To wonder what people actually expect and why they can’t just be happy to live simply?

1. bread and roses
2. why should everyone else barely subsist in order for the wealth hoarders to have lives of unimaginable wealth?

Huh?

25 years ago was 2000. The height of consumerism, cheap travel, going out drinking and credit card debt. It was not a basic life of simply paying the bills and feeding the kids for the vast majority of people. Perhaps you’re thinking of 1970 or 1980?

Why do people on MN always seem to mix their decades up? 🙃

Except a lot of us did do those things regularly, with that being very much the norm in our social circles too. That it wasn’t your experience, or that of the PP, doesn’t mean it wasn’t very much reality for others existing on the very same planet.

There was also less to buy and when I was growing up the shops were only open Monday to Friday and no online shopping so we as children didn't enter a shop very often except supermarkets and convenience stores. TV was limited so that limited our exposure to advertising. It was just a different way of living. We also lived in a more innocent time though so as children we had a lot of freedom to play with the local children.

We don’t exist just to be units of labour in an end-stage capitalist society.
The human search for meaning and fulfilment is a vital component for living, not just existing.
The structure of our society, and what it requires of people to just keep a roof over their heads, is punitive.

You are quite right, some posters seem to be living on another planet. I am an only child so we did go on occasional holidays - never overseas. For the whole of the school holidays I either entertained myself at home, sometimes went out walking or visiting other people with my mother, and spent the majority of the time playing with my friends, which rarely required spending money as we played at each other's houses.

You are the one talking shite.

The pp agreed that people did things for leisure in the past, however it was an occasional treat, not something which happened regularly - and they are correct. Now people go out so often that they are always looking for something new and exciting.

I think it’s personalities as well. Some people are wired for adventure and exploring. Some people are creative, practical or content with just day to day life.
Everyone is going to have different priorities and that’s a good thing.

Ok then…. the dog? You’re being a bit pedantic.

Perhaps because life is for living, not just working yourself into an early grave...

It is sad.

"I'm starting to see a bit of a trend to young people saying they'll take a job that they think is fun, albeit low paying, so that they can get topped up on the grounds that there is no point going for the grind if the grind doesn't pay."

And this is why communism doesn't work. If you get the same reward for a hard or difficult job (e.g. night shift at the sewage works) as you do at an easy job (e.g. 9-5 at a library), why would anybody choose the hard jobs?

We're creating the problems of communism via the benefits system.

I grew up - during the summers - at my grandparents cabin in the mountains. It was just there, always, a fixture in my life, like my parents and grandparents were.
I never thought about losing it - why would I?
When I turned 18, my grandfather quietly sold it. He had health issues and he was very worried about leaving my Nana with enough money to support herself once he was gone.
When my mum told me, I couldn’t believe it - I felt like I was in some horrible science fiction movie, unable to get out.
I grieved it. It’s been 50 years and I still grieve it.
That little cabin was my “away place” - my place to rewind & reset & forget about everything at home.
I have hope that I’ll be able to build back the cabin one day - the spot remains empty.
I don’t know what my grandfather was thinking. We would’ve made sure Nana was well looked after and kept the cabin, both.

You are BU. In a country with the amount of wealth we have, we can all have a decent quality of life. But the system is stacked massively to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. So even if you work really hard, you might struggle to create a decent life. I think everyone deserves to be able to create joy and fun.

Ditto to all that. At least you had an Advent calendar, though - we never did! That’s why I treat myself to one (just a little-pictures one) every year. When DDs were little and wanted the chocolate ones, I was appalled to realise that they didn’t have pictures too! I still think it’s sacrilege….

no one wants to just cover bills however there have definitely been big social changes towards more goods and services being the norm in the past few decades

I agree with this, but at the same time there’s no alignment on “the norm” or what is “simple” v “excess”.

Growing up in the 80s we always had a cleaner, but my parents drove ancient cars that frequently broke down. We lived in a big house, but the sofa was third hand with springs poking through it. My parents prioritised good food, but we went to restaurants for birthdays only.

now I think the “norm” is to have everything.

Lump.of coal for Christmas? !

You are lucky...we make do with a lump of ice!

This again.

I think people have got used to having luxury things, holidays, cars, clothes etc..

As a child we went on holiday rarely, I think only 2 real holidays, the other times we went to France so my dad could work in his friends house. We never went in big days out or to the cinema, I remember going to the beach once with my parents (not including the 2 holidays). It was rare that any of my friends went on holiday too. When we went on our 2nd holiday I was bullied because my parents must have been rich to afford such a holiday (2 weeks in the Caribbean). My parents worked hard and owned their own home. We had a fun childhood and I never felt that we missed out.

Now as an adult I can’t afford to take my DC abroad but we have had amazing holidays in the UK, we go at least once a year and it usually cost around £350. I don’t feel my kids have missed out, I don’t feel they haven’t had fun. Not all fun things have to cost a fortune.

I am lucky I enjoy my job and the ppl I am around each day, it's not brilliant pay by any means but I have enough to pay the bills. I have zero savings a third hand tv and don't drink, am vegetarian and buy clothes on vinted. I have been on holiday for the first time in a few years this year, and I am happy BUT no security and have had some very tough years when my kids were at home and I would not wish that on anyone. I think in today's world surely it's not too much to ask that we have a standard of living that accommodates some fun not just doing forty hours a week to exist?

I live in the 4th largest economy in the world.
I don’t know anyone here who’s having any fun.
We’re barely paying our bills while Congress has shut down the government and federal employees aren’t getting paid - they’re having to run up their credit cards and take out loans.
Of course, CONGRESS MEMBERS ARE STILL GETTING PAID.
And Donald is threatening to withhold those federal worker’s back pay - WTF did they do?!
I love California, but sometimes I hate the US.
And those stupid f**king tariffs.
It’s gonna be forever until 2029.

Here here. Especially about a living wage.

Some of us live pretty much like that (I do have takeaways now and again, I don't think OP was against the occasional treat, and anyway it's just food) and somehow manage to live happy lives. I seem to be a lot happier and more content than many other people - and I don't even own my own home.

Hmm 30 years ago a trip to the cinema was not easily in reach of everyone in fact with the offers these days i think its cheaper in comparison now. Ice skating cost a bloody fortune as well. No idea on bowling, couldn't afford it for myself or my kids then

Oh and I have a car that cost me 2.5 k. Ran reliably as a works vehicle for 18 months ( and counting) and passed MOT with no issues. Does over 20k per year