Everyday things we took for granted 30 years ago that are total luxuries today

Here are things we thought would be readily available and affordable forever 30 years ago, that are as rare and expensive today as Fabergé eggs.

[{"selector":"#anim-d7017cc8-86fa-42fd-aa96-ca68d2681934","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93ccab52-e212-4a47-bf94-794c631d3c8f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

It’s not entirely on the nose, but in 1993, a gallon of gas in the United States cost an average of $1.11.

[{"selector":"#anim-b616bb80-6fcf-4c19-9bd5-420cf3cb1c9a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c64a33b-ecad-4cfb-91ec-01e7efc308ea","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

Vinyl records

[{"selector":"#anim-dfee65c1-92f1-421e-a3c7-eb1148b00589","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e4933c2-3dd3-44b0-9595-89caf19fec89","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Medium Brush Stroke Learn more

Furniture you didn’t have to build yourself

[{"selector":"#anim-1cb5b10c-09b7-4629-9086-57c48ac9165f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee55797a-c9d4-41df-8e4a-b3021d670f93","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

Living in the big city has never been cheap, but 30 years ago it was possible to rent a studio or one-bedroom apartment for under $1,000.

[{"selector":"#anim-c5d989d3-bd1e-4648-9311-a3dd1e1fe92e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c509cca9-da29-4a53-af7e-f48c24d80d27","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Medium Brush Stroke Learn more

SWIPE UP NOW TO READ MORE!

[{"selector":"#anim-b7b252a6-3583-4bb1-b03b-f444465d1d8d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8211fb28-b685-482d-a95a-711ae5c764a7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free quiz matches you with fiduciary financial advisors in your area or who serve your area. If you are ready to be matched with financial advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, take the quiz now.

[{"selector":"#anim-2285915c-cc2b-47ab-a81d-1aa118f82815","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d04e8d1-050f-4171-864b-b2bbba2410e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd1d374b-0d9b-461a-a2cb-4ea21a6f603e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 99.16371%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cca69e02-b270-4b2a-934b-8f65bee1b576","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Makeup artists’ top tricks to help you look more awake Grades are in: States with the smartest drivers

Everyday things we took for granted 30 years ago that are total luxuries today

Here are things we thought would be readily available and affordable forever 30 years ago, that are as rare and expensive today as Fabergé eggs.

It’s not entirely on the nose, but in 1993, a gallon of gas in the United States cost an average of $1.11.

A gallon of gas for a dollar

Vinyl records

When the compact disc hit the market, it made the vinyl record persona non grata among physical media varieties, and you could get one for less than seven dollars.

Furniture you didn’t have to build yourself

Furniture outlets still sell an already-made dresser made of real wood but be prepared to part with many hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for it.

Living in the big city has never been cheap, but 30 years ago it was possible to rent a studio or one-bedroom apartment for under $1,000.

Apartment rentals

SWIPE UP NOW TO READ MORE!

Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free quiz matches you with fiduciary financial advisors in your area or who serve your area. If you are ready to be matched with financial advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, take the quiz now.

READ MORE