Americans spend their money on things that are relatively normal to them. However, most visitors see these habits as being rather unusual, as they don’t have the same laws or business history that we do in the United States. People from other countries are sometimes quite surprised by how we do things here. Here are six American spending patterns that people outside the U.S. can’t believe.
Sales tax that isn’t in the sticker price
Anytime that you walk through an American grocery or electronics store, you might notice that the number on the shelf isn’t necessarily the final total. The majority of states add sales tax only at checkout, and the rate depends quite a lot on the city or county. People visiting from Europe or Japan often assume that the displayed prices include everything.
However, they’re confused when they find that they have to pay a little extra at the register, and it’s something that not all cashiers explain because the locals here expect it. The fact that the receipts show the tax line separately doesn’t exactly help either.
Ambulance rides with a separate bill
It’s no secret that medical care works differently in America than in other countries. However, what surprises a lot of foreigners about the way we spend money on healthcare is in terms of ground ambulance services. These come as their own charge that are separate from regular medical invoices.
In fact, even insured patients may get a bill when the ambulance company isn’t from their network. People from countries with centralized healthcare are often surprised to find that emergency transport isn’t included automatically. Seeing the statement for the transport weeks after the event feels a little strange to them. But it’s normal here.
Buying basics for public-school classrooms
The start of the school year often involves many American families receiving supply lists with shared items for the classroom, as opposed to regular things like backpacks or personal notebooks. Many parents will buy tissues & disinfecting wipes, along with dry-erase markers or extra pencils, that end up going into a common bin in the classroom.
Schools in other countries tend to stock these products through public funding. As a result, the idea of sending your child to school with a bulk collection of supplies seems rather unusual. People from other places don’t understand why so many American families act like they’re prepping for a small office.
Monthly HOA dues after you already bought the house
HOAs do exist in some other countries, but they’re nowhere near as common as they are in the United States. Buying a home here doesn’t necessarily end with a mortgage payment. Instead, you’ll likely have to pay homeowners’ association fees that continue every so often, and these fees cover things like landscaping & shared amenities. They also cover neighborhood upkeep.
Buyers from other places are sometimes shocked to see the extra charges because they’re not used to private neighborhood associations. Missing a single due date in America could lead to you having to pay penalties. It really doesn’t matter that you already own the property.
Renting self-storage units for everyday overflow
That’s not all for American homes. Chances are, you’ll probably see rows of storage buildings in most suburban areas, with roll-up doors and keypad entry. It’s completely normal here to rent these units to hold your furniture during a move, or for seasonal decorations. Some people use them to store the things that simply don’t fit in their homes anymore.
Of course, people in other countries do have access to strange facilities, yet they’re certainly nowhere near as common as they are over here. It can be a little odd for them when they find out that getting a self-storage unit is really no big deal.
Paying to cash a paycheck or money order your bills
Paying a fee to get access to your cash is almost a uniquely American thing. It’s due to the fact that some Americans don’t use direct deposit or traditional banking, so they have to go to a grocery counter or check-cashing storefront to get access to their paper paycheck. They might handle their bills the same way, too.
As for money orders, some Americans will buy these at convenience stores or post offices and fill them out by hand. It involves quite a few extra steps and a few service fees. Those used to the system think it’s completely normal, yet those outside the country don’t understand why we pay to access our money.
8 Costs Americans Are Done With When Going Out
These days, a simple dinner reservation or night out at a bar could mean that you have to pay extra charges that seem utterly ridiculous. Some are tied to booking systems & others are from payment methods. Either way, they’re quite frustrating. Here are eight costs that Americans are done with when they’re going out.
8 Costs Americans Are Done With When Going Out