26 things we thought only rich people had as kids—and why we're still laughing about it

When you're a kid, the line between "normal" and "rich" is hilariously blurry. We recently asked our Facebook audience this question: "What’s something you thought was a rich person thing when you were a kid, but turned out to be completely normal?" The post took off, racking up 7.8K comments from people sharing their childhood misconceptions about wealth. From diagonal sandwiches to owning more than one bathroom, the responses were equal parts funny, nostalgic, and heartwarming.

Here are some of the most relatable "rich people things" you thought were unattainable growing up—and why they still make us laugh (and reflect) today.

1. Candy bars you didn’t have to share

"Having an entire candy bar instead of dividing it 5 ways." — Noreen F.

Because what’s more luxurious than getting a Snickers all to yourself?

2. Two bathrooms

"Having more than one bathroom. Or having TVs in the bedrooms." — Matthew R.

For many kids, a second bathroom was the ultimate status symbol. As one commenter put it: "All three of us girls in one bathroom was a challenge." — Pam G.

3. Diagonal sandwiches

"Cutting your sandwich on the diagonal. I know. I know. Ridiculous. But you asked." — Flinn H.

Diagonal sandwiches = instant elegance.

Photo credit: Canva

4. Going to Red Lobster

"I thought Red Lobster was a place you got 'dressed up nice' for." — Donna D.

Many commenters agreed: chain restaurants like Red Lobster or Olive Garden felt like stepping into a five-star dining experience.

5. Pre-grated cheese

"Buying pre-grated cheese! lol." — Sarah P.

Little did we know, shredded cheese was less about wealth and more about convenience.

6. Two-story houses

"I’ve lived in Florida my whole life so I always thought if you had a two-story house you were rich." — Laura P.

For kids who grew up in single-story homes, stairs were the pinnacle of sophistication.

7. An in-ground pool

"Kids who had the Disney channel in my area were rich 😂 and an in ground pool obviously meant you were loaded." — Alysha M.

Above-ground pools were fine, but an in-ground pool? That was next-level.

8. A fridge with an ice dispenser

"A refrigerator with ice that dispensed out of the door." — Keith L.

One of the most frequently mentioned "rich people" items was a fridge with built-in water and ice dispensers. It’s the little things.

9. Braces

"Having braces. Only the rich kids had them at school." — CeCe C.

Straight teeth were often seen as a luxury growing up—a sentiment echoed by many.

Photo by Quang Tri NGUYEN via Unsplash

10. Going out to eat

"Vacations, going to a restaurant to eat. Living in a certain area of the city, the car you drove, getting new clothes. All things I never did or had as a child growing up." — Cherie H.

Many readers mentioned how dining out, even at casual restaurants, felt like a rare extravagance.

11. Barbie Dreamhouses and fancy toys

"The friend that had the Barbie dream house. That was the epitome of rich for us little girls in the 80s!" — Jennifer A.

Iconic toys like the Barbie Dreamhouse or Nintendo 64 symbolized "making it" in many kids' eyes.

12. Matching furniture

"Matching dining room chairs and table, instead of boxes or rolling computer chairs." — Christina A.

For some, cohesive furniture was a clear sign of wealth.

13. Vacations anywhere other than a relative’s house

"Vacations that were someplace other than a relative's house." — Deb S.

Road trips to Grandma's were nice, but a beach vacation? Now that was fancy.

14. White grapes

"My mom's best friend always had white grapes. We grew up food-insecure. Mom couldn't afford white grapes for us." — Kathleen M.

Who knew grapes could be so aspirational?

Photo by Alex Gruber via Unsplash

15. Branded shoes

"Having brand named shoes rather than Payless specials. (80s Payless)." — Rick N.

Air Jordans were more than shoes; they were a status symbol.

16. Napkins instead of paper towels

"Napkins, Kleenex, hamburger and hot dog buns." — Kasondra S.

Yes, even proper table settings made the list.

17. Going to the mall

"Going to the mall; I went for the first time at 13 or 14, with my aunt." — Christina A.

For some, just walking into a mall felt like entering a world of luxury.

Photo by Neddi Macintosh via Unsplash

18. Takeout pizza

"Ordering take-out! My mom cooked every night. I was so jealous of the kids that had pizza delivery." — Trish I.

Takeout pizza: a universal symbol of "fancy dining."

19. More than one pair of shoes

"More than one pair of shoes." — Bridgette-Jett C.

Having a "shoe for every occasion" felt like peak luxury.

20. Getting nails done

"Getting nails done." — Tara J.

Trips to the salon were often reserved for "the rich kids."

21. Staying in hotels, not motels

"Staying in a hotel instead of a motel." — Ericka H.

Hotels with room service? Extravagant beyond belief.

Photo by Tony Yakovlenko via Unsplash

22. Diagonal sandwiches (again!)

"Sandwiches cut on the diagonal were for rich kids." — Pat S.

This was mentioned multiple times—we’re sensing a pattern here.

23. Housekeepers or gardeners

"When I was a kid only the ultra wealthy hired them. Now it seems that every middle class family has them." — Stella S.

Outsourcing chores felt like the height of sophistication.

24. Paved driveways

"Paved driveways (still think these are pretty bougie)." — Andrea F.

A smooth driveway made a big impression.

25. Multiple cereal options

"The lifestyles of the rich for me was spending the night at my cousin's house and they had multiple different kinds of cereal to choose from." — Donna P.

Cereal variety = wealth.

26. Central air conditioning

"Having AC on in the house. (We only used it when we had guests over. And I grew up in Phoenix.)" — Winnie C.

For some, air conditioning was for guests only—not everyday use.

It’s funny how much our perception of wealth changes over time. What once felt unattainable—from having matching dining chairs to owning a family car—often becomes ordinary as we grow older. But these stories remind us of the joy in small things and the gratitude we feel for what we have now.