As Gen X, my boomer parents lived frugally, to a level most people wouldn't want to do now. Family vacations were camping in an old canvas army tent from God knows what war. 0 dinners out until I was older, then birthdays only. My sister and I made several of my parents anniversary dinners. Furniture was hand-me-downs. Mom sewed a lot of our clothes. I was allowed to pick out a lunchbox when I started first grade and I used it every year until I aged out and switched to a brown paper bag. Cars were kept and repaired until they rusted out. Now on HGTV I see newlyweds wanting quartz countertops and stainless appliances.
But I didn't. It's just how we did things. My parents saved. My sister and I went to state colleges debt free, my parents saved. They retired at 64 and lived the good life for 10 years until health issues crept in. It's just what people did then, not all people, but more lived frugally than not.
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u/TeacherLady3 9h ago
As Gen X, my boomer parents lived frugally, to a level most people wouldn't want to do now. Family vacations were camping in an old canvas army tent from God knows what war. 0 dinners out until I was older, then birthdays only. My sister and I made several of my parents anniversary dinners. Furniture was hand-me-downs. Mom sewed a lot of our clothes. I was allowed to pick out a lunchbox when I started first grade and I used it every year until I aged out and switched to a brown paper bag. Cars were kept and repaired until they rusted out. Now on HGTV I see newlyweds wanting quartz countertops and stainless appliances.