Things your parents led you to think were 'special' or 'expensive' that you now take for granted?

[VladmirsPoutine]

for the po-faced

Growing up my siblings and I were wary over using too much kitchen roll - we'd get a sheet and fold it in half to tear before using, the faff was a PITA but to this day I still get a bit territorial over my kitchen roll.

We also had 'special' China plates, cups, cutlery, that sort of thing. Only used when we had guests or at Christmas - I didn't carry that into adulthood but whenever I visit my DM I still fondly look at the unit containing all those 'special' cups

My dad died when I was relatively young but prior to this death he used to always take us (siblings&I) to our weekend clubs when we were young, on Saturdays one of my sisters and I attended clubs that finished at similar times and it was always Saturdays that mum worked nights so the 4 us: dad+siblings would always get McDs and think it was basically gourmet dining.

I didn't have a deprived childhood by any definition but I do find those quirks quite funny looking back.

Apologies if I've added this before, I put it some where but I don't think it was this thread.

Ketchup only came out when we had brought fish and chips home. Which, in turn, only happened on the one evening of the month that we all went to the supermarket to do the monthly shop. DM would top up at local shops through the month for fresh veg etc.

It all came crashing down around our ears the first time DH, then a BF, spent Christmas at DM and DF's house with us. The traditional Christmas morning bacon and egg rolls were served and DH innocently asked where the ketchup was. Everyone was agog. DB was dancing at the thought of ketchup coming out for anything other than fish and chips.

DM took it out the cupboard and it was too far out of date even for DM. She then went to the back up bottle, unopened, which was also out of date, but not by as much, so we had that. Of course it was out of date, it was only used once a month.

I remind myself not to save things for best now. If you do they're often wasted.

Fizzy juice was a rarity. Even then it was usually a cheapo brand like cresta something like coke was pure luxury.
Slush puppies too, we only got them on holidays down south.
My mum did provide us with a lot though and was never stingy we just didn't have a lot of money. I got toys and nice shoes like other kids but now I know those were paid for through the catalogue weekly and she often struggled to pay them. I feel bad for being so greedy looking back as an adult.

My parents did not get a landline until the 1970s and it was only then that my father opened a bank account. They thought these things were for "posh" middle class people.

I had no choice but to open a bank account at age 16 when I went to work in local government because thats how we were paid. My parents were quite snippy about the fact that I had an account and a cheque book. No one else in the immediate family (apart from my grandmother) had one. The big advantage was that my parents never new how much I earned when I lived with them as I had all my correspondence sent to an accommadation address. I had a phone put in when I moved into my first flat age 21.

We didn't get a landlines until the 90s

Home made knitted school jumpers! Oh the shame! My mum used to wash sandwich bags, they were used hundreds of times.

Vienetta, definitely

Also kiwi fruit in fruit salad. One sliced on top to be share by whole family.