I used to be a regular customer of the local nail shop for pedicures. I wear mostly flip-flops (native Floridian, ahem) and I wanted my feet to look nice. I could get one for $30 and a $5 tip, so I could justify a once a month splurge. I stopped going several years ago because the price kept going up and the service was just lousy. It didn't feel like a treat anymore. My sweet cousin is throwing me a weekend party getaway with our other two best friends this weekend for my 50th birthday, so I decided to use a gift certificate from my son from Mother's Day for a pedicure today.
using the cheese grater on your feet during a pedicure is now an extra $7 and it was already the deluxe pedi. Now I remember why I don’t do this anymore.
— Just Mindy 🐊 (@just_mindy) August 21, 2025
First of all, my son bought a gift certificate for the 'deluxe' pedicure which includes parafin wax at the end. I felt spoiled. Midway through the treatment, the pedicurist pulled out the old cheese grater tool (what I call the tool used to scrape dead skin off your heels) and asks if I want that. Yes, I do. Of course I do. He then hands me a price sheet and tells me it will be 7 dollars. What? 7 dollars to use the cheese grater? Isn't that part of the service? He explains they call that 'callous removal' now and it's extra. Even a 'Deluxe' pedicure no longer includes the cheese grater for free. What in the world?
— Marla (@mcraig84) August 21, 2025
Just in case you needed a visual, one of my kind followers was nice enough to provide it. So, the deluxe pedicure was $55 (thankfully, I had my gift certificate) and then I had to pay $7 for the cheese grater and then of course $12 for the 20 percent tip. So, by the end of the session, it was 74 dollars. There is no way I could justify that on a regular basis anymore, even once a month. I don't know how most people budget for that. They are clearly making much better money than me.
Maybe I’m asking for too much but why is it extra for the pedicure people to scrape my feet with the cheese grater ??????????
— MIICHELLE🐝 (@michellesmoody) April 27, 2024
Apparently, it's not just me experiencing shock from this.
a gel french pedicure is damn $60?! the spa pedicure is $35 and gel pedi with a french line is $25. My God. and a french FILL is $90?! Sorry but I’m cutting back on my tipping, this is crazy. pic.twitter.com/TLaHzO7F9g
— lemonhead (@wyldflow3r_) March 22, 2025
I truly considered cutting back on the tip today and I probably should have, but I didn't. The American consumer can't withstand the nickel and diming much longer. Not in this economy. Couple that with everywhere asking you to tip their employees, including just for counter service, and it's no wonder Americans are just staying home. Outside is too expensive.
