9 things that were standard middle class in 1985 that are now luxury items, and most boomers haven't fully processed that the life they considered normal is now aspirational - Silicon Canals

"I've been diving into economic data from 1985, and what I found shocked me. The middle-class lifestyle that boomers built their expectations around-the one they often use as a benchmark when discussing "kids today"-has quietly transformed into something only the upper-middle class can afford. And here's the kicker: most people who lived through this shift haven't fully grasped how fundamentally the economics have changed."

"In 1985, the median home cost about three times the median household income. Today? We're looking at five to six times, and in many cities, it's closer to ten. Think about what this means. A factory worker like my dad could buy a house, support a family, and still have something left over. I recently looked up what his old job pays today, adjusted for inflation. The wage has barely budged, but the same house he bought? It's increased fivefold."

Economic data from 1985 shows that the middle-class lifestyle once accessible to many has shifted into an affordability bracket for the upper-middle class. Median home prices moved from roughly three times median household income to five-to-ten times in many cities. Real wages for many working-class jobs have barely risen after inflation, while housing costs have multiplied. A factory worker who could buy a house and support a family on one income in 1985 would not be able to secure comparable housing today. The resulting gap creates a stark generational disconnect in expectations and outcomes.

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