People share what life was like in the 90s, taking everyone on a nostalgic trip to the good old days

Today, we find ourselves in a fast-paced rat race, constantly climbing the corporate ladder. Even children are engrossed in smart technology, redefining playtime as screentime. As living costs skyrocket in major cities worldwide, many of us long for the slower, happier days of the past.

The 90s were truly a golden era for kids. Technology was present but not overwhelming, pop culture thrived, and living costs were manageable. Those who experienced the decade know how rewarding it was. When u/Mental_Grass_9035 asked on Reddit, "For those who lived in the 90s, what were they like?" nearly 6,000 responses flooded in, reflecting on the wonderful aspects of that time. Here are 20 of the best responses that will take you on a nostalgic journey to that glorious decade.

1.  Less overwhelming times

It's hard to say if the '90s were awesome or if just being a kid was awesome, but I'm pretty sure the answer is both. We had enough to entertain ourselves and connect with others, but not so much that it was overwhelming. -u/Radz1212.

2. Good vibes only

I was pretty young in the 90s, but it felt like there was a sense of bottomless optimism, at least in the West. That all kind of changed in 2001 and then even more in 2008. -u/Reddit User.

3. Sunset of the analog age

The 90s were amazing. The Cold War was over. 9/11 had not yet happened. It seemed as if maybe the world would finally get it together. The US military was actively downsizing. Wrap your head around that. The music in the first half of the 90s was amazing. The Internet was new and in its infancy, so it was exciting and hopeful. It was the sunset of the Analog Age. We actually had to physically gather together in groups over beer and wine, great food and laughs like animals. -u/blinkysmurf.

4. Outdoor playtime

I was a child in the 90s. I played outside a lot and played with my toys a lot. We didn't have cable, so I didn't watch much TV. I could play with my toys and with my sister all day. -u/Murrmaidthefurrmaid.

5. Hopeful days

 
I turned 18 in 1990 and joined the military right after high school graduation. I grew up with the threat of nuclear annihilation and was on active duty Air Force working on nuclear weapons when the Soviet Union collapsed. The day we removed our missiles from the bombers and off of alert status, then stored them in their bunkers, was monumental. The effect of this cannot be overstated the hope of the world in the early '90s was an amazing thing to experience firsthand. -u/J412h.

6. A childhood that didn't need supervision

Little to no supervision. You only knew your friends were home because their bike was out front. Video games were not as popular as playing outside using your imagination. I built countless hideouts or clubhouses that would never be approved by a home inspector. Knowing it's time to head home when street lights are turned on. -u/dozerman23.

7. Life was simple

Everything was affordable, wages were great, and the movies were amazing. It was actually fun going out on the weekends. Life was good. -u/marty_moose24.

8. Vibrant

In one word, I would say 'vibrant.' The iconic fashion trends, the booming pop culture, and the rise of technology made it a great decade. -u/MargotDaisy.

9. When Lunchables was a thing

It was amazing in ways you can't fully describe. Social media wasn't a thing. Everything was simpler. Feelings couldn't be hurt so easily and we just lived our lives and did the best we could with what we had. Oh, and if you brought lunchables to school, you felt like a literal God. -u/JayNoi91.

10. Talks over texts

If you were in the US in a West Coast city, the 90s felt hopeful, peaceful and creative. We didn't live in a nonstop outrage of catastrophe data dump. People actually talked with each other. -u/HedgeHog-Plane.

11. Children's paradise

Disney was pumping out some of their best movies. Nickelodeon Studios was producing fun entertainment, both live-action and scripted/animated. Fast food joints were giving out amazing kid's meal toys- it's random, but that's something I remember about that decade. Holidays seemed like a bigger deal in the 90s than now, probably due to the internet. -u/th3bigdirty.

12. Affordable life

The money, affordable housing, music and socialization because of the lack of internet/social media/smartphones - everything was better. Fairly sure there was a period of 99-cent gas in there too, but I could be mistaken. I am glad to have lived as a teen and a young adult through that period. -u/cavey00.

13. Showing up for each other

No cell phones. So we would just show up to people's houses if we were around and they would show up to ours. I know this sounds awful, but it was actually a nice surprise to have friends and family show up to just talk. -u/jen3213.

14. Slow and peaceful

It was so much slower without cell phones really. Peaceful, I guess, now that I look back.  Don't get me wrong, cell phones are super handy and great. It's just back then, we wouldn't have been able to fathom what social media has evolved into. -u/HistorysWitness.

15. Young, wild and free

Malls, arcades, going out to the theater to check out girls, playing outside and not coming home till dinner time, fighting with kids and not worrying about getting murdered the following week because you guys made up the next day. It was a different time. -Reddit User.

16. A limitless world

I was a kid and a tween in the 90s. The world felt limitless. Everything was extreme. Everything was dialed up to 11. The idea of the world changing as it did after 9/11 was so far from everyone's minds. It was a fantastic time to grow up in. -u/LizzieSaysHi.

17. Humanity peaked here

It literally was the peak of humanity. Once social media took off, it's been downhill ever since. -u/Unable-Collection179.

18. Age of electronics

So many electronic stores. I remember feeling like they would always be so cool and never die. Also, an exciting Friday or Saturday night was getting to rent VHS or later DVDs for the weekend. -u/Reasonable-Sweet-232.

19. Innocent times 

They were magical. I think it was the last era wherein we were safe. We were more innocent and our sense of surprise was too big as everything (from my perspective) surprised us. Then 9/11 came and took away that innocence. -u/actstunt.

20. Privacy mattered

Privacy was actually a thing then. You actually had to figure video games out on your own and learn how to survive without asking Siri or Alexa a thing. -u/Aether76.