Old-School Life Skills That Youngsters Know Nothing About Today
Life used to come with a set of hands-on skills that many younger generations just don’t learn anymore. From sewing a button to reading a map, these vintage skills are fading very fast. Travel back in time with us as we look at a few of the skills younger generations don’t learn anymore.
Using a Map
Before GPS told us where to turn, we unfolded big paper maps or flipped through atlases to find our way around. It took patience, a good sense of direction, and maybe a co-pilot. Now, most people panic if their phone dies on a road trip.
Writing Thank-You Notes
Back in the day, you didn’t just text “thanks!” and move on with your day. You grabbed a pen, found a card or paper, and wrote a thank-you note by hand. It showed you really meant it. These days, handwritten thank-you's are a thing of the past.
Sewing by Hand
If a button popped off your shirt or a seam split, Mom or Grandma didn’t toss the item - she fixed it by hand with a needle and thread. Sewing was just another basic skill everyone learned. Today, a tiny rip sends clothes straight to the donation pile or the landfill.
Sharpening Knives by Hand
Dull knife? No problem! There was a time when people used to sharpen blades on a whetstone or a manual sharpener. Sure, it took a bit of patience, but it kept kitchen tools in top shape. Now, most of us just buy a new knife when the old one goes dull.
Making Your Own Cleaning Products
Did you know that people once cleaned their houses with vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice? Those were the good old days when it was cheap and simple and didn’t require ten different products to keep your home clean. Today, there’s a product for everything.
Balancing a Checkbook
Balancing the old checkbook was something everyone knew how to do. You wrote down what you spent, added what you earned, and made sure it all lined up. It kept your finances in check - literally. These days, we swipe and pray our bank app doesn’t show a scary number.
Ironing Properly
There was a time when creases mattered. People ironed shirts, pants, and even tablecloths with care. It wasn’t just about being neat. Today, we shake our clothes out and hope the wrinkles will disappear in the dryer all on their own.
Using a Clothesline
Laundry used to flap in the warm breeze and smell like sunshine. This meant no energy bill and no dryer sheets. It took more time, sure, but it felt like magic. Now we barely have time to switch the load from the washer to the dryer.
Cooking From Scratch
There was no such thing as boxed meals a few generations ago. Food was made from flour, eggs, and whatever was in the pantry. Yes, it took longer, but the meals had heart. Today, if a recipe has more than five steps, the younger generation calls for takeout.
Writing in Cursive
Cursive writing used to be a big deal. Kids learned it in school and used it every day. And, boy, did it make them feel fancy and grown-up. Now it’s like a secret code that only grandparents can read. When last did you write in cursive?
Changing a Tire
This used to be a life skill that everyone used to know - how to change a tire. You’d jack up the car and swap the tire out in minutes. Then came roadside assistance, and now we scroll through Instagram while we wait for someone else to do the job.
Canning and Preserving Food
Life was simple back in the day - when fruit was in season, you canned it. It was a great way to stretch food through the year, and Grandma’s cupboards overflowed with jars of different jams and preserved foods. These days, it’s easier to hit the store.
Knitting or Crocheting
Making your own scarf or blanket takes time, sure, but it made it all the more special when it was handmade. Yarn turned into gifts, clothes, and sometimes toys. Now, younger generations click “add to cart” on anything homemade on their favorite online store.
Typing on a Typewriter
If you’ve never seen a typewriter, you’re definitely from a younger generation. Typing on a typewriter was different - no delete key, just you, the keys, and a whole lot of clicking. Mistakes meant starting over or using correction tape. Computers are great, but they don’t ding at the end of a line.
Reading a Library Catalog
Before Google, people searched for books using drawers full of little index cards. You needed to know the Dewey Decimal System and have a little - okay, a lot - patience. Today’s younger generations get annoyed if a book isn’t available with one click.
Mending Clothes
A ripped seam or a small hole in your clothes didn’t mean the end of the line back in the day. People patched, stitched, and mended their clothes by hand. It saved money and gave clothes a bit of character, especially when Mom used little patches of fabric to fix jeans and pants.
Using a Dial Phone
Do you remember the days of the dial phone? No? Boy, are you missing out. You stuck your finger in the dial and spun it around for each number. Calling someone actually took effort, and you had to memorize the numbers, too.
Memorizing Phone Numbers
Once upon a time, you knew your best friend’s number, your grandma’s, and even the local pizza place. You had to! Now, most people can barely remember their own number because their phone does all the thinking for them.
Starting a Fire
Lighters weren’t always available to help you start a fire. Back in the day, people used matches, flint, or pure skill to get a fire going. Fast forward a few decades, and the art of making a fire with anything but a lighter is all but lost.
Shorthand Writing
Shorthand was the equivalent of today’s text-speak, and it was used everywhere. People used it to take notes in meetings or class. Sure, it looked like squiggles, but it made perfect sense to the writer. Today, we just type everything out.
