In 1999 I regularly paid $10 to fill my tank. It takes $50+ for the same tank size today.
I ate a meal with a drink at Taco Bell for $2-3.
I ate a meal with a drink at Taco Bell for $2-3.
They require “hacking” and careful deal-hunting to get the kind of bargains that used to be available with ordinary specials and coupons and such.
You can still “win” against e.g. Taco Bell, but it’s much harder. Ordinary menu prices everywhere are ripoff-tier.
Taco Bell in particular has gone mad, I don't see how they can survive with current pricing. I used to go often, knowing it wasn't good quality but it was oh so cheap.
Today their prices are so high that I can go to a local taqueria and get a giant burrito with far better and fresher ingredients and friendlier service for less money than a few mystery meat tacos from Taco Bell.
So on the positive side, I now only frequent the local business with good quality food.