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Someone Asks “What Is Something That You Thought Was A ‘Rich People’ Thing When You Were A Kid?” And 50 People Deliver Answers
It was always a sobering moment as a kid when you sort of started to understand that your parents couldn’t get every single toy in the store and you had to choose just one. You would perhaps visit a friend's house and see that they had two whole game consoles and maybe even a pool. Then, innocently, you would ask your parents why you all don’t have as much.
While these experiences were probably an important part of growing up, they could be pretty individual, so one netizen asked the internet what they thought was the apex of luxury when they were young. So get comfortable and be sure to upvote your favorite answers as you scroll through.
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#2
"Bathing" in a tub full of gold coins and gleefully flinging handfuls of them into the air.
It helps if you're also a duck.
#3
Having a full on Barbie Dream House instead of just a doll and few accessories
The most common indicator of wealth, even though it’s pretty deceiving, is, of course, the pool. Despite being an indicator of luxury, around 10% of US households have at least one. This number increases to around 17% for the cohort aged 18-29, which makes sense, as younger people tend to prefer more activities in the sun.
This number decreases to 16% in the next cohort, 30-49, but in general, this means more than one in ten households has this item of great luxury. Now, pools come in all shapes and sizes, and one can have a sizable, above-ground inflatable pool as well, but the idea of a pool by the home is obviously pretty attractive to a kid.
Summer vacation, as a kid, was a joyous, gleeful time, for the most part. Even more special were those times your family actually went somewhere, maybe abroad, or to a more exotic location within the country. National parks, resorts, and amusement parks are all staples, though some families also insisted on taking young children to old battlefields, museums, and other historical sights which they no doubt had zero appreciation for.
#7
Ice & water dispenser fridge.
Huge houses w pool -> come to find out it is still a rich people thing cuz its a money pit
#8
Canned soda in the fridge. Something about a friends parent offering an ENTIRE CAN TO MYSELF out of their own home fridge was just insane!
Statistically, most US adults went somewhere on vacation about four times over their whole childhood, so the idea of going every single year was absolutely a sign of wealth. If you have ever encountered a person who unironically asks you “Where do you summer?” then know you are in the presence of (mostly) inherited wealth. Nevertheless, most American adults do think a summer without a trip is a waste.
#10
Canopy beds. Like the entire girls bedroom set out of the sears catalog.
Of course, some things were not so much a sign of wealth, but that the family had less impulse control or just a sweet tooth. Easy access to soda, particularly cans in the fridge is not actually that hard to do, but a child tends to overfocus on small luxuries, candies, video games, and, yes, soda, over larger things, like healthcare and housing. So sometimes a family just using a different brand may seem luxurious.
#13
When I was a kid in the early 1960’s, one of our neighbors had a doorbell that played a song whenever someone rang it. We little ankle-biters somehow came to the conclusion that this was a special doorbell that the police gave to rich people.
#14
Buying a new car. My mom always bought used cars so I thought only rich people could afford new cars. This was before I learned about financing - apparently my mom was just averse to car debt, which is okay too.
In fact, this would extend to so many things. One respondent said that foreign holidays were a sign of wealth. Without additional details, we must conclude that they encountered a family from a minority that happened to be wealthy at the same time and the reputation stuck in their head. Others talked about juice from a carton instead of a can, despite cardboard being a less premium material. It seems that the grass really always is greener.
#16
Cars with sunroof
Jackson McGuire 1 year ago
What about those like cars with glass roofs that like have an electric shock that makes them not see through anymore
Duolingobird 1 year ago
I’m pretty sure a lot of cars have a sunroof, me and lots of others in my neighborhood have one
Tyranamar Seuss 1 year ago
This refers to back in the day. Sunroofs used to be quite rare. The reason this is funny is precisely bc we thought it meant you were rich back then and now everybody has them.
Load More Replies...
Naomie Moore 1 year ago
I was in my 50's before I could afford a car with a sun/moon roof. LOVE IT!
#17
Basically everything I saw at my upper middle class aunt/uncle's house, like name-brand Pepperidge Farm bread, getting an appetizer and dessert when going out to eat, or ordering takeout more often than once/week.
#18
I grew up in a trailer in a neighborhood of mostly trailers, so I thought that only rich people lived in houses.
#20
Having one of those gigantic satellite dishes in your back yard. They look so ancient now.
