From spontaneous drive-in dates to weekend baseball games, the carefree activities that once cost pocket change now carry price tags that would've bought you a reliable used car in 1975.
Remember when a Saturday afternoon meant pure, simple joy without checking your bank account first?
I was sorting through old photos with my mom last weekend when we stumbled upon a picture from 1975. There she was, beaming at a drive-in movie, holding a massive tub of popcorn that cost maybe fifty cents. She laughed and told me how that same night probably set my dad back five dollars total, including gas, tickets, and snacks. Then she mentioned their first car cost them $1,800.
We did some quick math (old habits from my financial analyst days die hard), and realized that same date night today would easily run $100. The kicker? Those simple pleasures we took for granted are now luxury experiences that cost more than what many boomers paid for their first set of wheels.
If you find yourself doing double-takes at price tags for things that used to be pocket change, you're not alone. Here are nine simple pleasures that'll make you feel every one of your boomer years.
1. Going to the movies
When was the last time you went to the movies without wincing at the total? A family of four can easily drop $80 just on tickets. Add popcorn and drinks, and you're looking at well over $100 for two hours of entertainment.
I remember my parents talking about dollar movie nights and drive-ins where you paid by the carload. Now, even matinee prices make me think twice. My neighbor recently told me she spent $18 on a single ticket. Not for IMAX, not for 3D, just a regular Tuesday afternoon showing.
The real tragedy? Movie theaters used to be where everyone went for affordable entertainment. Now they're competing with streaming services that cost less per month than a single movie ticket.
2. Concert tickets
This one physically hurts to write about. Remember seeing legendary bands for $15? Maybe $25 for really big names?
A friend recently tried to buy tickets to see a classic rock band from our youth. The cheapest seats were $275. For nosebleeds. She said she paid less for her first car, a beat-up Chevy that lasted three years. At least the car got her to work every day.
The secondary market makes it even worse. Those same tickets end up on resale sites for triple the price. What used to be a spontaneous Friday night decision now requires financial planning worthy of a vacation budget.
3. A day at the amusement park
Amusement parks were the ultimate summer treat when we were kids. Twenty bucks got you in the gate with enough left over for cotton candy and maybe a souvenir.
Last month, I looked into taking my friend's kids to a major theme park. Single-day tickets? $150 per person. Parking? Another $30. Food inside? A basic burger meal runs $20. By the time you factor in everything, you're looking at $500+ for a family day out.
The worst part is remembering how our parents would pile us into the station wagon for impromptu trips to the local park. Now families need to save for months to afford what used to be a casual weekend adventure.
4. Bowling nights
Bowling was the ultimate affordable night out. A couple of games, shoe rental, maybe some nachos at the snack bar. Total damage? Maybe ten bucks per person.
These days? Lane rental alone can run $40 per hour. Shoe rental is another $5-7. Want to bowl on a weekend evening? Some places charge $60+ per hour. A group of four can easily spend $200 for two hours of bowling.
I miss the days when bowling alleys were packed every night because regular folks could afford to go regularly. Now they're either closing down or becoming upscale "bowling lounges" with craft cocktails and $15 appetizers.
5. Baseball games
America's pastime has priced out average Americans. Bleacher seats that cost $3 in the 1970s now start at $25-30. Want to sit where you can actually see the players' faces? Try $75-150.
But tickets are just the beginning. Parking runs $20-40. A hot dog and beer? That'll be $25. Bring a family of four and you're looking at $300-400 for an afternoon at the ballpark.
Growing up, my dad would grab last-minute tickets on game day. We'd hop on the bus, buy peanuts from street vendors, and spend maybe $20 total. That spontaneous joy of "let's catch a game" has been replaced by careful budgeting and advance planning.
6. Weekend road trips
Remember piling into the car for a spontaneous weekend getaway? Gas was cheap, motels were $20 a night, and roadside diners served full meals for under $5.
Now? Gas for a weekend trip can run $100-200. Even basic motels charge $80-120 per night. That charming bed and breakfast? Try $250. Restaurant meals for two? Plan on $50-75 per dinner.
What used to be an affordable way to explore and unwind has become a luxury that requires serious financial consideration. Those "let's just see where the road takes us" adventures have given way to carefully mapped routes based on gas prices and budget accommodations.
7. Roller skating rinks
Friday night at the roller rink was a teenage rite of passage. Five dollars got you skate rental and admission. Maybe another few bucks for snacks and arcade games.
Today's roller rinks (the few that survived) charge $15-20 just for admission. Skate rental? Another $5-8. Want to play in the arcade? Games that used to cost a quarter now require $1-2. A night out skating can easily hit $40-50 per person.
The social aspect has changed too. These places were community gathering spots where everyone could afford to hang out. Now they're special occasion destinations that families save up for.
8. Drive-in restaurants
Not drive-through fast food, but real drive-in restaurants where you ate in your car and servers brought your food on trays. A burger, fries, and milkshake might run you $2-3 total.
The few remaining drive-ins are now nostalgic experiences with nostalgic prices. That same meal? Expect to pay $15-20 per person. A family dinner at what used to be the cheap option can easily top $70.
Some have tried to go upscale to justify the prices, but that defeats the whole purpose. Drive-ins were about affordable fun, not gourmet burgers and truffle fries.
9. County fairs
The county fair was summer's grand finale. A few dollars got you in the gate, rides were fifty cents each, and you could eat your weight in corn dogs and funnel cake for under $10.
Modern fairs? Gate admission runs $10-15. Rides require either $5-7 per ride or a $40 wristband. Food prices have gone completely insane. A corn dog costs $12. A lemonade? $8. Want to play a game to win a stuffed animal? That'll be $10 per try.
Families used to spend entire days at the fair. Now they budget for a few hours because the costs add up so quickly.
Final thoughts
Looking at these numbers during my monthly money date (yes, I still track every expense like the former financial analyst I am), I realized something profound. These weren't luxuries when we were young. They were just life. Regular, accessible, everyday life.
The real loss isn't just about money. When simple pleasures become expensive luxuries, we lose those spontaneous moments of joy. The "hey, let's go bowling" becomes "let's plan to go bowling next month if we can afford it."
Maybe that first car really did cost $2,000. But it took you to experiences that everyone could afford to share. Today's simple pleasures might cost more than that old car, but they've also taught us something valuable: the best things in life might not be free, but the memories of when they were affordable? Those are priceless.
