Who pays for all the “free” stuff? Spoiler alert: it’s not magic. If it seems free, that just means you’re not the one paying—maybe. Government programs, school lunches, gifts, concert tickets with $85 fees—somebody always picks up the tab. Whether it’s taxes, debt, or tradeoffs buried in the budget code, the cost is still there. You just might not see it.

Who pays for all the “free” stuff? Spoiler alert: it’s not magic. If it seems free, that just means you’re not the one paying—maybe. Government programs, school lunches, gifts, concert tickets with $85 fees—somebody always picks up the tab. Whether it’s taxes, debt, or tradeoffs buried in the budget code, the cost is still there. You just might not see it.