15 Things You’ll Only Remember if You Grew Up in the ’90s
Ready for a trip down memory lane? If you remember a time before everything went digital, you know what it was like to be a ’90s kid. We were the last generation to live life without a screen in our pocket.
Let’s revisit some of the best memories that only we will understand.
1. CD Players That Skipped
Remember getting your first CD player? It was so much cooler than a cassette tape! The sound was so clear, but you had to be super careful. If you bumped it even a little, the music would skip. We learned how to walk with it held perfectly flat just to keep the songs playing.
2. Making Mixtapes
This was a true art form! We’d listen to the radio with our finger on the “record” button, waiting for our favorite song to start. We’d try to get it just right, hoping the DJ wouldn’t talk over the beginning or end. Giving a mixtape to your crush was a big deal, and it took a lot of work.
3. The Friday Night Video Store Run
Friday nights were all about going to the video store! We’d grab our membership card and walk up and down the aisles, looking at all the VHS boxes. We always hoped the newest movie wasn’t already rented out, but even if it was, there were so many other movies to choose from.
4. The Sound of the Internet
To get online, you had to listen to that funny, loud sound of the dial-up modem. It was a test of patience! And if anyone picked up the phone while you were online, it would cut you off and you’d lose all your progress.
5. “You’ve Got Mail!”
After all that waiting for the internet to connect, hearing that famous phrase was the best feeling! A simple message felt like winning the lottery.
6. Floppy Discs
Before flash drives, we had floppy discs. If you’re old enough, you might remember the big, floppy ones, but most of us had the hard plastic kind. We’d save our school reports and computer games on them.
7. Pogs and Slammers
These little cardboard circles were everywhere! We’d collect them, trade them with friends, and play with them on the playground. It was all about showing off your best ones and trying to win more.
8. Disposable Cameras
No phones in our pockets meant we used little plastic disposable cameras. You’d snap a few photos at a party or birthday, then wait days to get them developed. The surprise of seeing how the pictures turned out was half the fun!
9. Encarta and MindMaze
Before Google, there was Encarta! This encyclopedia on a CD-ROM was the best way to do a school project. You could spend hours just clicking from one topic to the next, learning new things. Plus, it had a fun trivia game called MindMaze!
10. Giant Paper Maps
Every road trip started with a huge paper map. We’d unfold it on the kitchen table and trace our route with a finger. These maps never ran out of battery and were always ready to save the day if you got lost.
11. Gaming Magazines
If you wanted to find a cheat code or a walkthrough for a video game, you had to buy a magazine! We’d flip through the pages of magazines like GamePro and Tips and Tricks to find all the secrets.
12. Writing Checks
Paying for things often meant writing a check. It wasn’t as fast as swiping a card, but it felt like you were in control of your money. And we always had a carbon copy to keep a record of what we bought.
13. Smoking in Restaurants
It’s hard to believe now, but people used to smoke everywhere—even inside restaurants like McDonald’s! There would be little ashtrays on the tables, and nobody thought twice about it.
14. Cheaper Plane Tickets
Flying in the ’90s felt more special. Plane tickets were becoming more affordable, and it was a new way for more people to travel. The lines were shorter, and it all felt more relaxed.
15. The Amazing PB Crisps
This was a snack that everyone loved! Shaped like little peanuts, they were crunchy on the outside with a creamy peanut butter filling. Sadly, they’re not around anymore, but we’ll always remember how good they were.
What ’90s memory did we miss? Share your favorites in the comments below!
