AIBU to think lifestyle expectations and spending habits have risen enormously?

I think its your friend group tbh. I'm still as below and so are most of the people I know. .

Back then, almost nobody had a brand new car. People went abroad once a year if they were lucky. Eating out was very rare, maybe a handfull of times per. Getting a new kitchen was rare as was buying most household items. Kids often got cast off clothes from their siblings. Coffee & wine were basic.

Why do you think debt is exclusive to younger generations? Loads of older people lost their homes in the 80s/90s crash because mortgage lending was often less restrictive and many overextended themselves.

I don’t think you’re wrong but I am surprised by how young you are! Even when I was young I felt a lot of people expected more than their parents had. Including me - my parents first home was a 1 bed tenement flat. When I bought my first house 26 years ago I wanted a 2 bed minimum with my own driveway etc. My parents have always had only one car. Since I started living with my now husband we always had two. We used to mainly have a UK caravan holiday but I wanted to go abroad. I think it’s always been there but maybe more pronounced now. It’s young girls with expensive perfume and make up that makes me roll my eyes. I’ve always used expensive make up and fragrance since I could afford to pay for it but things like Chanel are so expensive now, I’m not sure 18 year old me could have afforded Chanel products if I was 18 now! However when I was at school I was definitely boots 17, body shop and rimmel!

No, it’s just how percentages work and because the average house price is now higher…

I had the same thought the other day 😂 I cannot fathom all the new cars - I presume some are company cars? I have multiple friends who've got in terrible debt because they have "drive a range rover" as a goal. I find it terrifying. I also find it baffling how much people spend on their weekly shop too! Maybe I'm just tight

My parents are pretty comfortably retired, and I had a lovely middle class upbringing, which meant foreign holidays and good food, so eating out quite regularly. They've got plenty still now so they often go on four or five holidays a year, and I always say they are the most well travelled people I know.

But I'm fully aware that I won't ever have this lifestyle unless my DH and I are earning at least £30k more (! And that isn't something that is very likely)

One of my friends who is constantly redecorating his large house and seems to change his car on a yearly basis once told me his partner anc his brother who both live with him have had a lot of debt in the past. I guess that some people's lifestyle is not always funded by their salaries.

I know, I’m older than the OP and certainly remember my parents spending money on frivolous stuff when I was a kid!

I do think some things have got excessive and it’s a bit keeping up with the Jonses. But things like nice coffee etc can make life more enjoyable. Lots of older people spend their retirement doing exactly this.

You have described my younger colleagues ( mid 20s to early 30s) colleagues are on an average North west salary and husbands are similar. One difference was that I voted only get a 25 year mortgage years ago. These days they have 25 year mortgage and have used help to buy schemes. They have loans for their new BMWs and holidays in Dubai.
Its a different world for me. When weve talked about debt they just shrug and say life is for living.
I, on the other hand couldn't live like that. I'd begrudge the amount of interst they are paying on things.
I dont owe anyone a penny. I do use credit cards but for the benefit they provide and then fo a balance transfer.

*I think you’ve just moved somewhere more affluent, stealth boast? I disagree and dont think it is a stealth boast at all. I live in what is classed as a deprived area and our council always comes up on government surveys about poor towns so I cant claim to be from a rich area. My colleagues talk openly about their lifestyle and how its funded!

Yes, I see it and am bemused but then I am a generation older than you.

I can understand about hiring the car, my husband has happy to drive and it meant we could explore and go on nice day trips. Though it also meant our villa was cheaper as it wasn't so convenient to get to.

I wouldn't buy new clothes and shoes abroad to throw them away though, that seems very wasteful.

If you overstretch yourself you will get into debt.
Debt has become normalised. It was a complete anathema to older generations.
Lenders have exploited many by calling it ‘buying power’. It is debt.
So many people cannot afford the way they actually live.

I am always surprised at TVs now. Ours is not even a SMART TV, it has a Firestick. And why would I want a bigger better one when i only watch for about an hour a day?

Your friend spent 3K on a coffee machine? Is your friend Nicola Sturgeon? But seriously, you are absolutely right. Several months ago I went to Scotland. In a corner shop in a scheme I saw Grey Goose vodka and Laurent-Perrier champagne being sold. You are absolutely right in your suggestion.

No, I think you do.

OMG a blast from the past. My primary school teacher would go every Friday lunchtime to get her hair set.

Now I think about it, what a bizarre ritual.

@Monty36way to miss the point! 😆

Don’t buy a house costing £750,000.
When my father purchased his first house it made him sweat. The risk. People were used to renting. This was putting his family into debt. Buying a home was not usual. The price is ludicrous to us now. But to him then, comparative to income, and only one income, it was a lot. To afford it and what he thought was a better life for his family he had to personally change a short commute to work to a very long one. They had to move out to where the property was cheaper.

Maybe that's the difference. I don’t like hiring cars, or really driving at all when I'm on holiday, so I just uber at the destination when and if we need it. It's ridiculously cheap in a lot of Europe. We're also very light travellers, backpacks only. Not even for financial reasons, I just absolutely hate the whole suitcase logistics operation, and flip flops can always be bought for a few euros.

THIS.

Yes, and many people have no concept of how people lived in the 70's and earlier, whilst they begrudge older people their pensions and apparently blessed lives 🤯 They have no idea how stupid they sound to those generations.

I agree. I was thinking about this with Christmas events the other day. Tickets go on sale in August so bang in the middle of everyone surely being skinted by the summer holidays and school uniform - great. The amount they charge is then astronomical, unbelievable in some cases. I do have 5 DC but even if I only had the average 2 some of these events would set me back £200, as I have 5 I’m looking down the barrel of £400- 500. This was panto and the polar express btw. The panto cost is so much I just cannot justify it.

Jesus really? Does that include car finance or just bog standard debt? I don't think I'd sleep if I owed that much!

I think expectations have changed

When I bought my first flat, I used a cardboard box (covered in wrapping paper) as a bedside table. And the flat had no central heating, dishwasher etc. I have happy memories but looking back, it was very basic

When my niece bought her first flat, she wanted everything brand new and shiny

It's good that some standards have improved. Living with a couple of tiny fan heaters wasn't fun. But the cardboard box worked v well