New shoes - I only ever had one pair of shoes at a time, and they were not replaced until I had outgrown them. They were bought a bit bigger, so each pair lasted about a year.
New clothes - they were always from a charity shop and had a musty smell that didn’t always come out, even after several washings.
Fruit juice - we didn’t have any in the house until my early teens, and then it was a small carton of orange juice, apple juice or fruit punch, there was nowhere near the variety that exists now! The carton was supposed to last for 7 days between 4.
Therapy appointments, some of my friends had their parents place them in talk therapies, and I was rather envious because it showed someone cared about them. When I was old enough, I asked my GP to refer me and lied to my friends that my parents had done this - I certainly needed that therapy due to a horrible home life, that’s for sure!
Having your hair cut at the hairdressers, I have only begun to do this in my 40s.
Going out for a meal as a family. This has yet to happen nearly 50 years later. My mum would say she can make it cheaper and better at home, she couldn’t - she was a terrible cook, not surprising I had such a poor appetite as a child tee hee.
A washing machine - we didn’t own one until I was 14. I remember many hours spent at the laundrette looking at the same old magazine for hours. I’m not sure why I didn’t take my library books with me.
The idea that you could buy a book. That thought didn’t exist until I was in my mid teens and I noticed my friend’s parents did this for them. If you couldn’t find it in the library, you couldn’t have it. This might be a class as well as money thing possibly.
One thing I do know is, I have happily spent my last pound on my children’s books if it meant they were becoming better read. My mother was happy to splash the cash on make up, her nails, and home furnishings, but it wouldn’t have occurred to her to buy us books.
A watch. I was gifted a Seiko for my 16th birthday.
White bread and Nutella! It was the absolute height of sophistication and decadence!
Somehow, those memories made me a little sad! I’m glad I saved my children from all of the above, and they have less issues than I do now. They do not have a chip on their shoulder, nor really low self esteem, eating disorders, or suicidal ideation. I clearly remember wanting to die when I was about 14.
Poverty, ignorance, and neglect are not fun ways to grow up.
Definite still below average income even now, but happy to spend on the important things and a few treats for a smile.
Parents were a lot more selfish back in the day, and it was commonplace to put yourself before the children. Children were to be seen and not heard.
I wonder what factors went into changing that mindset in modern times?