Comment by JamesBarney

They lived in a house or apt with a third the sqft/person that was far more likely to catch fire and didn't have AC.

If they had a car they most likely shared it. It was far less safe, didn't have AC, guzzled gas and polluted.

Never ate out and spent a third of earnings on cheap grocery store staples.

College and healthcare was much cheaper, and they got a lot less of it.

We're benefiting greatly from the increase in productivity. We just view our great-grandfather luxuries as our necessities.