I think it's fair to say, this is in part because people don't garden and can as much, more money is needed for the grocery store and not to mention other "needs" such as internet, cell phones, television... Things we used to just forgo.
By class pretentious do you mean that they have to have the latest gadgets etc and keep up with the neighbours? My parents were like this and it's a miserable way to live, I have a large family and we have none of the latest must haves but we are happy without all that junk. Even my furniture and household items are older than I am and will outlast all the modern rubbish.