I think that people in the 80s weren't used to having anything, whereas now people have got a higher standard of living and have to cut back again.
Also in the 80s, even though it was very hard to get a job, once you had a job you were unlikely to lose it, whereas now you could be let go at the drop of a hat (even with loads of education and experience).
When I finished school in the late 80s, office staff were paid about 60 a week, then it would go up to 100 after a few years. I know pay and conditions were bad, but at least you had a job. Even if you lived 10 or 15 miles out the country, you would be living at home and coming to work on buses until your mid to late 20s. Even young single people who were working full time may not have a holiday abroad every year. I remember not socialising at weekends for a few months before my holiday abroad. Usually people would only have one night out a week.
My father was a farmer and my mother worked full time in an office. Even though I was an only child, we rarely went on hols, we had one bad car. We didn't get a washing machine and house phone until the early 90s. (when I was in my early 20s)
People would rarely go out for dinner. It was frowned on as 'waste'. I love the way there is more of a culture of eating out now (early birds etc) esp as I don't really drink. I remember only starting to go out for dinner with friends in my late 20s, and only then once or twice a year. I only bought Lancome make up in my late 20s.
Even getting a coffee and scone in town was a big deal during the 80s. You wouldn't call in for something every time you were in town. As we were coming from the country we would often get hungry in town. I might call into a cafe for coffee and scone as a treat, but my mother would not want to get anything (sure it is only another 2 hours til we get home). Now I love the way it is more accepted to have a cappucino/latte in town, and I really enjoy it.
Clothes were always expensive in the late 80s compared to what people were earning. I can remember earning 130 a week, and trousers in Dunnes costing 30. Now trousers in Dunnes still cost 30 or 40 and I am earning more.
What is making the recession harder now is that people borrowed a lot of money, an now can't pay it back. At least in the 80s people didn't use credit so much.