My lady and I are close to our 80’s.
We both grew up in the economy that you did
My mother stayed home or went shopping most of the time while we kids went to school.
We had the same “one TV”, one phone, one car etc. etc.
We were the typical 4 member family.
What we Didn’t have was a monthly food bill higher than the mortgage bill!
Dad was an upholsterer and needless to say would have needed 2 or 3 jobs for us to survive!
My lady and I spend close to $800.00 a month on food alone!
I’m not talking steak and lobster either!😡
The vast majority of our diet is Marie Callender’s and stouffers frozen dinners!
If we do have a day off of frozen dinners and “splurge” on a steak or roast, we make sure neither cost over $10.00!
My bill for food and a gallon of bleach, toilet tissue and other necessary items was over $1,000 last week!
When You and I were growing up, No one faced these kinds of costs .. unless they were rich and Living on steak and lobster everyday!🥴
Folks are using their credit cards to buy food now!
So there is much more than “wanting and having all of the current stuff” going on to justify these expenses!
You need to do some shopping at the Dollar Store - just saying