Today, people complain about being broke while sitting in houses packed with technology. Two SUVs parked outside. Multiple streaming services. Smart everything. Three air fryers for reasons no one can explain. Matching tattoos that cost more than the monthly electric bill.
You think Grandad had tattoos? He did. One. It said something like “Falklands 1982.” It came with trauma, not Instagram likes.
Kids Didn’t Need the Latest Anything
“We can’t make ends meet, but Armani needs the new iPhone.”
No, she doesn’t.
You’re handing an £1,000 device to a child who still eats crayons and forgets to flush the toilet.
When we were kids, there was one phone. It lived in the hall like a sacred artifact. The cord stretched just far enough to whisper secrets before someone yelled, “Get off the phone, I need to make a call!” And somehow, miraculously, we survived.
One TV. Three Channels. Zero Choice.
There was one television, in the living room. It had three channels (or two, if you were just a little older) and a dial that clicked like a safe. If Dad wanted to watch horse racing, congratulations—you loved horse racing now.
Today? Flat screens in every room. Tablets for toddlers. Cameras for pets. Subscriptions nobody remembers signing up for. And then confusion about why rent feels impossible.
Austin Princess Not Teslas
Grandad didn’t lease a Tesla or buy £8 smoothies with names like Green Zen Awakening.
He drove a second hand car that coughed smoke, rattled like a thunderstorm, and smelled like oil and hard work. It wasn’t flashy. It was paid for.
Living Within Means Wasn’t Optional
Whatever Grandad brought home on Friday—that’s what they had. No buy-now-pay-later schemes. No credit card roulette. No “treat yourself” mentality every time life felt hard.
They weren’t keeping up with the Joneses. They were keeping the lights on.
Support Systems Looked Different
Yes, Grandad bought a house on one wage, or paid the rent. But he also didn’t have:
- A gym membership he never used
- Three delivery apps
- A stack of self-help subscriptions
- Emotional support crystals on his nightstand
His support system was Granny, who told him to quit whining and mow the lawn.
The Hard Truth
Today, many people are broke, anxious, and “manifesting abundance” while ordering McDonalds on JustEat for the fourth time this week.
The uncomfortable truth? For a lot of people, it’s not just the economy. It’s the lifestyle.
Turn off the subscriptions. Make your own coffee. Drive the car you already own. Stop confusing convenience with necessity.
You might not like the smell—but you just might smell the truth.
