Someone online asked: “What’s a middle-class luxury from your childhood that’s now considered a basic necessity… or totally obsolete?” And the answers are a nostalgic (and slightly depressing) trip down memory lane. 😅
Here are some of the biggest ones people mentioned:
🖥️ Having a computer at home.
Back then, this was rich kid behavior. Now? You basically can’t exist without one.
🍽️ A dishwasher.
Some people genuinely thought they’d never live in a house fancy enough to have one.
📞 Long-distance calling.
Parents used to set TIMERS to avoid massive phone bills. Now you can FaceTime someone in Tokyo for free. 🌍
📚 A full set of encyclopedias.
Owning these meant you were rich and smart. Now it’s called Google.
👨👩👧 One income households.
Dad worked one job, five days a week… and Mom stayed home. That feels almost mythical now.
❄️ Cars with air conditioning.
Once a luxury. Now it’s unthinkable to not have it.
📺🎮 Tech entertainment.
Color TVs, VCRs, HBO, Blu-ray players, PlayStations, Xbox — and having a TV in your BEDROOM was elite status. Now every kid has multiple personal screens.
☎️ Cordless phones… and car phones.
Once futuristic. Now completely unnecessary.
🛏️ Water beds.
A true ‘80s flex that did NOT age well.
🌐 High-speed internet.
In the ’90s and early 2000s, DSL or cable was a pricey perk. Now slow internet feels like a human rights violation.
🍿 Microwaves.
They used to be massive, expensive, and rare. Now they’re in almost every kitchen.
✈️ Flying.
In the ’70s, flying was mostly for business people and the wealthy. Now it’s just… uncomfortable.
🧊 A fridge that makes ice AND dispenses filtered water.
The ultimate kitchen flex that somehow became standard.
Funny how things that once screamed “We’re doing pretty well” now barely register. 😬
So… what’s the “middle-class luxury” today that kids in 20 years will think is basic?
