Despite the fact that our parents love to talk about just how hard they used to have it when we stop and think, it becomes depressingly clear that a lot of commonplace things have fallen into the luxury category without almost anyone noticing.
So one internet user wanted to hear others’ thoughts, so people from all over the net shared the items and experiences that used to be downright regular and are now seen as extravagant. We also got in touch with zombiem00se, who made the original post. So read through and prepare a tissue after you weep for better times, and be sure to upvote your favorites. And don’t forget to comment your own thoughts and examples below.
#1
Good quality fabric in clothing. I have clothes from the 90s (and 80s from my mother) that still hold up today. These days, I’m lucky if my shirt isn’t saggy and misshapen within a year.
Image credits: TheMadLaboratorian
#2
Single income families buying a home
Image credits: THESSIS
#3
New furniture made out of real wood
Image credits: Juls7243
#4
Items not requiring a subscription each month
Image credits: few29er
#5
getting things repaired instead of buying new.
Image credits: einRoboter
#6
Not being expected to be reachable 24/7
Image credits: Siukslinis_acc
#7
Farmer’s markets. You used to be able to go down and get fruit and vegetables cheaper than the grocery store. Now it seems like they charge 3x more than stores do.
Image credits: jrhawk42
#8
Owning the software you purchased.
Image credits: FinnofLocke
#9
Legroom on an airplane
Image credits: anachronistika
#10
household products that didn’t break within the first few years of use. My grandma had the same fridge from 1993 for a good while before deciding to swtich to a newer, bigger one 2 years ago, yes, it broke within those 2 years; my mom’s wedding cookware is still going strong 25 years later, but whenever she needs new pans they start flaking teflon into the food within a few months
Image credits: parangolecomuna
#11
Retirement plan built-in to your job.
Image credits: SuvenPan
#12
Being able to afford having only one person working in a relationship
Image credits: depressedhousewifee
#13
Getting a hand written letter
Image credits: riphitter
#14
Family vacations.
I remember going on road trips regularly and even flying once or twice as a kid. Now that I have kids there’s no way I can afford a week-long trip to the Badlands, Grand Canyon, Disney/Universal Studios etc. Best I can do is a day trip to the Dells maybe once a year.
Image credits: M5606
#15
Free driver’s education classes taught in all high schools.
Image credits: Working-Finger3500
#16
I remember as a kid, where I live they would allow people to just visit an area of the airport from where they could see the runway and flights take off – they didn’t have to pay anything for it – people would spend hours just looking at flights take off and land ❤️
EDIT: To everyone saying this is still doable in many parts of the world – that’s great, I haven’t been to those parts of the world yet and where I come from one would still need to pay a certain amount to get in and watch from a glass cabin or so. Back in the day, there would just be a gate on the airport ground, a small barricade where you could just stand for hours and nobody would bother.
Image credits: homie93
#17
Pork Belly. Used to be a bad cut of meat that was disposed of or given to the poor for dirt cheap prices. Then rich people realized that the poor made it delicious, which then caused prices to skyrocket.
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Image credits: PhreedomPhighter