[DB]

People don't realize that the standard of living is far higher today than it was in the 50's and 60's. If you were to take the average "poor" family today with all their possessions and pop them back into the 50's they'd be considered middle class if not wealthy.

Most people today would refuse to live the way most everyone lived back then.

There is a cost though. It takes more working time to support it.

If one was really willing to live like those in the 50's I think they could do it pretty easily today with only the husband working. No eating out, no cable, no satellite, no VCR's, no DVD's, no CD's, no cell phones, no TV, no air conditioning, one car (if any), no dishwasher, no cloths dryer (back to the clothesline), no many of the things we take for granted today... Things that we demand to have today... And have to pay for...

[RFT1]

CDs, DVDs, ect are TOYs, disposable items, nothing more, nothig less, tyhey are not the core items(housing, medical, fuel, food) that people need. Not to mention the items you listed are items people purchase once every 5-10 years.

The middle class is far more squeezed now than it was in the 50s, 60s or even 70s and 80s.