Growing up in the U.S. has some hidden benefits that a lot of Gen Z don’t really notice, as a lot of them care more about pointing out the flaws. While that’s important, we can’t forget the everyday things that make life easier, more comfortable—and full of little freedoms. Here are eleven specific American lifestyle benefits that Gen Z often takes for granted. It’s not all doom and gloom, despite what they might tell you.
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Free Public Restrooms Are Everywhere
If you’ve ever traveled abroad, you know paying to use a restroom is quite normal, yet that’s not the case in America—you can just pop into a gas station or a grocery store to use the bathroom for free. Of course, it’s not glamorous, but it’s a little freedom you don’t think about until it’s gone. Many public places in European countries charge customers to use their facilities, or at least require them to be paying customers.
Return Policies Are Incredibly Generous
American stores are famous for letting people return almost anything without a big argument, whether that’s because you bought shoes that didn’t fit or changed your mind on a coffee machine. Most stores like Walmart and Target will take stuff back with barely any questions, which is something that’s a lot stricter in other places. They have tighter regulations around how much time customers have to return things because they don’t believe the customer is always right.
Customer Service That Actually Tries To Help
Speaking of customer service, America has customer service like no other, meaning you’re able to call, email, or live chat with most companies & expect someone actually to try fixing the problem. Stores will often apologize or give discounts without a huge fight because they understand how important it is to retain customers. But Gen Z neglect how unique this is and they don’t realize that dealing with businesses isn’t always this easy elsewhere.
Free Refills Without Catching A Side-Eye
Order a soda at an American diner or casual restaurant & you’ll probably get free refills without even needing to ask—this isn’t common in most parts of the world. In Europe or Asia, for example, you often pay for every single glass, so those endless refills are a sweet (and overlooked) deal in America. You won’t find this kind of freedom with your drinks in many other places.
Customization On Almost Everything You Buy
Similarly, anytime you walk into a fast food place, you’re able to customize your whole order without getting weird looks—no onions, extra cheese, different sauce, substitute sides, it’s totally normal. Gen Z grew up with this level of choice built into almost every service, from coffee orders to sneakers. Yet they barely notice how easy it is to get exactly what they want and how this freedom of choice is exclusively American.
College Campuses Are Basically Small Cities
Universities in the U.S. often have full-sized gyms, food courts, mini-malls, concert halls and even movie theaters, which is quite different from university life in other countries. They have colleges that are mostly academic buildings and that’s it. Gen Z students in America get to enjoy these “campus towns” without realizing how rare that setup really is around the world.
Community College As An Affordable Option
But that’s not all for college, as we also have community colleges that have two-year degrees & certifications at extremely low tuition costs compared to universities. They’re all over the country and accept almost anyone—but most Gen Zers see them as a backup plan or stepping stone. In many countries, this kind of widespread, affordable post-high school education simply doesn’t exist.
Grocery Stores Are Open Ridiculously Late
It’s okay if you suddenly remember you need milk at 11 PM in America because the chances are that a grocery store nearby is still open, whether that’s a chain like Walmart or a local store. Most of them stay open late—and some even run 24/7, unlike most places in Europe that have strict closing times. In the UK, for example, stores close early and Sunday shopping is extremely limited.
Having Huge Grocery Stores With Every Type Of Food
American grocery stores like Kroger and Walmart carry international foods, allergy alternatives, seasonal specials, as well as an insane variety of brands that would make people from other countries jealous. Gen Z grew up walking through aisles filled with a hundred types of cereal & five brands of oat milk without realizing that’s not how grocery shopping looks in most of the world. They have much more limited selections in other countries.
Free National Parks Access For Students And Low-Cost Entry
The U.S. has an enormous, publicly funded national parks system that’s quite affordable and students under certain programs even get free access. While other countries have protected areas, the scale & low entry costs are rare—they also don’t have places like Yosemite or Yellowstone. Many Gen Zers have field trips and vacations here without realizing how special that is.
Huge Residential Home Sizes Compared To The Rest Of The World
American houses and apartments, even entry-level ones, are often a lot bigger than what’s standard in most other countries, despite what Gen Z might believe. They think it’s normal to have a separate bedroom, a living room & sometimes even a yard—in reality, space like that is way harder to come by elsewhere. Homes in most other countries are much smaller-scale, especially in the cities.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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