I find it surprising that a baby boomer should have such a bad memory .
I agree that the house price to income ratio is high for Mel and Syd . However , in many other places in Australia it is not that bad .
One tv that would buy three today ? Rubbish .
Many people had to wait years to buy their first television . Black and white television I might add . In those little houses where 2 or 3 kids shared bedrooms , one bathroom for a family of 7 or 8 , no ensuites , no parents retreats , no central heating , no air con , sheets for curtains , hand me down clothes etc .
One car in the driveway . No big sheds or outdoor areas . No pools , no spas . No theatre room . Go to the pictures once a month f you were lucky . 2 crappy channels on tv that shut down at 11pm .
Easier to borrow money ? I don't think so . 25% deposit at least . No negotiating the interest rates or payment schedules and the bank manager would grill the sheet out of you . Loan guarantors , remember them ?
Now you can get micro loans , reverse mortgages , furniture and electrical on tick from Harvey Norman , loans for holidays , payment plans for your energy bills . You couldn't get money for that stuff in the 70's .
University education . The number of kids that went to university back then compared to now is miniscule . It's probably increased 10 fold and you can go to uni now when your 60 . You have all sorts of opportunties to go back to school and skill up .
Couldn't do that back in the day .
Jobs for women . Back in the day get a hairdressing apprenticeship , get married at 19 , kids by 20 and that was it for women . Now women have huge opportunities for employment . 6 months ( or more ) paid maternity leave and flexibile working hours and their job is kept open for them . Female CEO's ? How many of them were there in the 70's ?
Cost of living ? Make sure you compare standard of living with that .
2 or 3 cars in the driveway. 4wds , boats , holidays for the whole family every year flying all over the world , getting married on the beach in Bali , house 3 times the size , eating out several times a week . Shops open 7 days a week . Buying the kids a toy every time they go shopping . Several large presents for birthdays rather than just one .
Massive shopping centres just around the corner . Take the kids to a cafe for breakfast on the weekend ?
2 people working and paying child care ? That's simply a choice , not a must have .
I know plenty of middle class people that are living great lives . Why ? Because they simply live within their means . There has never been more opportunity for people ever . People didn't have a lot of choice in education or employment in the 70's . Couldn't afford to travel overseas , women couldn't work , old cars had to be fixed because they were too expensive to replace .
I could go on .
Seriously , you need to get your memory checked .
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