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

[Terrazzomazzo]

So many posts on here of people saying that they are running out of money and “I have no fun money” et. Why can’t people just be happy that they have enough to pay their mortgage pay their bills and feed their family and clothe their children? When did holidays , excess “stuff” and weekends of fun days out and take away etc become a given right and expectation?

I agree Op

My parents are some of the happiest people I know. Even in their 80's they have tons of friends and grandchildren want to go and stay.

They spend bugger all.

They've never done holidays, take away, meals out and cars are utilitarian second hand.

What they do have is active and unusual hobbies, a lively intelligent sense of humour and an interest in the world outside their bubble.

People DID have multiple holidays in the 80s. Me and OH did and neither of us were high earners, we both had relatively normal jobs and 2 or 3 foreign holidays was the norm, as we prioritised holidays. Likewise computers, we had a Spectrum around 1982, but then moved on to other computers/games consoles mid 80s onwards. Our school had two rooms full of computers when I left in 1981! My first job (small private firm of 15 people) where I started in 1983 had computers on everyone's desks - we all had a Commodore PET.

Well, you're nice aren't you?
Do you actually enjoy such a simple life yourself or just think everyone else should?

Lolz, tell me ypu have spare cash for "stuff" without telling me you have spare cash for "stuff" 🤣🤣

Good one, OP, I needed a laugh this evening.

It wasn’t the norm. Only 13% of families owned a computer even by 1985.

So anecdotal experience isn’t sufficient when it contradicts yours then?

When living in the UK I went to school with kids that absolutely did holiday multiple times a year and have new tech as the standard. My own parents spent on the same. Outside of the UK, both sides of my family did heavily utilize the (incredibly strong) black market, as despite ‘all you should want and be happy with is you basic needs met’ being the official government line, people very much wanted more than that.

My mum was a teacher ‘in the 90’s’ - even she had a Nintendo - my step dad put it in the attic as she developed a Tetris addiction

We never had package holidays in the 70’s and 80’s but we went abroad - staying with friends and family in France, Holland and Germany- bus, ferry, public transport and the odd youth hostel - we even had the odd takeaway (fish and chips or Chinese).

This. The attitude that anything beyond a tiny home, 20 year old car and aldi shopping for food and rummaging through charity shops for clothes is excessive, consumerist and crass is literally ludicrous. People are allowed to aspire and work hard for treats

Care to share stats as considering only 13% of families owned computers by 1985 they were nowhere near the norm.

No it isn’t. You can have fun for free. It’s about finding enjoyable activities that don’t cost a lot of
money. Hiking, gardening, cycling, fitness, creating artwork, crafts, diy home projects, learning a new language, reading, swimming, socialising at home, astronomy …

Some people only seem to want fake nails, fake eyelashes, lip filler, drinking in pubs/bars, eating out, driving cars bought on finance, designer clothes on debt and living for instagram. THIS is an incredibly sad way of living life.

Training your kids to think they need endless consumerist landfill, tech and holidays to be happy alongside being unable to entertain themselves without days out and tech and to be dissatisfied with anything less is ludicrous and foolish.

SOME people were not. Others were. Some people don't have multiple holidays a year in 2025, some of them (according to their posts on MN) do not WANT to go on holiday ever.

Is family skiing an invention of the 2000s?
Beach holidays?
Countryside holidays?
"taking the air" in the mountains?

Feel free to google... You are in for a big shock if you have convinced yourself holidays and multiple holidays are an invention of the last 20 or 30 years 😂

Don't start reading about ancient Rome and Greece to name a few, you'll faint.

14% of holidays in 1970 were abroad - 46% in 1994 according to the www.

It’s well known that finding gratitude in what you have and engaging in mindful activities away from screens play a huge part in having good mental health. It’s also well known that children being able to entertain themselves when bored is beneficial.

And then there’s the people who had weeks in Blackpool, Southport, Minehead etc.

Absolutely!! I can’t agree more OP. It’s incredibly liberating and peaceful to live a simple life. Ironically, the simpler I make my life, the richer it gets.

Feel free to post your stats.

I went to school in the 80s. I knew one girl who went to Spain once, and came home with a colourful donkey that we were all completely jealous of! Everyone else had a week in a caravan in Rhyl or Blackpool. I didn’t go on holiday at all until I was an adult.

It was the norm in my circle.

Not sure why you’re zeroing in on computers specifically, as if not having a computer is the sole determining factor of whether the simple life was widely embraced or not.

Of course the number of families owning computers would be relatively low when you’re talking about a product new to the market. That percentage rose dramatically as they became more widely available and affordable. Clearly people did want them.

why does it have to be everything or nothing? Does it help your reasoning?

So it's either you NEVER have days out or holidays, or you waste money and resources in endless consumerist landfill crap?

Does it make you feel better about yourself to pretend that people can't' enjoy a few great holidays abroad, nice days out AND spend some days at home and hours reading?

I think it's lazy parenting not to help your kids to discover different places and show them that travelling, spending a few days abroad, exploring a new city is not a big deal at all. It's a big world and no one is stuck into their little town, or their little job - better for your mental health frankly. Each to their own really.

You are using tech to complain about tech.. I am loving the irony here.

it was tough bringing up a family on one wage in the 70s, or even on two lowish ones. My middle aged DC have a way better standard of living than they grew up with. Most of their high earning friends came from ordinary backgrounds, but took opportunities, moved away, put off having children til they were established etc. That has meant they have been able to give their DC more opportunities for travel, hobbies, educational opportunities etc.

There is also inheritance. Few of my generation inherited anything, but that much maligned generation of boomers were the first to see house buying as achievable. Even inheriting the most modest house will help future generations with uni fees, house deposits etc. Unless of course we all end up in expensive care homes.

I do understand it’s very difficult in some circumstances, illness, disability, single parenthood, living in expensive areas, etc. But there are many young people doing well.

@Terrazzomazzo : I'm very fortunate; financially stable and will be indefinitely (probably!)

Years ago, ordinary people could afford to buy a house. For those that couldn't, council housing was available at a cheap rent. Now, not only is home ownership out of reach of many people, but cheap rent simply does not exist. The consequence of this is that there must be many people who live in a constant state of insecurity. You might have a couple, both of whom work full time but, if one of them were to lose their job, they'd no longer be able to pay the rent. What would they do then? Move in with relatives, like it's the late 1940s and there's a post-war housing shortage? Go and live on a sink estate? It's no wonder they're unhappy.

also this.

what "stats"?

I am not writing you an entire history lesson, make your own research. You enjoy simple life and simple activities, you must have plenty of time for that 😂

You can't be reading that much if the concept of "holidays" in the past is such a discovery for you. Libraries are closed right now, but you can still find information online...

Bread and roses.