Despite all our technological advances and modern conveniences, there are some basic luxuries our grandparents took for granted that have become increasingly out of reach. While we’re busy bragging about our smart homes and subscription services, here are some simple pleasures from previous generations that now feel like upper-class privileges.
1. Single-Income Households
Remember when one salary could support an entire family? Neither do we, but our grandparents sure do. The idea of one parent working while the other raises the kids isn’t just outdated—it’s become mathematically impossible for most families. Today’s “traditional” household usually involves both parents working multiple jobs while still struggling to make ends meet. Nothing says “times have changed” quite like needing a side hustle to afford the same lifestyle your grandfather managed on a factory worker’s salary.
2. Buying a Home in Your Twenties
Back then, a house didn’t cost the equivalent of a small country. Our grandparents could buy a home on a regular salary, often right after getting married. Today, the only way most twenty-somethings are getting into the housing market is if they invent the next big social media platform or discover their long-lost billionaire uncle. The phrase “starter home” has been replaced with “starter rental with five roommates.”
3. Going to the Doctor Without Fear of Bankruptcy
Remember those stories about the family doctor who would accept payment in chickens? Today, even with insurance, a simple check-up can leave you choosing between filling your prescription and filling your gas tank. Our grandparents didn’t have to launch a GoFundMe campaign every time they needed a medical procedure. They just went to the doctor—imagine that!
4. Having Kids Before 35
It wasn’t just biological clocks that determined when people had children—it was actually financially feasible to start a family young. These days, most people need to establish their careers, save for several years, and possibly invent time travel to afford the cost of raising a child. The modern equivalent of “family planning” is “waiting until you can afford daycare.”
5. Debt-Free College Education
Once upon a time, you could work a summer job to pay for your college tuition. Today, that same summer job might cover your textbooks—if you’re lucky and don’t eat for three months. Our grandparents’ generation could graduate without knowing what a student loan officer’s voice sounds like. Must be nice to have your biggest college worry be your grades rather than your thirty-year repayment plan.
6. Job Security
Remember company loyalty? Neither do modern companies. Our grandparents often stayed with one employer for their entire career, complete with pension plans and gold watches at retirement. Today, changing jobs every few years isn’t just normal—it’s often the only way to get a meaningful raise. The closest thing we have to job security is having multiple backup plans for our backup plans.
7. Weekend Homes
A vacation property wasn’t just for the wealthy—many middle-class families could afford a modest cabin or beach house. Now, most of us can barely afford our primary residence, let alone a weekend getaway. The modern equivalent is having a reliable tent and a campground reservation system that doesn’t crash during booking season.
8. Retirement at 65
The concept of a guaranteed retirement age has become about as realistic as your childhood dream of becoming an astronaut. While our grandparents could count on retiring at 65 with a decent pension, we’re all pretty much planning to work until we physically can’t anymore. The new retirement plan? Hoping our kids become tech billionaires.
9. New Cars Every Few Years
Trading in for a new car every few years wasn’t considered extravagant—it was normal consumer behavior. Today, we’re driving our cars until they’re old enough to have their own driver’s licenses. The only new car smell most of us experience is from those little tree-shaped air fresheners.
10. Regular Family Vacations
Annual family trips weren’t just for the wealthy. Middle-class families could afford to take regular vacations without having to sacrifice their firstborn to the credit card gods. Now, a weekend getaway requires the kind of financial planning usually reserved for launching a small business.
11. Dining Out Regularly
Restaurant meals weren’t special occasions—they were regular parts of weekly life. These days, dining out has become a luxury that requires careful budgeting and possibly selling a kidney. The modern equivalent of “dinner and a movie” has become “takeout and streaming,” and even that feels indulgent sometimes.
12. Having Savings
Remember when having a savings account actually meant having savings? Our grandparents could put away money regularly without feeling like they were sacrificing basic necessities. Today, many of us consider it a minor miracle if we have enough left over after bills to buy a coffee. The concept of an “emergency fund” no longer exists.
13. Work-Life Balance
It wasn’t called “work-life balance” back then because it was just… normal life. Nine-to-five meant exactly that, not nine-to-whenever-you-finish-checking-your-work-emails-at-midnight. Our grandparents didn’t have to explain why they weren’t responding to Slack messages during their vacation—probably because Slack didn’t exist, and neither did the expectation of 24/7 availability.
14. Quality Furniture That Lasts
Remember when people bought furniture expecting it to last generations? Now we’re lucky if our particle board bookshelf survives a single move. Our grandparents invested in pieces that would be passed down as heirlooms. Today, we’re passing down assembly instructions and crappy Allen wrenches.
15. Hobbies That Don’t Need to Generate Income
Perhaps the most telling difference: our grandparents could have hobbies that were just… hobbies. They didn’t need to turn their knitting into an Etsy shop or their woodworking into a side hustle. Today, if you’re not monetizing your passion, are you even managing your time properly? The simple pleasure of doing something just because you enjoy it has become its own kind of luxury.
