As times change, so do our habits and routines. Sadly, that also means that some of the things each generation takes for granted will disappear soon enough. Today, we’re looking at 18 things that’ll go out with those aged 50+, for better or for worse.
Saving Recipes in a Recipe Box
Many boomers will remember having a recipe box that was handed down through the generations and filled with handwritten recipes on index cards. As special as they were, these days, people are more likely to swipe through Pinterest or a cooking app to find tonight’s dinner. Soon enough, the only recipe boxes people will have will be completely digital.
Learning Cursive Writing in Schools
Cursive writing used to be a standard part of the elementary school curriculum, and having good penmanship was a true talent. But nowadays, most schools don’t even teach cursive since being able to use a computer is way more important. Being able to loop letters together is probably going to be a lost art in the future.
Using a Travel Agent for Vacations
Back in the day, when you wanted to go on vacation, you had to visit the travel agent’s office for the latest and greatest deals. Although they still exist, most people do their travel planning online and the number of physical travel agents is declining. Why bother going out when you use a website or app to do it all for you from the comfort of your own bed?
Coupon Clipping
Once upon a time, Sundays were a day for sitting with a stack of newspapers, scissors in hand, clipping out coupons. They were the best place to find discounts on things you needed or, sometimes, didn’t. These days, it’s a lot easier to go through apps, but they’ll never compare to the thrill of finding one in the paper.
Buying Newspapers for the Classified Ads
Speaking of newspapers, in the past, it didn’t matter if you were looking for a job or an apartment because you’d find it all in the classified section of a newspaper. You never knew what you’d find in there. But now, we have websites that specialize in all kinds of listing, although it’s not the same as circling those potential purchases with a marker.
Hanging Laundry Outside
Nothing beats the smell of sheets dried in the sun, and there’s something so homely about seeing clothes swaying in the breeze. Sadly, data shows that 80% of Americans have clothes dryers. This has meant that, for many people, this picture-perfect scene simply doesn’t exist anymore.
Filling Out Paper Job Applications
Boomers remember a time when job applications started with a pen and paper application. Now, it’s all digital, as you just have to fill out a form online and click “submit.” While it might be quick and easy, let’s be honest, it feels a lot more impersonal, doesn’t it? The thrill and nerves of physically handing over your application are mostly gone now.
Using a Dictionary to Look Up Words
Who else carried a giant dictionary around with them? Of course, we still have them now, but they’re on our phones instead, and you just have to ask your virtual assistant what they mean. It’s no surprise that physical dictionaries will probably disappear soon, although it’s a shame because flipping through those pages makes us feel smart.
Learning How to Sew and Mend Clothes
Sewing a button or patching up a tear used to be skills that everyone learned, but with clothes being so cheap and easy to get nowadays, these skills are disappearing. There’s something so special about fixing your own clothes that buying new just can’t replace. Unfortunately, research shows that fewer young people actually know how to look after their own clothes.
Using a Pedometer
As a boomer, if you wanted to know how much you walked, a pedometer was the best way to do this, and you just had to clip it to your belt. Today’s tech does a lot more than that, like tracking your sleeping and even telling you when you’ve been idle for too long. While they might be handy, they’re far more overbearing than a simple pedometer.
Keeping Printed Photos in Wallets
Everyone used to fold their favorite photos of their loved ones or special moments and put them in their wallets. It was the perfect pick-me-up for when you felt down or just to keep these people close to you. Nowadays, you’re more likely to have that special someone as your phone’s wallpaper.
Using an Address Book
In the good old days, when you met someone new, you’d write down their contact details by hand in an address book that was already stuffed to the brim. Today, we can store all that information digitally and sync it across all our devices. Although it might be easier, flicking through an address book was a great way to remember the places you’d been and the new friends you’d made.
Planning Road Trips with Auto Clubs
Planning a road trip used to be a lot harder than it is now, but that was all part of the charm. You’d stop by the auto club to pick up maps and travel tips from the people who had already done the route. Now, with just a few taps on a screen, you’re all set with GPS and online reviews, so you never even have to speak to another soul about your plans.
Ordering From Catalogs
It was a pretty big deal ordering from a catalog and it felt like you were bringing the store right into your living room. You had the excitement of going through the pages and discovering things you never knew you needed. But with online shopping, everything’s just a click away, and using a physical catalog just looks strange.
Visiting the Library to Research
Libraries still have a magic to them that the internet can’t touch, even though most research happens online now. You could spend a whole day just walking through the rows of books and seeing where your imagination could take you. Unfortunately, the number of people visiting the library has steadily decreased over the years.
Playing Solitaire With Actual Cards
There was a time when playing a game of solitaire meant using an actual deck of cards and putting them out on a table instead of just being an app on our phones. Unfortunately, it looks like this is something that’ll disappear soon enough. People just aren’t playing physical card games anymore.
Using Carbon Paper to Make Copies
The days of using carbon paper feel so long ago now, as it was when making a copy required some manual work and a little bit of mess. These days, even high-speed photocopiers are starting to disappear, thanks to digital copies. They might be cleaner and faster, but we miss the days of actually having to separate the sheets.
Buying and Sending Postcards
When was the last time you sent a postcard? People used to send them all the time when they went on holiday, but even now, it’s become more of a novelty. According to research, just 18% of people send a postcard each time they go away, and 39% of people never do it. In a few years, those numbers are probably going to change even more.
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