They might be outdated, but to boomers, these 7 items still matter—and here’s the psychology behind it.

We all have our quirks when it comes to holding on to things. But if you’ve ever walked into a boomer’s home and felt like you’d stepped into a time capsule, you’re not alone.

There’s something about that generation—born into a world without smartphones or streaming—that gives them a very different relationship with their stuff. It’s not just about practicality. It’s about memories, habits, and sometimes a little resistance to change.

Here are seven household items that boomers just can’t seem to let go of, even when the rest of the world has clearly moved on.

1. Landline phones

You’d think by now, the cell phone would’ve made the landline extinct. But for a lot of boomers, that corded phone on the wall or the chunky wireless handset on the kitchen counter is non-negotiable.

There’s something comforting about the reliability of it. No dropped calls. No low battery warnings. No “can you hear me now?”

For some, it’s a backup. For others, it’s the main line. I visited my aunt recently and when her smartphone died mid-conversation, she casually said, “Hold on, I’ll call you back on the house phone.”

I forgot people still had those.

As noted by Pew Research Center, about 25% of adults over 65 still have a landline and no cellphone. That number’s shrinking, but slowly. And it says a lot about how this generation defines safety and communication.

The landline isn’t just a phone. It’s a symbol of constancy. A little slice of the analog world they grew up in.

2. China cabinets

If you’re under 40, there’s a good chance you’ve never used a china cabinet for its intended purpose. But walk into a boomer’s dining room, and there it is—filled with porcelain tea sets, silverware that only comes out on holidays, and dishes nobody’s allowed to touch.

It’s not just storage. It’s a museum of family history.

My friend’s mom once said, “These plates were a wedding gift. They’ve never been used.” I asked why. She said, “They’re too special.” That sentence says everything.

To boomers, these cabinets aren’t clutter. They’re legacy. A reminder that some things are too important for everyday use. Ironically, that also means they gather dust for decades.

Many of us have moved toward minimalism, but boomers were raised with the idea that showing your best things meant displaying them proudly—even if they weren’t practical.

3. Encyclopedias

The internet exists. We all know this. But there’s still a deep reverence among boomers for the old-school bookshelf lined with World Book or Britannica volumes.

I asked my dad once why he still had his 1987 encyclopedia set. His answer? “You never know when you’ll need to look something up.”

I reminded him he has an iPad.

He said, “Yeah, but it’s not the same.”

And he meant it.

This isn’t about information. It’s about trust. Encyclopedias, to many boomers, feel vetted and real in a way the chaotic internet never will.

There’s also the visual appeal—leather-bound volumes with gold lettering, lined up like scholarly trophies. They represent a time when knowledge felt tangible. When researching something took time and intention.

Even though they’re functionally obsolete, those books still hold emotional and intellectual weight.

4. Plastic bags full of plastic bags

You know the one. It’s either under the sink, in a drawer, or stuffed inside another bag. A bag of bags. Possibly with a stash of twist ties and bread clips for good measure.

Boomers were eco-conscious long before it was a trend. They didn’t call it sustainability. They just hated wasting things.

As behavioral economist Dan Ariely has said, “We are not rational creatures—we are creatures of habit and meaning.” Keeping bags “just in case” speaks to both.

This habit goes deeper than utility. It’s a mindset. You never know when you’ll need a bag to line a bin, carry leftovers, or wrap up wet clothes.

It’s the same logic behind keeping a drawer full of rubber bands, expired coupons, and takeout menus. It’s not about mess—it’s about readiness.

5. Alarm clocks

Yes, those little digital clocks with the red glowing numbers. Or the analog ones that tick just loud enough to keep you awake.

Most people now use their phones to wake up. But boomers? Many still trust that stand-alone alarm more than any app.

It’s dependable. It doesn’t require updates. It won’t die in the middle of the night if your charger fails.

There’s also something nostalgic about that morning beep-beep-beep. It’s the sound of being on time in a pre-smartphone world.

I’ve mentioned this before, but our devices are multi-tools. For boomers, single-use items still have value. And the alarm clock has one job—it does it well, and that’s enough.

It’s also about routine. As psychologist Dr. Robert Taibbi explains, “Routine brings comfort and structure, especially in a world that often feels unpredictable.” And for many boomers, nothing sets the tone for the day like that reliable bedside clock.

6. VHS tapes

There’s something charming (and mildly frustrating) about rewinding a tape.

But if you go into many boomer homes, you’ll find stacks of VHS tapes labeled in Sharpie. Old movies. Home videos. Maybe that one vacation from 1992 they keep saying they’ll digitize.

Even when they no longer own a VCR, the tapes stay.

Why?

Because they represent something personal. A time when recording a moment was an effort. When “movie night” meant a trip to the rental store.

As filmmaker Werner Herzog once said, “Technology has the shelf life of a banana.” But memory? That’s different. And for boomers, those tapes are memory made tangible.

And let’s not ignore the emotional resistance to throwing them out. You’re not just discarding a cassette. You’re letting go of a Christmas morning from 1989. A graduation. A wedding dance. It’s not so easy.

7. Wall calendars

Not the cute, artsy kind people hang for decoration. I’m talking about the big ones from the local bank or auto shop. The ones that actually get written on—with pens, not styluses.

I saw one in a neighbor’s kitchen recently. Every square had something scribbled in it: birthdays, dentist appointments, lunch with “Nancy.”

It’s not that they don’t have phones. It’s that there’s trust in paper. You can see the whole month at a glance. You don’t have to click or scroll or sync anything.

It’s tactile. Reliable. And maybe even a little grounding.

Psychologist Dr. Barbara Greenberg once noted, “Routine and visual structure are important to many older adults. It gives a sense of control.” And that’s really it, isn’t it?

For boomers, the wall calendar isn’t just a planner. It’s a touchstone. Something solid in a world that’s constantly updating itself.

The bottom line

Boomers aren’t clinging to these things out of stubbornness. At least, not only that.

They’re holding on to reminders of a world that made sense to them—a world where things were built to last, and value wasn’t tied to the latest update.

Sure, the rest of us might raise an eyebrow at the tape collections, the rotary phones, or the pile of rubber bands in the junk drawer. But these objects tell stories. And in a way, they anchor people to those stories.

There’s a kind of quiet wisdom in it.

A belief that not everything needs to be upgraded. That some things are worth keeping simply because they remind us who we used to be.

And maybe—just maybe—that’s a lesson the rest of us could use from time to time.