The concept of “money” and “wealth” is quite different when we were children and then as adults. In fact, our childhood indeed reshapes the meaning of wealth for us.
Back in the day, being rich wasn’t necessarily about having millions of dollars in the bank account. It was primarily about the little privileges that felt larger than life. For example, owning a toy no one had, a pair of a specific brand of shoes, being able to eat out occasionally, the list is long.
The following are the 20 things that meant we were “rich” as kids, bound to take you down the road of nostalgia.
1. Having a Television in the House
Owning a television at home was one of the earliest symbols of wealth. A TV meant entertainment beyond books and radio, despite limited screen time. You’d also be the house that the entire neighborhood would gather around during cricket matches, Sunday movies, or prime-time serials. For children, it meant Saturday morning cartoons.
2. School Lunches Packed with Treats
It might sound trivial, but having treats packed in your school lunch every now and then was a feeling like no other. Those who had chips, juice boxes, or biscuits had an undeniable aura of privilege, and even sharing them with other peers made them popular. Think of lunch as the ultimate “social currency” at schools.
3. Owning a Bicycle
Much like a television at home, owning a bicycle wasn’t the norm and a privilege most people didn’t have. So, if you had one, you were labelled as rich. It was truly a sign of freedom and independence. A geared or stylish cycle meant even more prestige among friends.
4. Getting Pocket Money
Not every child received pocket money, and those who did were often considered financially blessed. With access to pocket money, you could buy ice-creams, comics, or toys without having to ask your parents every time. Although a rare luxury, the ones who did get pocket money had better financial autonomy back then.
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5. New Clothes for Every Festival
Many families reserved new clothes for special occasions, such as Christmas and Easter. But children who showed up with brand-new outfits for nearly every celebration or outing were instantly tagged as well-off. It indicated an abundance and a stable financial standing of the family.
6. Eating Out at Restaurants
For many families, eating out was a rare treat. When classmates casually spoke about going to restaurants over the weekend, they seemed automatically richer. Dining outside suggested your parents could afford leisure expenses. It didn’t matter the food, whether it was a restaurant or a diner; if you were eating out, you were considered “well off.”
7. Owning Branded Shoes
Shoes often became subtle yet powerful indicators of social status and wealth. Children with branded sports shoes, such as Nike or Adidas, stood out among their peers wearing generic footwear. Being able to “show off” these logos during sports days or casual outings often created instant admiration among friends.
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8. Summer Holidays and Vacation Trips
Vacations weren’t common for every family. While many stayed home, kids who traveled to hill stations, beaches, or tourist spots during summer holidays were considered wealthy. They came back with stories, souvenirs, and photographs that others could only dream of. The idea that you could afford both travel and leisure was an immediate sign of being rich.
9. Having a Personal Room
This might sound like a trivial take, but having a personal room was a sign of being “rich” back in the day. Children with decorated rooms, posters, and study tables seemed privileged. For peers, a personal room symbolized luxury living, not something that every family could afford.
10. Birthdays With Parties
Birthday celebrations were telling indicators of wealth. While many families limited birthdays to homemade sweets and blessings, others hosted parties with decorations, cakes, return gifts, and entertainment. If you were in the latter group, you were tagged as rich.
11. Access to Video Games
Owning a video game console or even a handheld device placed kids in a privileged category. While many children played outdoor games with friends, those with PlayStations, Nintendo consoles, or even early computer games had a status symbol at home. Back then, video games weren’t cheap, so owning one meant you were rich.
12. Having a Landline (and Later a Mobile Phone)
When telephones became accessible, households with landlines were seen as modern and affluent. Kids who could give their friends a “phone number” to reach them felt elite. The same cycle repeated when mobile phones were introduced, and you had some kids give out their numbers.
13. Stationery Beyond Basics
For schoolchildren, stationery was a subtle area where wealth became visible. Those with fancy pencil boxes, scented erasers, multi-colored pens, or imported geometry sets were perceived as affluent. If you were lucky, you’d have standard stationery, but if you were rich, your stationery would be a class apart.
14. Access to Cable Television
When cable TV arrived, it divided households into two categories: those with access to hundreds of channels and those limited to state broadcasting. The children who could watch Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, or sports channels were considered rich and envied by their friends, too.
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15. Visiting Amusement Parks
Trips to amusement or water parks were rare luxuries. The families that didn’t have to bat an eyelash to visit were automatically considered rich. For some kids, these trips were brag-worthy experiences to recount at school.
16. Having a Computer at Home
Owning a computer before it became common was a huge marker of wealth. Computers were expensive, and only certain households invested in them. Not just for games, these were also used for assignments or to explore the internet early.
17. Branded School Bags and Water Bottles
Beyond shoes and clothes, even branded school accessories were a sign of wealth. While many used simple, durable items, those with logos or trendy designs stood out. Kids noticed these details and associated them with prosperity.
18. Going to Coaching or Hobby Classes
Being able to afford extra classes for dance, music, sports, or foreign languages was another indicator of wealth. Not every family in the block could afford them for their children. Such classes made the children feel different, sophisticated, and better equipped.
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19. Owning Storybooks and Comics
While libraries existed, kids who had personal collections of storybooks or comics were considered affluent. Having a personal bookshelf or a stack of magazines at home represented a sign of luxury. More than entertainment, it signified prestige.
20. Family Car Ownership
The ultimate symbol of wealth in childhood was having a car. The families that owned a car instantly stood out from those relying on buses, autos, or bicycles. Additionally, children from such families often bragged about long drives or weekend trips.
Final Words
The concept of richness or wealth for children isn’t about currency but more to do with the “unique” experiences and belongings they could boast about. Whether it was a bicycle or a birthday party, each small indulgence was a sign of privilege and luxury.