#21
[Viennetta always seemed so decadent.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE9wVHjKWM8)
I grew up in a house that rarely, if ever, had ice cream. If we did, it was the Winn Dixie brand Neapolitan or some other nonsense. I never got to try Viennetta before it got discontinued, so I'll never get to have my expectations unmet. It will always be this lofty, high society treat my blue collar a*s would never be able to experience.
#22
My parents were super cheap and were the type of people who didn't think spending money on kids beyond the basics was worth it.
Once a year, after like months of pleading, we would get to go to McDonald's. I thought it was the height of extravagance.
I thought people who could eat at McDonald's everyday were rich. I think I was like 25 when I realized it was the exact opposite.
#25
I described them as 'plush houses' for whatever reason. No shoes, carpeted floors. Everything was clean looking and soft and organized and no amount of picking stuff up could make my house look that way. Bathrooms had little signs and clean little things on unused shelves, kitchen had ingredients in matching little canisters that were labeled. Ice maker on the fridge, big ol L shaped couch that was comfortable and clean.
#27
Having two landline phone numbers, one for the parents and one for the kids.
#30
Being able to order what you wanted from a restaurant.
My parents always strongly encouraged us kids to choose the cheapest s**t on the menu.
#32
Actual Guess Jeans and the polo shirts with the alligator.. I wore Kmart clothes I was always so jealous…
#33
Juice that came in a carton instead of a can.
My coworkers and I were talking about this a few weeks ago, about how when we were growing up, our families always bought frozen juice from a can and then added water, and how we’d watch people buying juice that came in a carton and think “Wow they must be _rich_!”
#35
Going on vacations that required flying
Having stairs in your house
Buying the name brand foods
#36
Polo brand polo shirts. Fully finished basements. Entertainment centers with a big console color TV. New cars.
#40
When I was a kid my parents ended up babysitting some other kid once. We were fed bagels for breakfast. The kid went off about how bagels are rich people's food and was incredibly impressed.
#43
I live in a very wealthy area. My family is middle class at best and a pool (in the yard) or TV in someone’s room was a big thing but the biggest one was a person’s parents having enough free time to pick their kids up right after school.
#45
Drinking pineapple juice just by itself. Not rationing it for a holiday or recipe; Just buying it just because it is the nectar of the heavens and you want to drink it.
#46
bringing you own lunch to school.
the rest of us poor folk eat the c**p in the cafeteria for free or reduced price.
Edit: Circa 1970s
#47
I always wanted to be rich enough to have a staircase that I wasn't allowed to slide down.
#50
I used to think that rich people spend all their spare time counting their money. Putting the money in stacks of coins.
What do you think ?
Mark Fuller 1 year ago
Am I alone in thinking this is still entirely relevant?? I for one still reckon swimming pools, holiday homes, affording new cars and country club membership are still pretty elitist. I can't afford any of them...
Death’s Entropy 1 year ago
1. Clothing that no one else has worn. 2. Brand named food/shoes/soda. 3. McDonald’s. 4. Birthday Parties. 5. AC in summer, heat in winter. 6. Movie theater popcorn. 7. Movies in the cinema.
Michelle A 1 year ago
People that had credit cards and could charge their kids clothes and take them home the same day! We had to use layaway! Back in the 70's and 80's credit wasnt as easily obtained like is now.
Fabian Bernard 1 year ago
Owning a boat, classic cars, and a banger just for the city. Solving any problem just signing a check or giving a single phone call
Dee 1 year ago (edited)
The rich kids saw all the Disney movies/cartoons that came out in the theaters. My loathing of Disney started then.
Sarah Schumm 1 year ago
I hated Disney for years because I worked at a $2 cinema and the distributors made us charge $3.50 for anything Disney or Buena Vista. People would he so mad about the $1.50!
Load More Replies...
Michael Largey 1 year ago
Judging by the lady who lived in the mansion across the street from our housing development - servants, an in-house elevator, a limousine with chauffeur, and not a worry in the world.
Shawnna Clement 1 year ago
The biggest difference is that technology is less expensive, but experiences are more expensive now. A giant console TV in 1990 cost more than what a giant flat screen TV costs today. Take a family of four to an amusement park and it's going to cost $500 for admission. Who could afford the food after that?!
the quickening 1 year ago
Would like to add "paper towels". Not having to clean cat puke with toilet paper is really nice. Also: decent quality toilet paper, with which you don't end up fingering yourself when cleaning/drying yourself.
Stay Off My Lawn 1 year ago
Once you reach a certain age you get the good tp or you get hemorrhoids.
Load More Replies... Shawnna Clement 1 year ago
One pair of shoes per school year and once outgrown, here's a pair of $.99 Kmart "Keds".
