absolutely!!! some of the stuff I look at the price tag and think OMFG that must be a typo.
eg I can buy some cheap chinese cables or electronic clock or some gadget for $1-$5 inc delivery from China, the average salary has shot up since I was a kid, so its like loose change!!!
incomes have gone up but imported cars seem to have come down a bit eg your hyundais etc.
bmws and mercs seem to have gone up along with CPI
phone calls overseas were like $2.50 per min to the USA, now they are virtually free,
however, we didnt have internet, mobile phone, tablet monthly charges
whitegoods seem to have not increased that much
however mobile phones for good ones are now $1000 each !!! along with tablets
I feel overall, that an average family who still needs those gadgets and expensive stuff is in a better financial position then when I was a kid
however try telling a person under 30 to not spend $200 a night every weekend going out to their favourtie restaruant
What used to be cheap:
- Utilities - especially water, I remember my dad use to "water" the concrete on hot days.
- Food. Days before the duopoly of Coles and Woolies.
- House/Rent
- Wages
Arguably it would be better off living
What used to be expensive:
- Electronics/Gadgets.
- Holidays/Flights.
4G Mobile phones can be purchased outright for $300-$400! Also bear in mind whilst back then there was no mobile/internet/data charges, phone bills were exxy, not as exxy as the mobile/data bills are today though.
It's arguably easier to live back then than today and move up a class. Most of the essentials today are much more expensive.
Under 30s eat out, travel and enjoy life like no tomorrow generally because the focus these days is different. Buying your dream house in your dream suburb is just that - a dream.