When you’re a kid, life comes with a lot of things that just…happen. You don’t really think about it, as food shows up, and stuff gets paid for. But as you get older, you start noticing how much work went into those little things. You also feel a lot more appreciative of them. Here are 17 things we didn’t realize were a luxury until we got older.
Not Having to Cook Your Own Meals
You could walk into the kitchen as a child and immediately get some food. While it wasn’t always what you wanted, at least it was ready and prepared for you. But now that’ll only happen if you have leftovers or a magical fridge that makes you dinner. You usually have to plan, shop, cook, and clean up. And don’t forget the dishes. They somehow pile up, even if you only made toast.
Eating Fresh Produce Every Day Without Thinking About It
Speaking of food, you may have assumed a kitchen that was always stocked with fresh fruit and salad greens was just the norm. But fruits and vegetables are expensive, especially if you’re buying them fresh. A single week of greens often costs more than many people’s entire meal budget, which is something you realize when you’re older and paying for groceries yourself.
Space to Be Bored
Being bored used to involve lying there, staring at the ceiling, then deciding to build a fort out of couch cushions. It’s a different story as an adult. If you’re not being productive 24/7, your brain tells you that you should be doing something useful because boredom isn’t free anymore. Every minute feels scheduled, thanks to work, chores, messages, and more chores. The second you stop moving, there’s a voice in your head reminding you that the kitchen is still a mess.
Being Driven Everywhere
Anytime that you needed to go somewhere, someone was already warming up the car. You just grabbed your stuff and hopped in. As an adult, though, you’re usually the designated driver, or at least, the person who gets the Uber. Any spontaneous trips now involve worrying about fuel costs and the stress of traffic, as well as things like insurance and oil changes. It’s a lot. Don’t forget the never-ending fear that your brakes might start squeaking at the worst possible time.
Living in a Quiet, Safe Neighborhood
Not hearing sirens every night growing up isn’t merely a lucky coincidence. Clean, low-crime neighborhoods cost a lot more in rent or home prices, which is something you realize when you’re on your own. You’ll notice the difference rather quickly when you move somewhere cheaper. People set off fireworks on a Tuesday, and you may need to triple-check your car doors at night. It’s because silence and safety come with monthly payments.
Getting Eight Hours of Sleep Without Being Woken Up
Once upon a time, sleep used to simply happen. If only you could bring those days back. As an adult, you’ll be dodging late-night Slack messages and dogs who want to pee at 3 AM. Eight straight hours without interruption is a high-end experience that most grown-ups are chasing. Even going to bed early doesn’t guarantee anything, and if you wake up feeling refreshed, that means something rare went right.
Having One Job That Covers All Your Bills
When you were younger, you probably thought that having one solid job would get you security. But it’s a different story when you’re working. Most people are juggling side gigs and freelance work, as well as other weird shifts, just to stay afloat. Anyone with a full-time job that actually covers all the bills is living the adult dream. Health insurance, paid time off, and no need to drive for Uber after work? That’s a full package deal a lot of folks are hunting for and still not finding.
Being Able to Say “No” Without Guilt
Turning stuff down sounds simple. That is, until you have a manager asking you to stay late and a family member calling for a “quick favor.” You also have friends planning three things on the same weekend. Saying “no” and not feeling terrible about it is a real luxury, as it comes with a certain level of financial and emotional freedom. Unfortunately, not everyone has that.
Living Somewhere With an In-Unit Washer and Dryer
Nobody warns you that laundry is a nightmare once you leave home. That’s why getting a place with a washer and dryer inside it is kind of a big deal, as you don’t need coins. You also don’t need to pray that your clothes are still there when you come back. This kind of convenience costs real money, and it’s a luxury you don’t realize until you’re much older.
Having Dental Work Done Without Hesitation
Skipping the dentist for a year when you were a child didn’t really mean anything. But as an adult? It’s a different story. Avoiding one checkup could mean you’re left dealing with a root canal, and the price of that alone is enough to shock you. Even a routine cleaning without insurance could be $150 or more. Such a high cost forces some people to soothe their toothaches with numbing gel, in the hopes that it holds off until payday.
Having a Backyard You Could Use Freely
A childhood that involved digging in the dirt or relaxing outside without stepping over anyone else’s shoes was quite a luxury. It meant that you had more space than you realized. These days, people are trying to grow tomatoes on fire escapes or paying rent for access to a plot of grass for an allotment. A backyard you didn’t share with strangers was premium square footage that was certainly a luxury.
Having Your Own Room in a Home With Space
You had four walls and a door, maybe even a desk, with nobody else’s socks on the floor. You could sleep whenever and decorate however. However, being alone when you need it doesn’t come easily anymore. Shared housing, for example, makes the idea of personal space feel like a distant memory. The cost of space really does add up.
Going to Private Lessons or Tutors Regularly
Getting picked up from school and dropped off at piano lessons used to feel like part of the routine. But then you realize weekly lessons cost as much as a car payment, and most people can’t pay $80 a session to learn how to play music. That “after-school activity” you did casually came with a real price tag. Not everyone can pay that when they’re older.
Going on Annual Family Vacations by Plane
Packing your bag and grabbing a neck pillow, then flying somewhere every summer, seems totally normal. However, when you try to plan a trip yourself, you realize just how expensive it is. Flights and hotels are pricey. That’s before you even think about tickets to anything fun, or even the price of food. Once you start looking at prices for a beach vacation, you’ll realize that someone in your family paid thousands just to get you there when you were a kid.
Getting New Glasses Every Year or Two
There was probably a time when you picked out frames at the optometrist’s and then walked out with a new pair. You never knew anything about the cost, or even cared. It’s not the same as an adult. Now, you’re triple-checking your insurance plan and measuring your pupillary distance on an online form, simply to save a few bucks. New lenses aren’t always in the budget. In some cases, seeing is a luxury, and people wear old glasses for much longer than they should.
Eating at Sit-Down Restaurants Regularly
Having dinner out used to be no big deal, as you’d get a booth and order whatever you felt like. If you were lucky, you might’ve even split a dessert. Unfortunately, you’re more likely to start doing mental math as an adult, before you even look at the menu. Can you afford drinks? How about tipping 20%? Should you split something or just eat beforehand? Such a casual option is now more calculated.
Access to High-Speed Internet With No Data Caps
You probably never thought about how fast your Wi-Fi was growing up because you just connected and streamed whatever. As an adult, you have to deal with slow downloads and buffering videos. You may also have data limits that’ll make you nervous to update your phone, and it’s even worse if you’re in a rural area or on a tight budget. You could be stuck at 10 Mbps with no alternative.
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