Teenagers in the 1970s may have rocked bell-bottoms and blasted Led Zeppelin, but they also knew how to take care of themselves. Life was less automated, more hands-on, and most teens had to be self-reliant in ways that feel foreign today.
Fast forward to 2025, and many college graduates are struggling with basic life skills that their parents once acquired before they graduated from high school. Some of it is tech replacing muscle memory. Some of it is just a cultural shift. But either way, we’ve lost a few skills that were once second nature.
Writing a Check
Before Venmo and Zelle, writing checks was the norm. Teens in the ’70s were taught how to fill them out and balance a checkbook. Today, many college grads have never held a checkbook, let alone reconciled a bank statement.
Driving a Stick Shift
If you couldn’t drive a manual transmission in the ’70s, you weren’t driving much. Most cars weren’t automatic. Teens practiced in parking lots until they got it. Fewer than 2% of vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2023 had manual gearboxes, according to a report. So most young adults never even try.
Sewing and Mending Clothes
Missing button? Torn hem? A teenager in the ’70s could fix it. Home economics was still a regular class in most high schools. Now it’s rare. As of today, even fewer schools offer any form of practical home economics.
Reading a Map
GPS didn’t exist in the 1970s. If you wanted to get somewhere, you used a road map or asked for directions. Teens could fold a map back into its impossible square shape and follow route numbers without Siri shouting at them. It taught patience and spatial awareness. Today? Google it.
Changing a Tire
Flat tires weren’t emergencies. They were life lessons. Every teen learned to jack up the car, loosen the lug nuts, and swap in the spare. A report showed that almost 60% of drivers today can’t do this without assistance. They call roadside help instead.
Making Phone Calls the Hard Way
Rotary phones didn’t have contact lists. Teens memorized phone numbers and made plans using landlines. No texts. If someone wasn’t home, you left a message with their mom. It taught communication skills and a weird kind of confidence.
Ironing Clothes
You wanted to look sharp? You learned to iron. Teens in the 1970s regularly pressed shirts, slacks, and even bed sheets. Today, wrinkle release sprays or “toss it in the dryer for 5 minutes” have replaced irons for many.
Basic Car Maintenance
Oil changes, wiper fluid refills, and radiator checks were normal weekend tasks. It wasn’t about being a “car person.” It was about not getting stranded. Today, fewer adults are able to change their own oil or check the transmission fluid.
Handling Awkward Conversations Face-To-Face
Breakups, job interviews, and asking someone out all used to happen in person. You couldn’t ghost someone or hide behind a screen. The emotional labor was tougher, but it built real resilience. Many teens had to grow a thick skin fast.
Budgeting Without an App
In the 1970s, if you didn’t track your spending with pen and paper, you ran out of money. Teens who had part-time jobs were expected to manage their own cash. According to a CNBC poll, 67% of respondents feel unprepared to manage their money without digital assistance.
Cooking a Full Meal Without a Recipe
In the 1970s, teens often cooked dinner for their families. They learned from their parents or through trial and error. Today, a surprising number of young adults depend on food delivery apps or boxed meal kits. Only a few people know how to make a meal with raw ingredients. That’s a long fall from scratch cooking to pizza.
Doing Laundry the Old Way
Teens in the ’70s didn’t wait until spring break to wash everything. Laundry day was part of the week. They sorted whites and colors, used powdered detergent, and line-dried clothes. Today, laundry gets done, but often with mystery pods and color-safe shortcuts.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
How Total Beginners Are Building Wealth Fast in 2025—No Experience Needed
How Total Beginners Are Building Wealth Fast in 2025
I used to think investing was something you did after you were already rich. Like, you needed $10,000 in a suit pocket and a guy named Chad at some fancy firm who knew how to “diversify your portfolio.” Meanwhile, I was just trying to figure out how to stretch $43 to payday.
But a lot has changed. And fast. In 2025, building wealth doesn’t require a finance degree—or even a lot of money. The tools are simpler. The entry points are lower. And believe it or not, total beginners are stacking wins just by starting small and staying consistent.
Click here and let’s break down how.
5 Easy Steps to Change Any Habit
5 Easy Steps to Change Any Habit
We all click on them with the hope that just THIS time the secret to changing a bad habit or adopting a healthy one will be revealed and we’ll finally be able to stick to that diet, stop that one or ten things that might in the moment make us feel temporarily good but really just make us fat, unhealthy, sad, mad or just frustrated with ourselves.
