Granted, adult life isn’t what we imagined it would be as children. We have to go to work, make our own doctor’s appointments, and sometimes even make phone calls. But there’s one thing that makes it all worth it: you can spend your adult money on that toy or silly thing you’ve always dreamed of – without anyone telling you “no,” “not now,” or “we have that at home.”
A Reddit thread by u/Alarming-Offer8030 asked millennials, “What did you buy when you were a kid that you couldn’t have back then?” and judging by the responses, we’re all experiencing a true childhood renaissance. Let your inner child have a little fun and see for yourself:
1.“Lego. Not only were they expensive, they were also ‘boys’ toys’. I have so many Lego sets now!! Not only that, but they are also the fancy premium models for adults.”
—u/nadirecur
2.“A dog. I begged for one as a child, but I was never allowed to have one. Having a dog was exactly what I imagined it would be.”
—u/Creative-Till1436
3.“Clothes in my actual size: not buying too big so I could grow into them, or passing on pants that were somehow always too short. Of course, many of my current adult clothes are still worn, but they actually fit me!”
—u/Emmydyre
4.“I pay for so many adult development classes. Co-ed sports? Beginner adult dance classes? Writing/art workshops? I’m all in. We lived in relative poverty, and if we wanted something material, we eventually found it – but we never really had the chance to do things like this that are enriching and socializing. I’m terrible at almost everything, but it was fun to learn and be vulnerable while learning with a community of other adults.”
—u/techo-soft-girl
5.“Croutons. I wasn’t allowed to eat them because I was picky and didn’t want to eat salad. So as an adult, I always have a bag in the house, just for when I’m a little hungry.”
—u/Leeper90
6.“Braces! I was always so embarrassed about my teeth. I’m not sure if we didn’t have any money or if my parents didn’t know how embarrassed I was about my teeth, but when I was 26, I finally got braces. It’s been a few years since I had them removed and I can finally smile and laugh without covering my mouth.”
—u/trolldoll26
7.“LIGHT UP SNEAKERS. I sent my mom a photo of me in the sneakers as soon as I got home with the caption ‘ADULT MONEY!'”
—u/Nerril
8.“The better question is: what did I NOT buy? I bought all the video games I wanted, all the Pokemon stuff (games, movies, toys, trading cards), multiple LEGO sets, every fast food imaginable, my dream trip to Disney World, and Netflix/general subscription services – I believe millennials are THE generation redefining adulthood and it’s really liberating to be able to pursue that kind of happiness.”
—u/FrozenFrac
9.“Every now and then I get a can of whipped cream just to squirt into my mouth, not to use as a dessert topping or to eat in any other way. The five-year-old version of me gives the 36-year-old version of me a high five every time. In fact, I just got one!”
—u/sorry_ifyoudont
10.“A pool. A huge swimming pool. In my backyard.”
—u/LemurCat04
11.“Crop tops! I wasn’t allowed to wear them because of ‘God’ and ‘decency’. Now every day can be crop top day if I want.”
—u/StardustAmarna13
12.“A trampoline. My mother was afraid I would break my neck, so she didn’t want to buy one. Admittedly, the ones from the 90s mostly didn’t have a safety net. I bought one in 2020 and the neighbors noticed that I was on it more than my kids. Yes, I bought it so the whole family could use it, but it was also for the little girl who wasn’t allowed to use one as a little girl.”
—u/Ashia22
13.“Converse sneakers. They were super popular when I was a kid and we couldn’t afford them. I wore knock-off Keds that fell apart pretty quickly. When I could afford it, I bought Converse. Now I have ten pairs in different colors that match my outfits.”
—u/Queasy-Parsnip-8940
14.“I collect teapots and have put together a lovely tea set. The little girl in my head who loved tea parties and wanted something special is proud when I have tea in my tea set.”
—u/Prestigious-Oven8072
15.“CONCERT TICKETS TO MY FAVORITE BANDS. I know there’s no way my dad would have let me go to a Korn concert in Detroit in 1999. But at 39, I have tickets to see Korn AND Limp Bizkit this summer.”
—u/CrazyMadHooker
16.“A skateboard! My mom and dad wouldn’t buy me a skateboard because they weren’t for girls and I didn’t have enough money to buy one as a kid or teenager. But the joke is on them: I treated myself to one in college and have enjoyed skateboarding on and off ever since!”
—u/skinsnax
17.“I have my damn Doc Martens.”
—u/iahayan
Now I want to know: What was the one thing you couldn’t afford as a child, but bought once you had the money, and was it worth the expense?
Answers have been edited for length/clarity.
