Top 17+ Things You’ll Only Hear From Someone Raised in the ’60s

It used to be completely different growing up in the ‘60s compared to now. Technology was basic, food was questionable, and it was an all-around much simpler way of life. If you grew up during this time, then you’ve probably said these 17 phrases a fair few times.

"I had to get up to change the channel."

To tell you the truth, this one always makes people laugh. Back in the day, remote controls weren’t a thing yet, so if you were watching TV and wanted to see what else was on, you had to get off the couch, walk across the room, and manually turn a big dial on the front of the set.

"We played outside until the streetlights came on."

Honestly, if you ask anyone from that era, their eyes kind of light up remembering this. The idea of being glued to a screen all day just didn’t exist. After school, kids would toss their books on the couch, grab their bikes or jump ropes, and run outside without a second thought.

"We drank water straight from the hose."

You might not believe this now, but it was totally normal and nobody thought twice about it. On a hot summer afternoon, there was nothing more refreshing than turning on the hose, bending down, and gulping that cold water like it was the best drink on Earth.

The water had a slight metallic taste, and sometimes it was warm at first, but none of that mattered.

"We only had one phone and it was on the wall."

Something that really confuses people today is that families used to share a single phone, and it was usually mounted on the kitchen wall. There were no smartphones, no texting, and no private conversations unless you dragged the long, curly cord into another room and shut the door if the cord even reached.

"We listened to music on vinyl and it sounded better."

If there’s one thing older folks love to talk about, it’s their records. They’ll tell you without hesitation that vinyl just sounds better. And they really mean it. You couldn’t skip around like you can with a playlist now.

Friends would gather, sit on the floor, and let the whole album play from beginning to end. You really listened, and the music stuck with you.

"We watched the moon landing live on a black and white TV."

Now this one still gives people goosebumps when they talk about it. If someone lived through the ’60s, chances are they remember exactly where they were when they watched Neil Armstrong take his first steps on the moon. It was a huge moment, not just for the country, but for the whole world.

"We had to look stuff up in encyclopedias."

You know, before search engines and instant answers, learning something new actually took some effort. If you had a question or a school assignment, you couldn’t just pull out a phone and Google it. You had to grab one of those giant encyclopedia books, find the right volume, and flip through the pages alphabetically.

"Going to McDonald’s was a big treat."

As you can imagine, fast food wasn’t an everyday stop back then. In the 1960s, grabbing a burger and fries from McDonald’s or a local drive-in felt like something special. It usually happened after a baseball game or when your dad wanted to give your mom a break from cooking.

"Saturday mornings were made for cartoons."

If you grew up in the ’60s, this was the thing to look forward to all week. It was the only time you could watch cartoons, so you didn’t dare miss it.

There was no on-demand, no recording, and no replays, so if you missed a show, you just had to wait until the next week.

"We used to write letters on actual paper."

There’s no denying that this might sound totally old-fashioned now, but back then, people really took the time to sit down and write. Letters were how you kept in touch, especially with relatives who lived far away or friends you made over the summer.

"School lunches were 35 cents."

It sounds strange saying this, but a few decades ago, school lunch didn’t cost much more than a candy bar. For just 35 cents, you could get a full tray with a hot meal, sides, and a carton of milk. Things like meatloaf, mashed potatoes, or a big slice of pizza showed up on the menu often.

"We didn’t lock our doors during the day."

Most people struggle to fathom that this was completely normal back in the day. Front doors were often left unlocked, especially in smaller towns. Kids would run in and out of each other’s houses, and neighbors would drop by unannounced, usually through the back door.

"Movies cost a buck—and you got a cartoon first."

So this one really blows kids’ minds today, as going to the movies was a treat, sure, but it didn’t break the bank. For just a dollar, maybe even less in some places, you could sit in a dark theater with a big bucket of popcorn and a soda and watch the latest film.

"We had air raid drills at school."

Now this might sound wild, but yeah, it was a real thing. At the time of the Cold War, schools across the country had students practice what to do in case of a nuclear attack. They called them duck and cover drills, and you had to crouch under your desk or sit in the hallway with your head down and hands over your neck.

"We had to memorize phone numbers."

We can all agree that this phrase really shows how much things have changed. In the 1960s, there were no contacts stored in your pocket or voice assistants ready to dial.

If you wanted to call someone, you had to know their number, or at least have it written down somewhere close, and most people had a little black address book or a list stuck to the fridge.