Old Luxuries Have Become Normal Life
There’s always been a middle-class “struggle.” Money was tight, and luxuries were rare, but times change. What once felt like a rich-kid dream is now everyday life, and some things we once counted as necessities are now obsolete.
Consider these memories from childhood:
- Having a computer in the house. Back then, it felt like rich-kid stuff. Now, it’s basically required to exist.
- A dishwasher. I was the dishwasher growing up. Today, most homes have one.
- Long-distance calling. Parents set timers to avoid huge bills. Now, I can video call someone in Tokyo for free.
- Physical encyclopedias. Owning a full set meant you were smart… and well-off.
- Dad works one job, five days a week, Mom is home every day. A family ideal that rarely exists anymore.
- A car with air conditioning. Once a luxury, now an expectation.
- Tech entertainment. Color TVs, VCRs, HBO, and gaming consoles were once indulgences. Today, nearly every teenager has a personal screen.
- Cordless or car phones. Cutting-edge then, obsolete now.
- Water beds. Dreamy, but gone from most bedrooms.
- High-speed internet. A luxury for tech-savvy families in the ’90s; now essential.
- Microwaves. Expensive, massive, and special—today they’re standard.
- Flying. Once for the wealthy or business travelers. Now, millions fly every year.
- Fridges with ice and filtered water. Once a status symbol, now just a convenience.
Looking back, it’s striking how quickly luxury becomes normal, and normal becomes nostalgic. Middle-class struggles remain, but what counts as “a treat” has changed with the times.
Doug O’Brien
