SO, according to my boomer mum, sending a child through uni these days is the same as it was in the 90s

[PotteringAboutIn]

Because apparently they didn't have the wages back then

Ffs
Drives me nuts

What when uni was free, accommodation wasn't anywhere near as expensive and you even got a grant

I was a legal secretary late 1970s and as I understood it, all the new solicitors with degrees still had to do two years articles. Like on the job training where they got paid little (I think they earned the same as I did). It was mandatory. Competition for articled clerk positions were very competitive (and I think many got places at the best firms thanks to the uni they went to, the school they went to, who their dad was and what his job was. It was very difficult for those who came from regular schools and from “normal” backgrounds). Maybe it was possible to train as a solicitor for a much longer stint in articles.

Totally agree. My dad also was evacuated to Wales as a child during the war.

Culture changes so much too. When I was 18 the norm was to get a job, often live at home, meet someone and if you got engaged, stay at home and save like mad for a house deposit. Nowadays the cultural expectation for many (or even the requirement for work purposes) to move out and rent a flat. Or rent with boyfriend(s) (was uncommon for most “boomers”). I could t have afforded to have saved with now husband for a deposit if we were renting a flat and saving - bit like now. Sure it would have been amazing to share before marriage.

Also cultural expectations of holidays, cars, eating out and going out - all very different. Just how it was and now is as culture evolves through the generations.

Exactly! Same!

Yes. It was tough. I got married in the early 80s and we we scrabbling to get a mortgage. We were both earning around £3.50 an hour after tax and interest rates were 15%. Things like furniture and carpets had to wait.

I distinctly remember the night of a formal ball in my second year at Uni because I got a taxi with 2 friends. We had never gotten one before. It felt so expensive and fancy! We were safety conscious and always made sure everyone was walked home, we stayed in large groups but that often involved round trips, walking friends home then back to whatever house the majority were staying, someone always slept over. We were excited about our 3 course meal, we had eaten dinner out once or twice together ever. At that time, my aunt had a shop that sold formal wear so I had a brand new dress that my Mum got for cost, borrowed shoes and I did my own hair and make up. Each of my friends had either rented or borrowed a dress and thought i was so lucky to have a new one. One friend had been gifted money to get her hair done. She got an up do, not one of us had coloured hair as that was unaffordable. We met for drinks in pals house where 4 girls lived and had 1 bathroom and we all had sleeping bags to stay on the sitting room floor. That was mid 90s. I have friends with student kids now and they have mostly ensuites or 2 to a shared bathroom. All buy new dresses and shoes for occasions. They get taxis home all the time 'to be safe', they all have hairdressers and some get their nails or eyebrows or tan done regularly. They all eat out fairly regularly too, it's not a big deal. I talked to someone recently who went to the exact same formal do and her experience was completely different. It feels like they were on a different planet of luxury and high standards.