There was a time when certain things felt richy-rich, like “don’t touch it, it’s only for very special occasions” rich. You literally dressed up for it, talked about it for days, bragged about it to your relatives, and probably even flexed a little about it at school or work.
Fast-forward to now, and those same “wow, must be nice” moments are just… Tuesday. While we were busy living our everyday lives, paying bills, and pretending we know how to fix Wi-Fi routers, the line between what is considered luxury and basic life has kind of disappeared.
Funny how fast “wow, I made it” turns into “ugh, this again.” Here are 7 everyday things that used to scream “luxury” but are now just part of basic survival.
Eating Out at Restaurants
Dining out used to be a big deal, not just something you would do on any given Tuesday. You would dress up really nice for it; your parents would say, “Don’t order the expensive thing,” and somehow it felt classy, special, slightly intimidating.
Now we just order food from our couch in pyjamas, it is just so easy and effortless now. Delivery apps have made being a sloth so luxurious. The days of looking at a menu in detail while ordering food are long gone. It has turned from being a “special occasion” to an event wherein “I’m too lazy to cook” represents a huge drop in drama.
Owning Your Own Mobile Phone
When you had your first cell phone, it was a status symbol. It was like you were an important person; full-on businessperson energy. You felt main character when you flipped it open, and everyone stared. A phone call was expensive, a text cost money, and you saved the battery as a treasure.
Now we carry mini supercomputers that do everything except cook dinner (they can order them, though), and we still complain. Dropping your phone today feels like dropping your soul. What used to be a status symbol is now something your 10-year-old cousin casually owns.
Having the Internet at Home
Remember when saying “we have internet” was like winning the lottery for your family? That screechy and loud dial tone seemed so futuristic, like NASA was about to call. You had a limited number of minutes. You would log off to let someone use the landline. You didn’t dare download anything big.
Now, WiFi is as much a requirement for living as oxygen is. If it takes three seconds to buffer, we are just ready to riot. In one generation, the internet has gone from being a luxury item to a basic human right. It is amazing how fast magic has turned into “why is this so slow?!”
Air Conditioning That Actually Works
Growing up, no one had an air conditioner this casually. It was mythical. Only fancy offices, rich relatives, or shopping malls had that sweet, cold air. Entering a room that was air-conditioned felt like stepping into heaven.
Nowadays, if our air conditioning isn’t running at full blast during the hot summer days, we feel personally betrayed. We no longer “put up with the heat,” we now melt away emotionally. It is amazing to think of how quickly an item has gone from being a luxury to a necessity. Comfort levels really said: we’re not suffering anymore, thanks.
Having More Than One TV in the House
There was “one TV, one remote, one ruler (Dad),” and you were lucky if you did not miss your show. Family democracy did not exist; there was no concept of it. Then someone got a second TV, and suddenly you felt rich-rich. And having a TV in the bedroom was the pinnacle of wealth!
Now there is a screen in every room: phones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs; we are now drowning in screens. It is now rare for anyone to watch TV together anymore. Weird how the thing that once brought everyone into one room now quietly isolates us.
Taking Photos Anytime You Want
Taking photos used to be something precious. You only had a roll of 24 photos to use, and you had to use them wisely. You couldn’t afford to take silly photos of your lunch or take odd angles of your face. You had to be super careful about every photo you took.
Now, we take 600 photos of nothing, and delete 599 of them. We take pictures of our coffee, the sunset, our shoes, and random walls. Photos used to be rare; now they’re cluttered digital junk. Remember standing in line for weeks to develop your films? Now we get angry when it takes more than two seconds to see a photo on our phone!
Unlimited Calls and Messages (Even International)
In the past, every text you wrote had to matter. “Don’t waste any SMS!” They used to say to call after 9:00 pm because it was cheaper, so everyone waited like it was a sale. Now, we send out 45 memes, 12 voicemail messages, and three “???” messages without even thinking about it.
International calls used to be expensive, you had to schedule them, and there was a huge level of stress associated with them. Every minute counted with these calls. Today, we video call each other across continents and don’t even feel like we are that far away from each other. At the end of the day, we might’ve talked less, but it actually meant a lot more back then.
18 Everyday Problems That Didn’t Exist 30 Years Ago
Today, we are drowning in digital noise, subscriptions we forgot we had, and the fear of accidentally AirDropping a selfie to a stranger. These are mere daily headaches we didn’t have 30 years ago— and honestly, we want a full refund on modern life.
18 Everyday Problems That Didn’t Exist 30 Years Ago