10 things that used to be free but now cost money

They say the best things in life are freebut the list of such things seems to be getting shorter by the day. Businesses are constantly coming up with more ways to nickel and dime customers, and many items that used to be gratis now come with a fee.We can only imagine how much longer this list will be in 10 yearsand what new items will be on it.Here are some products and services that, back in the good old days, used to be free of charge but now will cost you. SEE ALSO:The cheapest gas station chain in every stateSEE ALSO:Your credit score can help you get a house, a car ' and apparently, a dateAirline extrasAirfares may be low these days, but dont be fooled: Just because youre paying less for an actual ticket doesnt mean your overall flight experience wont be pricey. Many services and amenities that used to be free for airline passengers now come a la carte, depending on the airline including checking a bag, carrying on a bag, onboard snacks, beverages, meals, onboard entertainment, seat selection and more. Even if the fees are small, those charges quickly add up.Water in restaurantsNobody wants to look like a cheapskate, but sometimes you just want a regular glass of waterthat wont cost you an arm and a leg. Nowadays, at some restaurants, you have to specify that you want tap water. Otherwise, the waiter may automatically bring you a bottle of still or sparkling water and add it to your bill.(And just try finding the cost of said water on the menu; its rarely listed.) Also, some venues serve filtered tap water, such as Vero water, thats typically billed per person.Hotel amenitiesJust like with airline tickets, the nightly rate for a hotel room is just the tip of the cost iceberg for your overall lodging experience these days. Over the past 20 years, hotels started adding extra charges, often called resort fees, to offset the costs of amenities like pools, gyms, and complimentary newspapers.Some properties take it even further by charging other types of hidden fees on top of the typical resort fee, such as a cleaning fee, a pool/spa fee, or a processing fee. And that doesnt even take the mini fridge into consideration.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Click here to read full news..