Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Upworthy to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

It’s no secret that the world has changed drastically since the 1990s, but an old magazine ad from 1996 has resurfaced, leaving people stunned by its eerie accuracy.

Reddit user u/Stormageadon shared a photo of the ad, which laid out predictions for 2026—and nearly all of them mirror today’s reality.


Representative Image Source: Pexels| Karolina Grabowska

A prediction that feels a little too real

Titled "An eerily accurate ad from 1996 I found in an advertising book," the ad featured a black-and-white photo of a female celebrity alongside a bold set of claims about the future.

"They say in 30 years, a burger and fries could cost $16, a basic vacation $12,500, and a car $65,000."

If that wasn’t unsettling enough, the ad ended with a chilling line:

"No problem. You’ll eat in, you won’t drive, and you won’t go anywhere."

Representative Image Source: Pexels| Engin Akyurt

How close was the prediction?

Nearly 30 years later, these numbers don’t seem so far-fetched—they’re the reality for many Americans today.

✔️ Dining out is a luxury: A burger and fries often costs $16 or more, especially in major cities.

✔️ Travel is more expensive than ever: Between rising flight prices and hotel rates, a basic vacation can easily hit five figures.

✔️ Car prices have skyrocketed: The average new car now costs over $48,000, with some models exceeding $65,000.

And perhaps the most unsettling part? Many people are staying home, eating in, and driving less—not always by choice.

media1.tenor.com

Reddit reacts: ‘We’re ahead of schedule’

The ad’s striking accuracy left people amazed, amused, and frustrated, with some joking that the future arrived faster than expected.

u/pallentx pointed out:

"Oh, you want to just stay home? Yeah, rent is $3000 per month."

Image Source: Reddit | u/Notevenapro

In another comment, they added:

"The point is, you can cut travel, dining out, and all the extras, but housing alone will still blow your budget in most cities in America."

u/MellyMel86 joked:


"Joke’s on them, we’re 3 years ahead of schedule."
— u/MellyMel86



Not just food and travel—housing prices are worse

Some Reddit users noted that the ad might have underestimated just how expensive things would get.

u/Floog said:

"They probably thought it was too unbelievable to write that a basic house would cost you $500K."

Meanwhile, u/Ryzelo0o0 called it:

"Probably the most accurate prediction of the 2020s from the 90s."

Others chimed in about the cost of groceries:

u/MacProsarecool added:

"Yeah, except it’s 300 a week in groceries for a family of five, so you can’t even eat in."

media1.tenor.com

Is this just a coincidence—or was the writing on the wall?

Was this ad from 1996 a lucky guess, or were the signs of economic struggle already there?

Whatever the case, one thing is clear—people weren’t expecting life to get this expensive this quickly.

And if there’s one thing this ad didn’t predict, it’s that we’d be looking back at it nearly a decade early, wondering how we got here so fast.

More For You

A cup full of chocolate kisses.

Chocolates are sweet, but this promposal might be sweeter.

Teen's braille promposal to blind girlfriend resurfaces, and it's still melting hearts

Prom season is often a time for creativity and big gestures, but one teen’s unique idea has raised the bar entirely. A promposal (prom + proposal) involving braille, chocolate, and a whole lot of thoughtfulness is making waves on social media years after it first happened. The story of Jake Schwartz and Paige Drury isn’t just a tale of young love—it’s a beautiful example of how a little extra effort can make someone feel truly valued.

In the video, Schwartz asks Drury to read a message he created using Hershey’s Kisses. As her fingers glide over the candies, she begins to spell it out, "Wait, that's a 'P'...'R'...'O'..." before realizing what it says and gasping with joy. She then happily accepts the invitation to prom, a moment that was met with applause from friends who were present.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pregnant mom asks for first-class seats, gets a reality check the internet couldn’t wait to deliver
Representative photo by Canva

Pregnant mom asks for first-class seats, gets a reality check the internet couldn’t wait to deliver

Flying with a young child isn't always smooth sailing, especially when it comes to seating arrangements. A soon-to-be mother, known online as Deekaytwo, found herself turning to the internet for advice after wondering if it was fair to ask front-row passengers to swap seats so she could sit with her toddler. But the reaction she got online was anything but supportive.

Representative Image Source: Pexels | Oleksandr P

Keep ReadingShow less
Images from a baby name reveal.

The moment this mom realized her daughter's name had a hidden Batman connection.

They picked the perfect baby name—until a movie changed everything

When it comes to baby names, parents pull inspiration from all sorts of places—family history, beloved books, even favorite meals. But sometimes, a name carries a hidden meaning that only one parent is in on. That’s exactly what happened to TikTok user @viashoe, whose daughter's name has a secret connection to Batman that she didn’t discover until well after the birth.

A casual Thanksgiving reveal

In a now-viral TikTok, @viashoe shared the moment the puzzle pieces fell into place. While spending Thanksgiving with her husband’s family, they decided to watch Batman: The Animated Series—a classic from the '90s that's known for its dark tone and emotionally complex characters. As the show played in the background, someone in the family was entertaining their baby girl when a familiar voice on the screen said, “My wife, Nora…”

Keep ReadingShow less
Manager forbids wage talk—employees hilariously post their salaries on company notice board
Representative image by Canva

Manager forbids wage talk—employees hilariously post their salaries on company notice board

Navigating corporate life isn't easy, especially when managers impose questionable rules on employees. A recent incident at a Planet Fitness in Kentucky highlighted how some managers misunderstand labor rights, particularly regarding salary discussions. Employees brilliantly confronted their manager after he attempted to forbid wage discussions—both at and outside the workplace.


Keep ReadingShow less
An image of a restaurant with the quote "This is my real smile..."

Representative Image: It's a wonder what one simple note can do.

Widower leaves waitress a note with her tip—and the message instantly brought her to tears

Amid all the noise and negativity that tends to dominate our days, moments of pure human kindness remind us how much good is still out there. And sometimes, it’s the simplest gestures—like good service at a restaurant—that carry the most emotional weight.

That’s exactly what happened to Megan King, a server at a Perkins Restaurant & Bakery in Yankton, South Dakota. She shared the emotional moment on X, where it quickly went viral and touched hundreds of thousands of hearts.

Keep ReadingShow less