12 Everyday British Habits From The 1970s That Have Totally Vanished скачать в хорошем качестве

12 Everyday British Habits From The 1970s That Have Totally Vanished

What are the 12 everyday British habits from the 1970s that have totally vanished? The 1970s were a wonderfully ordinary and charming chapter of British life — a time when families shared routines, neighbourhoods felt close-knit, and little daily habits shaped the rhythm of every home. These weren’t headline moments, but the tiny rituals that made life feel simple, practical, and connected. Looking back at 12 everyday British habits from the 1970s that have totally vanished offers the perfect nostalgic window into a Britain that relied on community trust, hands-on living, and clever ways of doing things long before the digital age transformed daily routines. Twelve. Licking Green Shield Stamps for Hours Before points apps and loyalty cards, Britain had Green Shield Stamps, handed out at supermarkets, garages, and shops across the country. Families brought home sheets of these little green squares, tore them into strips, and spent entire evenings licking and sticking them into thick booklets. Kitchens often had drawers filled with half-completed books and stray stamp sheets waiting for attention. The Green Shield catalogue was part wish-book, part reward system. Children circled their favourite items, while adults treated it like a slow-burn savings plan. You could trade filled books for kettles, glasses, suitcases — even small furniture. This simple, sticky ritual was a shared family moment, a tiny thrill of anticipation, and one of the most distinctive habits of 1970s British life. Eleven. Giving Kids a Few Coins and Letting Them Roam All Day In 1970s Britain, childhood meant freedom — the kind that feels almost mythical today. Parents simply said, “Be home before dark,” and that was enough. Kids jumped on their bikes, met friends in parks, explored woods, climbed trees, and wandered between neighbourhoods without a schedule or check-ins. A few coins in their pocket opened the door to the sweet shop: chewy bars, crisps, fizzy drinks, or a paper bag filled with penny treats. Every shopkeeper knew the children by name, and older neighbours kept an eye out in a natural, unspoken way. This independence shaped confidence, creativity, and resilience. It was an era when community acted as a safety net, and roaming the streets all day felt perfectly ordinary — and perfectly magical. Ten. Wearing Plastic Rain Bonnets Folded Into Tiny Squares Nothing says 1970s Britain quite like the fold-up plastic rain bonnet. These tiny squares lived forever in handbags, tucked beside tissues, mints, and house keys. When clouds rolled in — which they frequently did — mums unfolded them with a practiced flick and slipped them on without interrupting a step. The bonnets protected carefully styled hair, especially rollers, curls, and home-set waves. They rustled charmingly in breezes and could be found everywhere: at markets, parks, bus stops, garden centres, and seaside promenades. Part practical tool, part fashion memory, the rain bonnet remains one of the decade’s most recognisable everyday essentials. Nine. Using a Phone Book to Find Everything Before online searches existed, Britain relied on the Yellow Pages and local phone directories for nearly every question. Every home had one near the landline — often on a small table with a pen and notepad. Looking up a plumber, a takeaway, a school, or a neighbour’s number meant flipping through thin paper pages. Businesses tried to stand out with big text or border designs. Children used phone books as craft material, makeshift seats, or stackable blocks for play. The directory was so standard that people rarely noticed it, yet it served as the backbone of household organisation. This quiet, reliable ritual vanished almost overnight when digital search took over. Eight. Walking to the Telly to Change the Channel Television in the 1970s was a hands-on experience. Most homes had only three channels — BBC One, BBC Two, and ITV — and the TV sets had no remote control. Changing the channel meant getting up, walking across the living room, and turning a chunky dial that clicked loudly with each twist. Sometimes the picture wobbled or rolled down the screen, prompting a gentle tap on the side of the set to steady it. Families often appointed the youngest child as the permanent “channel changer,” ready to hop up at a moment’s notice. This tiny act created a shared rhythm, turning nightly television into a more interactive family experience. IMPORTANT INFORMATION This video contains images that were used under a Creative Commons License. If you have any issue with the photos used in my channel or you find something that belongs to you before you claim it to youtube, please SEND ME A MESSAGE and I will DELETE it immediately. Thanks for understanding.