Another of my periodic "you don't realize how good you have it" posts. I became aware in the 1980s.

Groceries were more primal and limited in selection. Much less was directly edible, more were ingredients requiring some preparation and cooking process. "Prepackaged" foods were often a powder combining several ingredients which would still require the addition of further fresh ones and cooking. Microwaves didn't exist; instant "TV dinners" were heated in the oven, popcorn was made directly over stove heat in a way that burned many kernels. Sandwiches, toast, eggs, bacon, and canned soup enjoyed more prominence as low-preparation foods.

Fresh produce now available year-round was only available seasonally; seasonal foods had narrower windows of availability. More fruit and vegetables were purchased frozen, canned, or otherwise preserved.

Meat and fish available at a supermarket was more often fattier and less fresh; independent butchers, fishmongers, and bakeries were more of a thing. Supermarkets did not house banks or even ATMs, but could give you cash for a check. Credit cards, UPC scanners, and automatic conveyor belts were still novel.

Power windows and cupholders became standard in cars over the 80s, airbags and antilock brakes in the 90s. Cruise control had still been somewhat novel when I first paid attention. Car fenders used to be metal that would absorb impact by deformation. In the reverse direction, cars were first designed with front "crumple zones" to absorb impact through deformation, rather than transmitting it to a passenger compartment it would try to shove the engine block through.

Clothes were more expensive, they would tear, fade, stain, and wear quicker. Their fabrics stretched less (and thus fit worse off the rack or required custom fitting) shed moisture worse, and were more uncomfortable against the skin. Warm clothes breathed worse and overheated, light clothes were less insulated and chilly, there was more necessary layering. For that matter warm clothes weren't even as warm. A narrower range of dye colors were pragmatic; dyes would fade or bleed into other clothes in the wash. Home washing required more specific procedures and products to be satisfactory, more clothes required dry cleaning.

Basically, the clothes available for sale to you were whatever your local store had picked up. If you were in a city you might have some selection; people took yearly day trips or even vacations to cities to buy clothes for that year. If you were in the suburbs you would have satellites of your local city's department stores, maybe even a related discount outlet (ours was Strawbridge & Clothier's "Clover") and the small stores that filled in the malls they anchored. Those stores were transitioning from replacement-for-downtown independent shops to chains, The Gap was big. If you were further out you would have whatever Main Street storefront, maybe a Salvation Army and KMart. Since the original Sears catalog, much clothes shopping was done by mail.

A major advance in my age were clothes (and draperies, and furniture) that were less flammable, my generation found it odd that we were instructed so intently (stop, drop, and roll!) on how to deal with our environments or persons catching fire.

Men still wore leather shoes that required custom fitting and the regular artisanal replacement of worn-out soles. Athletic shoes/"sneakers" were less stylish, less supportive, bulkier, offered poorer traction, and often audibly squeaked while walking.