Do you remember the days when a year was just a year, and we looked forward to the future without a hint of fear? Ah, simpler times! But then, 2020 came along and threw us a curveball that no one saw coming. And amidst all, we are left with things that have only gone downhill since then.
One Redditor asked, “What has gone downhill since 2020?” Many users commented on this thread and we have listed the most interesting ones for you!
1. Affordability
So, back in the good old days (pre-2020), we used to complain about how expensive stuff was, right? Little did we know, those were the good times!
A discerning Reddit user commented, “I’m making more than I ever have in my life, and I’m also the most broke I’ve ever been in my life.”
Someone else added, “Grocery bill: up 80% Electric bill: doubled Gas Bill: up 80% Insurance: Up 40% Streaming services: up 40% on average Mortgage on the house: payments will rise at least 50% when the new interest rates hit us in December. Salary: up 5% – and that was on the high end of the scale, for being a top performer…:”
2. 24/7 Stores
Remember when you could stroll into a 24/7 store at midnight and be greeted by a wonderland of snacks and drinks? It was a beacon of hope in the dark hours of the night. But oh, how times have changed.
A Reddit user wrote, “It didn’t just go downhill, it went away; 24-hour stores. I used to love doing my Walmart grocery shopping during the really slow hours overnight. Now it’s a full-on social experiment from open till close.”
Someone else replied, “I remember when all Walgreens were 24/7/365. Around 2010, I decided to go buy some firewood in Christmas Eve and went there thinking it should be open. I figured they finally started closing on holidays. But then I saw the regular hours. Not only did it close every day, but it was like 6 pm on Sundays. Apparently, they 24/7 had been ditched years ago.”
3. Restaurants
One said, “Between skyrocketing prices and a huge decrease in food quality and everyone under the sun asking for a tip, restaurants aren’t worth it anymore.”
Another person agreed to it and said, “Mainly the selection. Used to have choices, but now it’s HBs, Salad, Fish and Chips, Some random chicken items, and steak. The places around here used to have like 10 of each cooked differently and no the smaller menu doesn’t improve food quality. If anything, food quality has gone down.”
Oh, and let’s not forget about prices. Dining out used to be a treat. Now, it feels more like a trick.
4. Tips
It all started with the pandemic, right? Suddenly, restaurants and delivery apps were pushing us to tip more than ever. “Please consider tipping 25% or more,” they’d say as if we were at a charity gala instead of ordering a pizza.
One Redditor stated, “Omg all the random surcharges and the nearly mandatory tip for even a cup of coffee.”
Someone else added, “The asking for a tip on the card machines when all you are doing is taking my order is annoying. If I’m tipping, you better be refilling my drinks, walking the food out to my table, and taking away used dishes.”
5. Salad Bars
Salad bars used to be a budget-friendly option for a healthy meal. Now, they’ve decided to charge you like you’re at a five-star restaurant.
A discerning Reddit user commented, “Salad bars! I’m a decades-long vegetarian with a big family. Salad bars were great for my eating habits – but more than that, for the ability for everyone to pay for their own ticket, can switch seats when Uncle Joe and Aunt Kathy go on a political tirade, and the capacity to seat us all. I miss Sweet Tomatoes.”
Another person agreed to it and said, “I second this. I really miss a good salad bar. Ruby Tuesday’s was always amazing locally.”
6. Value Menu
A Reddit user wrote, “Value menus, are either almost as much money as the regular menu or just don’t exist.”
Someone else added, “Mcdouble, small fry, and a coke used to be about $3.50. Now it’s double. I now hit up Wendy’s $5 biggie bag daily. A bowl at Chipotle costs $11”
The worst part? Some places have scrapped their value menus altogether, replacing them with “limited-time offers” that cost an arm and a leg.
7. Mental Health
One said, “Mental health. It should be treated above the climate crisis in my opinion. If you have a population with mental issues and economic issues, I promise you the climate might not be a top priority.”
