo-style” restaurant expecting cheap tacos, you may need to temper your expectations. Even on Taco Tuesday, your cheap taco dinner can easily turn into $30 or more for a handful of tiny tacos and a drink.
9. Kale
Because it’s a leafy green that can easily withstand frost, kale has long been a staple in Europe. Once upon a time, this meant kale was a fairly cheap vegetable. That’s no longer the case, especially in the U.S.
Once it became the go-to ingredient to make everything from burgers to chips come across as “healthy,” kale became another pricey fad food that people use to make themselves feel better about eating something that might not be as nutritious as kale makes it appear.
10. Fish & Chips
Fish and chips is still a generally simple dish that you can regularly find at seafood-oriented fast food and fast-casual establishments. However, due to the rising cost of energy and fish, as well as higher interest rates, even this simple seafood dish has become much more expensive. Fish and chip prices have especially soared in its spiritual homeland of the U.K., but prices have risen in the U.S. as well.
11. Beef Brisket
Brisket is a cut of meat that contains a lot of muscle and connective tissue, which historically meant it was cheap because it took a long time to cook into something more tender and appetizing. But in recent years, brisket has gained popularity as a go-to barbeque meat, as well as a hearty addition to tacos, sandwiches, and more. As a result, this once-affordable meat has become a much pricier delicacy.
12. Oysters
Oysters were once so plentiful that they were generally considered an affordable seafood option. But as waters have become overfished and increasingly polluted, the overall oyster supply has dwindled. As a result, oysters are now seen as a luxury food.
13. Fried Chicken
Fried chicken is yet another classic American food that was once considered “humble,” approachable, and affordable. But now, fried chicken is not as cheap as it used to be. Not only have higher-end establishments latched onto tasty trends like Nashville-style hot chicken, but even larger fast food establishments have followed suit and used new fried chicken fads as the perfect excuse to jack up their own prices.
14. Chicken Wings
As with fried chicken, wings used to be a cheap way to load up on protein. Also, like fried chicken, wings have only become more popular in recent years. If you think you can still load up on wings on the cheap at any restaurant or fast food establishment, think again.
15. Quinoa
Quinoa is another staple food item that used to be an affordable way to eat wholesome grains, especially in South America, where it’s long been part of local cuisine. Once Westerners began to embrace quinoa as some miraculous “ancient grain,” it transformed into a steeply-priced luxury “superfood.” Until the fad passes, there are other grains that can help you reach your health goals at far better prices.
16. Crawfish
Like lobster, crawfish was once considered a humble seafood that anyone, rich or poor, could afford and enjoy. But crawfish prices have jumped in recent years. Even worse, an increasingly severe drought in Louisiana and other bouts of inclement weather have resulted in dwindling crawfish supply. Add increasing consumer demand to the mix and you can see why this once humble seafood now puts a bigger dent in your wallet.
17. Oxtail
Following many of the other meats on this list, oxtail also used to be considered a “poor man’s food.” In fact, it even used to be considered a “throwaway cut” because of its gelatinous texture. But once more ambitious chefs began to create tasty new dishes with oxtail at their high-end restaurants, it went from a cheap option to a premium cut.