What was once considered indulgent is now non-negotiable. From daily coffee shop lattes to mental health days, Millennials have redefined comfort and necessity in a way that leaves many Boomers scratching their heads. Let’s look at the ‘luxuries’ of yesteryear that today’s generation sees as basic standards for living well.
High-Speed Internet
Once seen as a tech luxury, high-speed internet is now as essential as running water for Millennials. From Zoom meetings to binge-watching, everything hinges on fast, reliable connectivity.
While Boomers may recall the screech of dial-up, today’s generation demands seamless, instant access. For them, buffering is annoying and disruptive. It’s a full-blown productivity crisis for those working remotely.
Cars with GPS and Bluetooth
For Millennials, getting into a car without built-in GPS and Bluetooth feels like stepping back in time. What Boomers once viewed as luxury upgrades are now baseline expectations.
These features offer hands-free convenience, real-time navigation, and constant connectivity, which are essentials for a generation raised on multitasking and tech integration. In today’s world, driving isn’t just about reaching your destination; it’s about staying connected while doing it.
Fresh Brewed Coffee
For Boomers, coffee meant instant powder and minimal fuss. But for Millennials, it’s a non-negotiable part of the daily routine, with oat milk lattes, cold brews, and café-quality espresso made right at home.
What was once a splurge is now considered self-care and efficiency. With specialty shops on every block and sleek machines on kitchen counters, coffee has become a lifestyle choice, optimized for taste, time, and sanity. Instant? That’s ancient history.
Mental Wellness
Millennials have redefined mental wellness, shifting therapy from a last-resort fix to a routine form of self-care. While Boomers often saw counseling as a private affair or luxury, younger adults openly embrace it as essential to overall health.
This cultural shift is about reducing stigma and survival in a high-pressure world.
Around 55% of Millennials use mental health apps or online therapy services, reflecting their comfort with tech-enabled care.
Personalized Entertainment
Boomers remember when one TV meant family viewing and scheduled programming. Millennials, however, expect content tailored to their tastes, available instantly on phones, tablets, and laptops. This shift is reflected in household setups, too.
An average American household now owns multiple televisions. Streaming has become the norm, with 82% of U.S. households owning connected TVs, and many using multiple devices to access content across rooms. Personalized entertainment is the baseline now.
Takeout
For Millennials, takeout isn’t laziness, it’s logistics. Juggling multiple jobs, side hustles, and burnout, they’ve turned food delivery into a reliable solution for nourishment and time management. According to Lightspeed, 59% of restaurant orders from Millennials are takeout or delivery, and Toast reports that 38% say work is their top reason for ordering in.
While Boomers saw restaurant meals as special treats, Millennials see them as everyday essentials. Services like DoorDash and Uber Eats offer convenience and access to global flavors at home.
Fresh Fruit In Winter
For Boomers, fresh fruit in winter was a rare delight. Today, Millennials can toss strawberries into smoothies or slice avocados onto toast any time of year. Global supply chains and modern agriculture have made seasonal barriers nearly vanish.
What was once an occasional treat is now a weekly grocery staple, and most millennials wouldn’t have it any other way. Convenience and variety are expected now.
Remote Work
Millennials have redefined work culture by prioritizing flexibility over tradition. According to Deloitte, only 11% of Millennials now work fully remote, while 33% operate in hybrid setups—a clear sign that flexible work models are no longer fringe benefits but foundational expectations.
While Boomers commuted in suits and clocked in at cubicles, younger professionals embrace the freedom to work from couches, cafés, or co-working spaces. Remote work has moved from the margins to the mainstream, becoming a core element of well-being, productivity, and a sustainable modern career.
Air Conditioning
In the 1950s, very few U.S. homes had air conditioning. Boomers made do with fans and open windows, reserving A/C for movie theaters or the wealthiest households.
Fast forward to today, and Millennials expect cool, climate-controlled spaces everywhere from apartments to cars to gyms. Today, 75% of all United States homes have air conditioning.
Air conditioning has gone from summer indulgence to year-round necessity, playing a vital role in comfort, health, and daily living.
Smartphones with Unlimited Data
Your whole world, including maps, messages, meetings, and movies, can now fit in your hand. For Millennials, the smartphone is how everything gets done. Unlimited data means staying connected without watching the meter.
Whether navigating traffic, checking in with friends, or hopping on a quick work call, constant access is part of daily life. Boomers may have lived just fine without it, but disconnecting isn’t even on the table for younger generations.
Air Travel
Boomers often saw flying as a rare splurge, reserved for weddings, emergencies, or once-in-a-lifetime vacations. For Millennials, it is a part of the routine. With budget carriers, flash sales, and reward programs, hopping on a plane for a trip has become commonplace.
Whether it’s a weekend escape or a remote work trip, air travel is now less about luxury and more about mobility.
Pet Care
For Boomers, pets were beloved, but care was often basic. Millennials take things further, weaving pets into their daily routines and financial planning. From wellness checks and specialty diets to pet insurance and paw-friendly vacation plans, animal care is treated with the same weight as any essential service.
Millennials made up the largest share of pet owners in the U.S. in 2024. They also represented the highest percentage of Americans who viewed their pets as their children. The message is clear: caring for pets today is less about indulgence and more about intentional, responsible care.
