Ignore the bad grammar...I didn't write it, of course!

https://motherhoodlifebalance.com/used-to-have-in-everyday-life-now-luxury/

But I have to wonder: How many 25-year-olds, today, WOULD be able to move out of their parents' homes at that age or earlier, if they were willing to give up all sorts of things that ARE luxuries - like recreational screen time services, recreational electronics, takeout food, pets, brand-new clothes, etc?

In other words, if they lived the same way so many people did 50 years ago?

Just because most Americans don't distinguish even between short-term luxuries and long-term luxuries - never mind between wants and needs - doesn't change the fact that they SHOULD. Otherwise, they're going to be unhappy all their lives, what with focusing on all the things they don't have.

(And even a backyard swimming pool can easily get boring after just one summer.)

Btw, I hadn't heard that driver's ed, in high school, is no longer free. But that may vary - I don't know.

I also had never heard of farmers' markets being...cheap! How/when did THAT ever happen? (As opposed to places like Haymarket, where produce clearly comes from across the globe, but at closing time, it's REALLY cheap.)

On 11/16/23 10:39 AM, Lenona wrote:
> Ignore the bad grammar...I didn't write it, of course!
>
> https://motherhoodlifebalance.com/used-to-have-in-everyday-life-now-luxury/

Much of that we can still have if we want it.

> But I have to wonder: How many 25-year-olds, today, WOULD be able to move out of their parents' homes at that age or earlier, if they were willing to give up all sorts of things that ARE luxuries - like recreational screen time services, recreational electronics, takeout food, pets, brand-new clothes, etc?
>
> In other words, if they lived the same way so many people did 50 years ago?
>
> Just because most Americans don't distinguish even between short-term luxuries and long-term luxuries - never mind between wants and needs - doesn't change the fact that they SHOULD. Otherwise, they're going to be unhappy all their lives, what with focusing on all the things they don't have.
>
> (And even a backyard swimming pool can easily get boring after just one summer.)

The first year my cousin got a pool our hair turned green (we were both
blondes then). The next year we hardly ever used it. Way better to
have a nearby friend with a pool than your own.

> Btw, I hadn't heard that driver's ed, in high school, is no longer free. But that may vary - I don't know.

The in-class course was free; there was no behind-the-wheel class. I
think it's proper to charge for BtW classes -- they're in competition
with businesses. When I was in HS I worked in the student store. We
couldn't sell stuff cheaper than the standard retail price for just that
reason -- not proper for the government to undercut the taxpaying
businesses. I don't remember if my kids had to pay for their BtW
classes or not.

> I also had never heard of farmers' markets being...cheap! How/when did THAT ever happen? (As opposed to places like Haymarket, where produce clearly comes from across the globe, but at closing time, it's REALLY cheap.)

They're ALWAYS been more expensive -- they could get away with it
because the stuff was so much better than supermarket stuff. BUT there
was one exception: A citrus orchard near Fresno brought down a big
truckload of oranges and grapefruit every week and sold big sacks for
much less than supermarket prices AND much better quality. We stopped
going when we stopped going to yard sales on Saturday, and then the
market closed completely during The Plague. Last time we looked they
weren't there any more.

The dollar stores (specifically our 99-Cents-Only Store, the base price
of which has become $1.29) are good for produce now. Everything is
cheaper, and sometimes there are tell-all-your-friends bargains.

--
Cheers, Bev
"America is at an awkward stage: it is too late to work within the
system, but it is too early to shoot the bastards." -Claire Wolfe