Let me explain....someone answered a question yesterday saying something to the effect that teens from the '80's lived an excessive lifestyle and it has been bothering me ever since. Hello? Where was I when all of this luxurious living was taking place? I think I missed out.... I had a $10 allowance which I had to use for lunch and to put towards gas for my 12 year old car. I had an after school job, bought all of my own clothes and was always broke! We lived in a very modest ranch house, very middle class, very blue-collar. And we were fine with that.
Granted, it was a materialistic time but is also when we were becoming more aware of global warming, teen-age drinking and driving, suicide, Amnesty International, and other social causes. At least, I cared about them anyway.
I think, in general, young people today think kids from the '80's had a very opulent up-bringing and were very selfish.
So, all of you from the big-hair generation, what do you think? Testify!
2006-12-20 06:04:58 · 13 answers · asked by feather girl 6 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Only a few created the image of luxurious living. TV, Movies, magazines showed more top end stuff eluding it was better quality. Money became more of a status symbol in main stream society as more people were gaining wealth.
The decade was more about excess than luxury. Do everything to the extreme. Work, play, and live hard. And I did!
Your allowance was an indicator of the value your parents had on money, same as mine. Don't spoil the child. There was a demographic shift from the Grandparents telling your parents for years that about how the 30's really hurt alot of people to "Buy it now - there will always be money to be made!" mentality. I never allowed my children many expensive things as that's how people get in trouble with debt. I had to be an example.
Do you notice how many kids have expensive items today? A lot of parents give to their kids new cars, newest phones, laptops, etc, because they didn't have when they were younger. Setting a bad example for when they go to work for the first time to support themselves and realize you can't/shouldn't buy everything you need.
2006-12-20 06:16:22 · answer #1 · answered by Norm Peterson 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm 33 years old & I was always the 1980's rocker chick!
I was kicked out of my house when i was 12 & i had to live a very difficult life! The word MATERIALISTIC does not even enter my mind! I worked very hard for everything i had & have now! I was very lucky to have been blessed with my looks & sex appeal,,'cause that's how i survived. Now, i've been happily married for 17 years & have 2 daughters 12 &14. They are very different from a lot of their friends because their parents are basically still stuck in the 80's! Minus the big hair of coarse!
2006-12-20 06:16:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We lived lives of extravagance?? LOL I grew up in St.George, Utah. Graduated from H.S. in 1989, so I was definately a teen in the 80's the era of Duran, Duran, Culture Club and Tears for Fears. We had what we needed, nothing more nothing less. I came from the same type of home as you. I worked my butt off. I had a job at Subway Sandwiches and I also cleaned motel rooms for money to go out on the weekends. I had Guess Jeans, and nice clothes, but I wouldn't call them extravagent by any means. I drove a 1965 Volkswagen Bug, it was not exactly a Lexus, but it got me around. The big hair was cool. Kids now days have it alot better than we did, that is for sure.
2006-12-20 06:13:45 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My life hasn't been too exciting, unless you consider a high school "rags-to-riches" story exciting. Basically, I moved to where I live in 4th Grade. That year, and the years till 8th Grade I was one of the most bullied kids in my school. I was constantly teased, mocked, and ridiculed about how fat, big, and unathletic I was. I had only one friend, someone who felt sorry for me and decided to be nice. I had good grades, but I was lonely and was miserable. The only thing I could do outside of getting good grades was video games After the summer of 7th Grade where I was constantly harassed and people put stuff on my house, I'd decided I'd had enough of it. I went to a field where kids played sand lot football and begged them to let me play. They didn't go to my school, so they had no idea about how pathetic people who knew me thought I was. That summer, I played football every day, lost 24 lbs, and managed to become the best kid on that field of 12. I was fast and smart, and I knew how to exploit every little thing in those games. I tried out for the football team that year. People there gave me weird looks and said "why is HE here?". It hurt, but I didn't let it get to me that much. I played my heart out that day and somehow made the team. Throughout the practices before the season began, I was able to establish the fact that I was no longer nonathletic and I got the starting wide receiver for my first game, August 29th. I caught 5 catches for 56 yards, and I earned my team's respect. From there, I met people in school from the first day. My friends on the team allowed me to finally make friends and erase all those years of cruelty that my classmates inflicted on me. That was 2 years ago. Class of 2012, and I'm the varsity team's best receiver. My injury this year dropped the team from the state championship we won last year and to 2-5. I'm not mocked any more and popular as ever, and I finally enjoy my life. I hope you enjoyed the story :)
2016-05-23 01:19:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was a teen in the eighty's too. I did not live an extravagant lifestyle either. I got a job when I turned 16 and actually had to work for my own car. Imagine that! Working for something! I missed out on the luxurious living also. It was a fun time but nothing was handed to me and still isn't it.
2006-12-20 06:11:50 · answer #5 · answered by Lorrie W 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Teens from the 80's were more carefree than those from the 60's and 70's (Vietnam, drugs more mainstream, recession) and even those from the 90's (Grunge, suicide, AIDS) and today (Terrorism, Iraq). My upbringing was very middle-class, but so much more extravagant than my older siblings. I think it is all perspective. Also, the popular music of the decade is reflective of the generally more carefree nature--Rockin' and having a good time!
2006-12-20 06:16:28 · answer #6 · answered by MustangGT 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People posting questions here only know the '80s through history lessons.
Unfortunately their history lessons come from watching John Hughes movies on TBS.
2006-12-20 06:09:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
~We Worked For What We Have~Not Like The Generation Now That Can't Get Off Their Fat @sses To Do Anything But Whine~Hate Me Today~But......
2006-12-20 06:12:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the 80's music brings back the memories
2006-12-20 06:24:51 · answer #9 · answered by Kelly Bundy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was a teen in the 60s/70s we wore rags
2006-12-20 06:07:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