Life was much simpler before the digital boom. Kids found immense joy in playing outside instead of being fixated on gadgets, while adults enjoyed more basic pleasures, as seen in today's list.
We're exploring a question on the AskOldPeople subreddit: "What was a sign of being well-off in your neighborhood or community in the 50s, 60s, or 70s?" For younger individuals, this gives a peek at how people defined luxuries back in the day.
And if you've lived through these decades, this one's for you.
#21
The rich family on our block of middle class families would give out full size candy bars at Halloween.
lovessj: There was a house on my block when I was a child in the ’70s that gave out 50-cent pieces. That was five candy bars
laylay_thegrail: The one on my block had a Mercedes and gave out full-size boxes of Cracker Jack at Halloween
lovessj: There was a house on my block when I was a child in the ’70s that gave out 50-cent pieces. That was five candy bars
laylay_thegrail: The one on my block had a Mercedes and gave out full-size boxes of Cracker Jack at Halloween
23points
But while the people at the top only grew their net worth, those at the lower end of the totem pole struggled more.
“Highly skilled people of all ages are seeing real wages rise while lower-skilled people of all ages are seeing real wages fall,” said Rebecca Blank, former senior staff economist with the President’s Council of Economic Advisers.
#24
Having a cabin at the lake that you spent time at during the summer.
22points
Looking at these posts, you can see how starkly different people viewed luxuries decades ago. And whether or not you’re a fan of today’s technology, it’s probably safe to say that we’re living in interesting times.
#25
70s. If your house had a tennis court, you were *money*.
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Report21points
#27
In the 50’s it was having a television. In the 60’s, a color television. In the 70’s, a color tv with a remote and in the late 70’s it was having cable with MTV.
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20points
#28
During the 70s: In-ground pool. Cable TV. 3 cars, with the third one being some kind of little foreign sports car. A boat. An additional home somewhere or a cabin on some land. Vacations that required flying.
20points
#29
Wall to wall carpeting. A heat source that wasn't a wood stove.
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19points
#30
Anything newly trendy. That was for “the Joneses” and we weren’t supposed to keep up with them.
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19points
#31
In the early to mid 70’s, a VCR at home. imagine your mind being blown as a fifth grader, when another kid says they’re gonna go home and watch the Three Stooges after school. But the Three Stooges are on in the morning! The Rich kid said, yeah, we record it so I can watch it after school. I thought he was a liar, that was impossible!
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19points
#33
A yearly trip to WDW.
Going to “the Cape” for a week during the summer.
Playing town league sports(soccer, softball, baseball)
Having a “job” at the local Catholic Church and school.
Going to “the Cape” for a week during the summer.
Playing town league sports(soccer, softball, baseball)
Having a “job” at the local Catholic Church and school.
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18points
#34
I grew up in a working-class neighborhood. Went to a classmate’s house after school one day (1970) and what a revelation. A housekeeper greeted us at the door with “Hi Miss Amy, who’s your friend? Will she stay for dinner?” and took my friend’s coat. The entry room was an atrium with light streaming in from above, lots of huge plants, and a big working circular fountain in the center. Her house was huge (they had 10 children, both parents were professionals). Her yard was vastly deep. But I was most impressed with the 5-gallon jug of milk in their enormous refrigerator with its own spigot. Amazing experience!
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18points
#35
Buying a microwave oven as soon as they were available for sale circa 1978-1981.
Central air conditioning. Getting cable TV circa 1981. Owning a summer cottage/boat.
Country club and/or golf club membership.
18points
#36
AC, kids went to sleep away camp in the summer vs day camp, two vacations a year with one to Florida, high end stereo equipment, color tv, country club membership, Caddy that was traded in every 3 years, ivy league pennants decorating kids bedrooms, ate dinner in the dining room.
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17points
#37
Ooooh yeah … a color TV. A twenty seven inch color TV. I remember seeing my first 30” … then a 36” … believe me - childhood me would think people of the future must live in movie theaters if they own and watch movies on an 85” television. Which is larger than the pull-down-screen the grade school movies of my youth were projected on. The magic of the Jetsons came to life - siiiiigh.
mosselyn: My family bought our first color TV to watch the 1972 Olympics. It had a whopping 9" screen, and we piled on my parents' bed to watch it
mosselyn: My family bought our first color TV to watch the 1972 Olympics. It had a whopping 9" screen, and we piled on my parents' bed to watch it
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17points
#38
Children with braces to straighten their teeth.
Having a boat on a trailer in the driveway. .
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16points
#39
The richest kid I knew had a whole house vacuum cleaner system. That seemed a lot cooler than an intercom system.
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16points