Another added, “Agreed, I quit my job last year because I was at my breaking point and it’s just so hard to get back out there. Luckily, I have a great partner.”
Stress levels? Off the charts. Anxiety? Through the roof. Mental health became a trending topic, and rightfully so.
8. Entertainment Industry
A Redditor stated, “The entertainment industry, I used to be excited at the release of a new movie/TV show. now it just feels like a chore to sit through.”
Someone else replied, “And paying for 5 streaming services, but the new movie you want to see isn’t on any of the services you already have.”
And what’s with the streaming wars? Instead of one or two subscriptions, we’re juggling more services than we can count. Want to watch everything you love? Be prepared to pay more than your rent.
9. Middle Class
A Reddit user wrote, “The middle class. We’re becoming the poor class.”
Someone else added, “Upper class always does great. The lower class gets all the affordable housing and government handouts. The middle class makes just enough to not be lower class, but not enough to live amongst the upper class. When interest rates go up, it affects the middle class the most.”
Do you know anyone who belongs to the middle class? What are their thoughts on inflation?
10. Socializing
One Redditor stated, “Socializing. What happened to being polite or having manners? I’m a college student, and I swear narcissism or narcissistic behavior is extremely common among students.”
Another person agreed to it and said, “I think that’s a long-term COVID side effect at this point. Rude, has no manners, and has narcissistic tendencies like a mofo. It’s pretty consistent at this point, too.”
And don’t get us started on the virtual hangouts. While they were a novel idea at first, now it feels like we’re stuck in a never-ending Zoom call.
11. Driving
These days, horns are honking, fingers are flying, and aggressive maneuvers have become the norm of the road.
One said, “People’s driving ability. They drive like they got infinity lives on contra.”
Someone else added, “Makes me hate driving. It’s the worst when driving in the right lane on the highway, and they’re 3″ off my bumper. The concept of passing is alien to them.”
12. Buying Fuel
Remember the glorious days when you could pull into a gas station, glance at the pump’s price, and not feel like you were about to donate a kidney for a gallon of fuel?
A discerning Reddit user commented, “The ability to buy fuel at an affordable price”
Someone else replied, “Well, considering that fuel prices had cratered in 2020 due to a dramatic decline in traveling, today’s prices are going to seem worse in comparison. I was delivering pizzas in 2008 as a side gig, and I remember gas just getting over $4/gallon (in Texas!).
Increased drilling in the Barnett Shale and other domestic areas increased supplies enough to drop gas below $2 by the end of the year. After that, it tended to stabilize and fluctuate around $2.50-$3.50/gallon from 2009 to 2020 where I was living. Today, gas is around $3.50 where I live now, so it’s pretty on par for the last decade and a half.”
13. Hats
First off, let’s talk about the hat selection. Remember when you could stroll into a store and choose from an array of hats, from classic fedoras to funky beanies? Now, they’ve streamlined the selection to a few basic options, as if the fashion world collectively decided that hats were so last season.
A Reddit user wrote, “The general attitude towards hats.”
Someone else added, “This was the first thing to come to my mind when I saw the first comment. People are not wearing enough hats.”
14. Housing
One said, “House market is insane. The skyrocketing prices are bananas.”
Another added, “I read a news article about how house prices are going down because so few people want to buy an expensive house.”
Let’s talk about rent too. Remember when you could find a nice apartment without feeling like you were signing your life away to the leasing office? Now, they’re charging you an arm, a leg, and your firstborn child for a tiny studio with questionable plumbing.
15. Customer Service
One Redditor stated, “Customer service is non-existent when you call service companies.”
Someone else replied, “I’ve had a chip on my shoulder about customer service since my early 20s. From the employee perspective, though. We were told our job was soooo important. Yet we got bottom-end wages and were constantly stuck between managers who didn’t have our backs and the especially abusive customers, I’m not surprised that employees in the industry have basically just stopped caring.”