Marilyn Russell 1 year ago
I thought that school friends who had chips for snacks, especially Pringle’s were rich folks.
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
Me too. We were only allowed to choose one of the bought snack options a week, otherwise it was homemade ones.
Load More Replies...
Brittany Copeland 1 year ago
Someone has a personal laptop? A PDA? They have THEIR OWN INTERNET without tons of cords? That was some rich business dude stuff right there. Or a vacation that isn't purely to visit family or lasts more than a day or two? Staying at a hotel/motel that WASNT a Motel 6? A cruise! Living in Florida. Owning hardback books. Virtually any clothes that didn't come from Walmart. Perfume/cologne. And only rich people had houses on top of hills. I was very impressed when mom scored one such house (it was a run down little place, we were so far from rich it wasn't even funny).
Brittany Copeland 1 year ago
Not to say I didn't have a VERY nice childhood. It was a happy well rounded one that gave a me a good understanding of the world and a huge appreciation for the little things. Most of the "rich person" stuff is stuff I don't really want and can only see the downsides to. I'm pretty happy with my lower middle class life.
Load More Replies...
Exotic Butters 1 year ago
I feel bad for all the moms and dads that did their freaking best to provide for s****y,ungrateful kids. Most times, not always, but mostly mom and are doing the best they could
Scrolling Panda 1 year ago
Gotta love ppl who take every opportunity to s**t on the people who point out that they needlessly suffered through extreme poverty as children. I guess they should just be "grateful" that they got to watch the rest of society have all these wonderful things around them and to have just been born, right? 🙄 Get a life, dude.
Load More Replies...
David Paterson 1 year ago
I just learned that people thought I was poor growing up.
Load More Replies...
Coyote Osborne 1 year ago
When you had a house that you didn't have to fear losing, food whenever you were hungry, and nobody could just take that away from you.
Scrolling Panda 1 year ago
Most(but not all) of these are in the USA. I recognize them having grown up here. Take a good look international ppl. THIS is the quality of life of the average citizen.--having to look up at basic things that the rest of the developed world can afford in wonder because we can't possibly imagine being able to have them ourselves. Anyone selling the American dream to you is lying. Most of us are poor. Only a fraction of our population get to live well.
Scrolling Panda 1 year ago
The BTW, anyone who isn't super wealthy and is living like this is doing so by going into extreme debt to do it and is one bad week away from losing it all. 99% of our people don't realize that they are one single accident or illness or just one real bad week away from homelessness.
Load More Replies... Sarah Schumm 1 year ago
I always wanted a professional popcorn maker like from the movies at home and that was my rich person thing. When I reached my savings goal and decided to treat myself I found out they were only about $70.
lonesoul 1 year ago
This made me realise that for someone from a Low Income Country and according to Bored Panda standards, I am rich.
Auntriarch 1 year ago
I thought only the Queen and Beatrix Potter had exposed beams in their houses, not ordinary people.
Manusha Kanis 1 year ago
What I remember as a 'I don't like this difference' was when school went to a castle in prince and princess wear and I didn't have a store bought cone hat but homemade paper one. https://static.nationalgeographic.co.uk/files/styles/image_3200/public/10-hat-archive-gallery.jpg?w=1190&h=1587
Stay Off My Lawn 1 year ago (edited)
About 20 minutes from where I live is a community clustered with mansions. There are no amenities, and it’s ten minutes by open highway outside the nearest town. That’s my idea of luxury. These people are living large in the middle of nowhere.
Mark Fuller 1 year ago
Am I alone in thinking this is still entirely relevant?? I for one still reckon swimming pools, holiday homes, affording new cars and country club membership are still pretty elitist. I can't afford any of them...
Death’s Entropy 1 year ago
1. Clothing that no one else has worn. 2. Brand named food/shoes/soda. 3. McDonald’s. 4. Birthday Parties. 5. AC in summer, heat in winter. 6. Movie theater popcorn. 7. Movies in the cinema.
Michelle A 1 year ago
People that had credit cards and could charge their kids clothes and take them home the same day! We had to use layaway! Back in the 70's and 80's credit wasnt as easily obtained like is now.
Fabian Bernard 1 year ago
Owning a boat, classic cars, and a banger just for the city. Solving any problem just signing a check or giving a single phone call
Dee 1 year ago (edited)
The rich kids saw all the Disney movies/cartoons that came out in the theaters. My loathing of Disney started then.
