Every generation has its oddities, but boomers have a culture all their own. There are certain quirky habits that are pure boomer magic—and totally puzzling to anyone under 40. As time rolls on and technology takes over, a lot of these once-everyday things are slowly fading away. So let’s take a stroll down memory lane and take an irreverent look at the 13 quirks that will go extinct after boomers.
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Answering Unknown Calls
Boomers will answer a phone call from an unknown number, just to see who’s on the other end. To the younger crowd, if it’s not a text, it’s a scam. The days of “just calling to say hi” are numbered.
Hanging Plastic on Furniture
After all, nothing says “make yourself at home” like sticking to the couch when the temperature soars. Boomers swear by it to protect their spotless living room sets. Everyone else just sweats and slides.
Clipping Coupons with Scissors
Remember the Sunday ritual of flipping through the newspaper and cutting tiny rectangles for 50 cents off soup? Boomers had it down to a science. We now just Google promo codes while still standing in the checkout line.
Carrying Cash… and Lots of It
Boomers love a fat wallet bulging with bills “just in case.” Millennials, meanwhile, panic if a restaurant doesn’t accept Apple Pay. Who even carries coins anymore?
Writing Checks at the Grocery Store
Nothing tests a person’s patience quite like the person ahead of you in line at the grocery store trying to balance their checkbook at the register. Boomers write checks like it’s still 1985 — and they take great pride in doing so. Gen Z barely knows what a check is.
Calling It “The Facebook”
Boomers will forever add “the” before everything digital. “The Facebook,” “the Netflix,” “the email.” It’s endearing, baffling, and a little bit iconic.
Asking for Directions Instead of Using GPS
Boomers will stop at any gas station for directions and unsolicited life advice from strangers. The rest of us sit in our cars patiently… trusting our fate to Google Maps—even when it sends us into a lake.
Telling You to “Put a Jacket On or You’ll Catch a Cold”
Boomers think weather makes you sick, and a cardigan is the cure-all solution. Science has come a long way. But Mom still thinks you’ll get the sniffles if your ankles are showing.
Forwarding Questionable Emails
Boomers can’t help forwarding that overly dramatic chain email or “urgent” message that screams 2004. If it has Comic Sans, flashing red font, or says you’ll have seven years of bad luck, it’s going straight to your inbox.
Talking on Speakerphone in Public
There’s one more boomer superpower — talking on speakerphone, in a crowded space. It may be a full-blown conversation, medical update, or grocery list. They most often do not put on headphones.
Bragging About Not Knowing How to Use Technology
Boomers will happily announce “I don’t do the TikToks” like it’s a personality quirk. It’s adorable, until you’re having to show them for the tenth time how to send an emoji.
Keeping a Drawer Full of Takeout Condiments and Napkins
Boomers value ketchup packets like gold and never throw away soy sauce. Somewhere in their kitchen is a drawer older than your entire career path, stuffed with mystery sauces and hope.
Leaving Voicemails That Are Basically Novels
Boomers don’t just leave a voicemail; they send chapters. “Hi, it’s me, calling to say hi. By the way, I know you’re busy. Anyway, your aunt Linda said hi, and did you see the weather…” By the end of it, you’ve missed five texts and a FaceTime request.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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