Another person agreed to it and said, “Customer service was already horrible & has since taken a nosedive. Soon, there won’t even be a way to contact companies with issues anymore.”
And what’s with the endless automated menus? You press 1 for this, 2 for that, and by the time you get to the right department, you’ve forgotten why you called in the first place.
16. Car Market
Remember the days when you could stroll into a dealership, kick some tires, and drive off with a new set of wheels without feeling like you’ve just negotiated a peace treaty? Car shopping used to be a rite of passage, a thrilling adventure.
A Reddit user wrote, “Looking for a car last year we went to a dealership and their under $10,000 cars hadn’t been cleaned – 80° for a week with full sun we found a car with sippy cups full of now solid milk and dirty diapers on the floor. Asked the salesman if it was for sale or just parked, and for only $4,500, I could have taken it home, used diapers and all.
A freaking Ford Freestyle with almost 300,000 miles on it, full of poopy diapers and curdled milk, not to mention massive amounts of non-poppy trash and food smashed into the carpet and seats, books, toys, and god knows what else.”
Someone else added, “I bought a four-year-old car in 2014 for around $12-13k. Great car. It still runs great, and I expect a few more years of life out of it. I was browsing some used cars out of curiosity. Cars that are similar to what I have now, so 13 years old and just over 100k miles, are going for the same price now as my car did 9 years ago when it was much newer, had fewer miles, and was overall in better shape are also going for around $12-13k.”
17. Living
One said, “My will to live. Not saying I have none. It’s just that being compost sounds so peaceful.”
Another added, “This is the answer for me. I’m ready for this to end. Edit: sorry, passive, unaliving thought-a-mania is running wild tonight. I’m not planning on hurting myself.”
But you know what? We’re resilient beings, and our will to live is stronger than any rollercoaster ride. We’ll find pockets of joy in the everyday, cherish the small moments, and lean on our support networks.
18. Steak N’ Shake
A discerning Reddit user commented, “Steak n Shake used to be the bomb. I am sorry to say they are ruined now.”
Someone else replied, “My god, I haven’t had that in years! I discovered it in 2016, right after basic training. I would love to go there. Then I went to my hometown, and it was okay the first few times…. Then they gave us water that was so incredibly bad, and I never returned. Shut down soon after.”
Don’t get us wrong; we’ve all had some good times at Steak ‘n Shake. In the pre-2020 era, it was a haven for late-night munchies and hangover cures. But, oh boy, things have changed!
19. Primary Schools
A Reddit user wrote, “Primary Schools: Students are near-feral after 2 years of remote learning, often with no supervision, in single-parent households. The resulting disrespect and lack of desire/ability for students to shut up and pay attention makes it extremely difficult to teach.
Add to this lack of follow through on the part of administrators and parents to discipline students who are disruptive, which weakens the power equation further for teachers. The end result is teachers, and teaching assistants are leaving the profession in record numbers, creating a doom-loop. “
Another person agreed to it and said, “My aunt was a primary school teacher (retired recently), and she said quite a few kids came to them after lockdown not potty trained. 4/5-year-olds not potty trained because there’d been no impetus, I guess, to train your kid to not pee their pants outside the house?”
Then there’s the whole issue of technology addiction. Since 2020, they’ve handed us tablets and laptops like they’re candy. Sure, they’re useful for research, but it’s like a black hole of TikTok and Minecraft waiting to suck us in.
20. Couch Co-Op Games
Online gaming is cool, but it’s not the same as elbowing your buddy when you pull off a sweet combo in Mortal Kombat, right?
One said, “Couch Co-op video games are very few now, and it feels lesser and lesser are being developed as time goes on. It’s not what started the downhill, but it for sure added to it.”
Someone else added, “This one upsets me more than most. Me and my wife have such a hard time finding couch co-op games these days that we hardly ever try anymore. The old ps3 days where almost every game had couch co-op are sorely missed.”
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