Jerzylvania wrote:New haven america wrote:Most of the stuff my parents got was actually pretty cheap (They were both practically pro-chefs, so they knew how to cook on a budget), mostly drank water, barely went clothes shopping and even if I did it was at Goodwill or Arc or something like that (IIRC, the last time I went clothes shopping was ~6 years ago), school books were provided by the school, all health stuff was covered by Medicare or ACA (Or I just didn't g if we did't have either), never been to the dentist (Actually, I think might've gone once in 20 years), don't have enough money to get a car or insurance, and I'm actually basically getting paid to go to college.
Raising children is much more costly than it was in the 1950s & 1960s when I was brought up. My dad was a salesman, mom a part time RN. A doctor's office had a doctor and a secretary/receptionist. Same with the dentist and the bills were fair. We lived just inside the Baltimore City limits then in a brick 3 bdr duplex. A doctor lived at the end of the block 3 doors down. A pharmacist and wife next door. A lawyer, whose kid was a pal of mine, in the next block. A dentist across the street and up on the other corner whose practice was downstairs in his duplex. They all lived a middle class life. They all seemed happy enough.
Since then there has been a terrific money grab by those professionals that replaced them, for various reasons not all being greed. These people (mostly my generation to 10 -20 years younger) now live in the swanky parts of suburbia in the lap of luxury compared to the middle class which can't keep up any more. This is not better for society as a whole. American society is much less cohesive now than when I was growing up. It is not a positive change for the whole and kids lose out today more than back in the day.
BTW, I am very glad to see you get to attend college. The car deal isn't as important as that. But definitely take care of those neglected teeth. The good news is there is no need to fear dental procedures as much now vs. back then, except for the cost (of course!).
TBH, I'm probably just gonna end up in a dead-end minimum wage job for the rest of my life and die early and alone... but thanks for the support.