1. Having Your Own Landline Phone (Especially With a Cord That Reached the Hallway)
Back then, getting your own landline—usually a slimline or one of those clear plastic phones with visible wires—felt like you’d made it. It meant privacy, independence, and that your parents finally trusted you not to tie up the main line for hours. You’d stretch that coiled cord into the next room, whispering about school crushes or planning sleepovers. It was your first taste of freedom, even if you had to fight siblings for the phone.
Now, the idea of a dedicated phone line—let alone one that’s tethered to the wall—is basically prehistoric. Teens today can’t imagine not being reachable 24/7 by text, Snapchat, or FaceTime. The old etiquette of “only call between 5 and 9” is long gone. And nobody misses untangling that cursed spiral cord.
2. Writing Checks at the Grocery Store
If you pulled out a checkbook at the supermarket today, you’d get a few confused stares—and maybe a few sighs from the line behind you. But in the ’80s and ’90s, writing a check for your groceries was standard, and it felt adult. You had to know how to spell everything right, sign with confidence, and balance your checkbook later. If you did it without needing help, you were definitely on your way to adulthood.
Today, nearly everyone uses tap-to-pay, Apple Pay, or debit cards. Checks are now reserved for rent payments (maybe) or awkward reimbursements to family members. Kids today might not even be taught how to write one. It’s like cursive: still around, but mostly decorative.
3. Owning a Briefcase, Even If It Just Held Your Lunch
For a lot of kids in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, a briefcase wasn’t just for business types. Some students actually carried them to school, especially those plastic ones from Trapper Keeper or faux-leather cases from department stores. There was something undeniably grown-up about clicking it open and rifling through folders, even if you were just in seventh grade. It said, “I take things seriously.”
Fast forward to now, and even most adults don’t use briefcases—backpacks and sleek laptop sleeves have taken over. The corporate “briefcase guy” is almost a meme. And bringing one to school? You’d get roasted before first period.
4. Smoking “Because You’re an Adult Now”
There was a time when lighting up was shorthand for being mature, rebellious, or at least in control. Smoking rates were still high in the ’80s and early ’90s, and cigarette ads hadn’t been fully banned from TV until 1971, with Joe Camel lingering in magazines and convenience stores for a while after. High schoolers and even some middle schoolers saw it as a rite of passage. Adults smoked in offices, airplanes, and even hospitals not long before that.
These days, lighting a cigarette doesn’t make you look older—just unhealthy. Smoking is banned in most indoor spaces, and it’s heavily stigmatized. Vaping may have replaced the trend for some, but even that has a cloud of judgment over it. The glamor is gone, replaced by warning labels and PSAs.
5. Balancing Your Checkbook (With Actual Math)
Sitting down with a checkbook register, calculator, and maybe even a pencil was once a monthly routine for many households. You had to record every deposit and withdrawal, subtract accurately, and make sure your balance matched the bank’s. Getting it right felt like proof that you could handle your money. And honestly, it gave you a weird sense of control and peace.
Now, mobile banking apps update your balance in real time. Few people under 40 have ever even held a checkbook register, let alone used one. Budgeting is done with colorful apps or spreadsheet templates. And if something’s off? You just file a claim online and let the system handle it.
6. Renting a Car Just to Prove You Could
Car rental companies used to have strict age policies, usually only renting to people over 25. So when you finally hit that age—or found a company that would rent to you younger—it was a huge milestone. Holding those keys and walking into a parking lot full of possibilities made you feel untouchable. Whether it was for a business trip or a weekend getaway, you were playing in the adult leagues now.
Today, rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft make renting a car almost unnecessary. Younger people are less likely to even get a license in their teens. Plus, with more flexible travel options, hitting 25 doesn’t carry the same rental car magic. You can now summon a car with your phone in seconds—no paperwork or counter wait needed.
7. Getting a Beeper (Even If You Weren’t a Doctor)
In the early ’90s, carrying a beeper or pager felt like a serious power move. Whether you were a teen pretending to be a doctor or just wanted to look important, the “911” codes and secret numeric messages felt techy and cool. You clipped it to your waistband like it was a badge of honor. Getting beeped was basically a status symbol.
Now, pagers are mostly limited to hospital staff and maybe some emergency services. To most people under 30, they’re either retro novelties or props in old medical dramas. There’s no reason to carry a device that only receives numbers when your smartphone does a thousand more things. It’s hard to believe that little buzzing box ever felt elite.
8. Having a Rolodex on Your Desk
Keeping a well-organized Rolodex was once a sign you were in the big leagues. Each handwritten card was a connection, a client, or a VIP number—and the more stuffed your Rolodex, the more important you seemed. Some even color-coded or categorized by industry. It was LinkedIn before LinkedIn.
Now, contact lists are stored in the cloud, synced across devices, and auto-updated. No one flips through cardboard tabs to find a phone number anymore. The sight of a Rolodex today feels more like an antique than a professional tool. It’s been fully replaced by digital address books and search bars.
9. Wearing Shoulder Pads to Be Taken Seriously
In the corporate world of the ‘80s, nothing said “I’m in charge” like a blazer with shoulder pads. Women especially adopted the power suit look, often influenced by icons like Joan Collins or the cast of Working Girl. The bigger the shoulder pads, the bigger the authority. They were a way to visually claim space in male-dominated workplaces.
Today, shoulder pads are mostly relegated to costume parties or vintage-themed TikToks. Modern office fashion leans more relaxed, and power comes from your role, not your silhouette. Wearing shoulder pads now might get you mistaken for dressing ironically. It’s wild that fabric foam was once a career statement.
10. Setting the VCR to Record a Show (And Hoping It Worked)
Programming a VCR was the ultimate grown-up test in the ‘80s and ‘90s. If you could set the clock (which blinked 12:00 by default) and successfully record Seinfeld or The X-Files while you were out, you were basically a tech wizard. It took patience, timing, and often a printed-out TV Guide. And nothing beat the pride of seeing your tape actually captured what you wanted.
Now, with streaming, DVRs, and on-demand services, missing a show just isn’t a thing anymore. The idea of recording on magnetic tape is as dated as floppy disks. And don’t even get started on accidentally taping over someone’s wedding video. Those VCR battles are thankfully history.
11. Having a Wallet Full of Business Cards
Exchanging business cards used to be the networking equivalent of a secret handshake. You’d go to a meeting or a mixer and hand someone a glossy card with your name, number, and possibly a fax line. Having a stack of your own cards felt incredibly official. And collecting them from others made you feel like you were really in the game.
Now, most people just connect on LinkedIn or exchange contact info by bumping phones. Physical business cards are still used, but they’ve lost their luster—and often end up in junk drawers. The flex of handing one out is more nostalgic than necessary. Digital identity has taken over.
12. Owning a Day Planner and Actually Using It
Long before iCal and Google Calendar, adults carried bulky day planners everywhere. Brands like Franklin Covey made versions with leather covers, refillable pages, and motivational quotes. You’d write in appointments, to-do lists, and even your lunch meetings in pen. Flipping through it made you feel efficient and indispensable.
Today, calendars are synced across phones, watches, and laptops. You can get reminders, reschedule meetings instantly, and share your calendar with coworkers in real time. Carrying a physical planner makes a statement—but not the kind it used to. Now, it’s more about aesthetic journaling than business strategy.
This post 12 Things That Made You Feel ‘Grown Up’ in the ‘80s or ’90s—and Just Look Weird Now was first published on American Charm.
