What adult purchase really shocked you once you saw the price tag?

[AmbsPhillps]

like when you became an adult , what things surprised you with by the cost

Spectacles. Dentistry. Running a car.

Mattresses. It costs a lot not to sleep on the floor

Children's shoes. More than mine and I wear mine for years unlike the kids who outgrow them in weeks.

Furniture in general - didn't realise until we bought our first house last year how much it was all going to cost!

Kitchens. A stack of mdf should not cost that much.

And council tax - £2200pa to have a bin emptied twice a month, clear the drains twice a year and provide a library

A new oven. It’s just a box, that heats stuff up. Why are they so expensive?

Replacement ink for printers

Any type of building work

Children’s bikes.

The cost of pets: Insurance, kennel/cattery fees, normal vet visits, food, toys, grooming...
Just had them and enjoyed them growing up, no idea they cost so much!!

Dishwasher tablets, printer ink, plumbers’ hourly rate (plus VAT!!).

Really cannot fathom why any of them are anywhere near the price they are.

Council tax
Washing powder
Mattress

Cheese

Seriously though running a car but also the train ! Yep council tax as well.

Kitchen bins.

I completely shocked when we went bought our first couch. Had 2nd hand ones until in our early 30s.....

Actually furniture bought outside of Ikea when that's been your soul diet of home furnishing is a shocker

Stepladders are stupidly overpriced.

Oh God, yes, the hugs gulf between the cost of Ikea and the next step up "nice" furniture. Such a shock.

Other than that:
Cost of pets was a shock. Still love them and can't be without them though.
Sheets/bedding
Childcare - I am now marginally more understanding as to why my "D"M sent me to a horrendous childminder I loathed for years.
Anything made of leather.

On the flip side, there are loads of things I thought were crazy expensive as a child which aren't actually expensive at all.

Plastering, carpets, combi boilers

Curtains

We have moved into an old house and have just bought thermal, interlinked curtains. Five pairs- cost of a moderate holiday.

Agree with pp, cheese!

Built in microwaves. You can buy one for £20 why is it £700 to stick it in a cupboard

Buying and selling property
Income tax

Decent curtains and cushions.

Beds/matresses

Bought four new matresses in one go a few years ago because we all needed new and they cost a holiday between them