Sarah Schumm 1 year ago
I hated Disney for years because I worked at a $2 cinema and the distributors made us charge $3.50 for anything Disney or Buena Vista. People would he so mad about the $1.50!
Load More Replies... Michael Largey 1 year ago
Judging by the lady who lived in the mansion across the street from our housing development - servants, an in-house elevator, a limousine with chauffeur, and not a worry in the world.
Shawnna Clement 1 year ago
The biggest difference is that technology is less expensive, but experiences are more expensive now. A giant console TV in 1990 cost more than what a giant flat screen TV costs today. Take a family of four to an amusement park and it's going to cost $500 for admission. Who could afford the food after that?!
the quickening 1 year ago
Would like to add "paper towels". Not having to clean cat puke with toilet paper is really nice. Also: decent quality toilet paper, with which you don't end up fingering yourself when cleaning/drying yourself.
Stay Off My Lawn 1 year ago
Once you reach a certain age you get the good tp or you get hemorrhoids.
Load More Replies... Shawnna Clement 1 year ago
One pair of shoes per school year and once outgrown, here's a pair of $.99 Kmart "Keds".
Marilyn Russell 1 year ago
I thought that school friends who had chips for snacks, especially Pringle’s were rich folks.
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
Me too. We were only allowed to choose one of the bought snack options a week, otherwise it was homemade ones.
Load More Replies... Brittany Copeland 1 year ago
Someone has a personal laptop? A PDA? They have THEIR OWN INTERNET without tons of cords? That was some rich business dude stuff right there. Or a vacation that isn't purely to visit family or lasts more than a day or two? Staying at a hotel/motel that WASNT a Motel 6? A cruise! Living in Florida. Owning hardback books. Virtually any clothes that didn't come from Walmart. Perfume/cologne. And only rich people had houses on top of hills. I was very impressed when mom scored one such house (it was a run down little place, we were so far from rich it wasn't even funny).
Brittany Copeland 1 year ago
Not to say I didn't have a VERY nice childhood. It was a happy well rounded one that gave a me a good understanding of the world and a huge appreciation for the little things. Most of the "rich person" stuff is stuff I don't really want and can only see the downsides to. I'm pretty happy with my lower middle class life.
Load More Replies... Exotic Butters 1 year ago
I feel bad for all the moms and dads that did their freaking best to provide for s****y,ungrateful kids. Most times, not always, but mostly mom and are doing the best they could
Scrolling Panda 1 year ago
Gotta love ppl who take every opportunity to s**t on the people who point out that they needlessly suffered through extreme poverty as children. I guess they should just be "grateful" that they got to watch the rest of society have all these wonderful things around them and to have just been born, right? 🙄 Get a life, dude.
Load More Replies... David Paterson 1 year ago
I just learned that people thought I was poor growing up.
Load More Replies... Coyote Osborne 1 year ago
When you had a house that you didn't have to fear losing, food whenever you were hungry, and nobody could just take that away from you.
Scrolling Panda 1 year ago
Most(but not all) of these are in the USA. I recognize them having grown up here. Take a good look international ppl. THIS is the quality of life of the average citizen.--having to look up at basic things that the rest of the developed world can afford in wonder because we can't possibly imagine being able to have them ourselves. Anyone selling the American dream to you is lying. Most of us are poor. Only a fraction of our population get to live well.
Scrolling Panda 1 year ago
The BTW, anyone who isn't super wealthy and is living like this is doing so by going into extreme debt to do it and is one bad week away from losing it all. 99% of our people don't realize that they are one single accident or illness or just one real bad week away from homelessness.
Load More Replies... Sarah Schumm 1 year ago
I always wanted a professional popcorn maker like from the movies at home and that was my rich person thing. When I reached my savings goal and decided to treat myself I found out they were only about $70.
lonesoul 1 year ago
This made me realise that for someone from a Low Income Country and according to Bored Panda standards, I am rich.
Auntriarch 1 year ago
I thought only the Queen and Beatrix Potter had exposed beams in their houses, not ordinary people.
Manusha Kanis 1 year ago
What I remember as a 'I don't like this difference' was when school went to a castle in prince and princess wear and I didn't have a store bought cone hat but homemade paper one. https://static.nationalgeographic.co.uk/files/styles/image_3200/public/10-hat-archive-gallery.jpg?w=1190&h=1587
Stay Off My Lawn 1 year ago (edited)
About 20 minutes from where I live is a community clustered with mansions. There are no amenities, and it’s ten minutes by open highway outside the nearest town. That’s my idea of luxury. These people are living large in the middle of nowhere.
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