Comments on: I Sound Like Grandpa Simpson

By: Shelly Kneupper Tucker

Shelly Kneupper Tucker — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:38:12 +0000

We had a different “mind set” back then, too. We saved our money instead of spending money we didn’t have. The dollar was worth more, too (isn’t it strange how the dollar’s value fluctuates?). I don’t want to go back, but I wish that prices would settle down a bit!

By: Jessica The Rock Chick

Jessica The Rock Chick — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:52:04 +0000

I think if you looked at the ratio of income to whatever anything cost back then, I would be surprised if it weren’t less than it is now. I remember sales tax being a lot less than the 10.25% we pay now, too. Hard to say because buying power varies on where you live, too.

My mom says we had more money back then because we didn’t have cable and cell phones and all this other techno stuff we keep buying and replacing. It’s probably true.
.-= Jessica The Rock Chick´s last blog ..Right Place, Wrong Time =-.

By: Spadoman

Spadoman — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:45:59 +0000

My Dad was on the cutting edge, and when they opened the newest hamburger place, he took Mom and me to the new McDonald’s. Fifteen cents for a burger, fifteen cents for fries and fifteen cents for a soft drink. Two cents tax back then, (4% on the dollar). He fed me and Mom for $0.94. (He probably had two burgers and spent less than two bucks on a night out).
Arlene’s, the small grocerette on the corner, a forerunner to the modern day convenience store, was where I was sent for milk, bread, eggs and cigarettes. Mom would write a note at first, but after a while, Arlene just gave me a pack of Parliament for Mom when I asked her. By the way, a dollar would buy the bread, milk and eggs and I’d have change for a five cent candy bar. (I liked Chunky, “What a chunk of chocolate!”
I could go on for hours, maybe because I’m getting as old as dirt!

Peace.
.-= Spadoman´s last blog ..A Sunday Morning at Spadoville =-.

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:20:03 +0000

I remember paying a quarter for the bus. A dime for my little sister when we went out for a bus ride together. But, when I got an allowance (which was not every week) it would be a couple of dollars for the month. Sometimes I’d get $10 or even $20 for my birthday and Christmas. (They are in the same month so I’d be feeling pretty rich for awhile then.)

By: jeanie

jeanie — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:28:28 +0000

I tend to be a bit more Bill Cosby.

When I was a girl, you got 50 cents to spend at the pool after swimming – and that would buy you a pie AND a softdrink. Of course, we would buy lollies instead, and 20 cents of mixed lollies would get all you friends and you on a sugar high – that was when lolly false teeth actually FIT on your teeth.
.-= jeanie´s last blog ..Do you DO mornings? =-.

By: Jeni Hill Ertmer

Jeni Hill Ertmer — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:26:14 +0000

Back in 1967-68, when my oldest was a baby, I supported her and my Mom too on less than $5,200 a year! We managed without food stamps -as there was no such thing as that back then -and I averaged about $50 a MONTH for groceries for the three of us, which included purchasing special foods -i.e. baby food -for my daughter. Today, granted there are six of us in the household now, $50 barely scratches the surface of our grocery expenses in a week! I agree completely with your thoughts -prices being what they were then and income being what it is today! Good luck in achieving that idea, huh? .-= Jeni Hill Ertmer´s last blog ..Confusion Reigns Supreme! =-.

By: Essessyou

Essessyou — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:13:21 +0000

Now don't get me started! Thing is, I might start off as Abe Simpson -- but I tend to morph into Dana Carvey's "Grumpy Old Man" schtick. You know: I don't like the way things are compared to how they used to be. Everything today is improved and I hate it. In my day we didn't have hair dryers. If you wanted to blow-dry your hair, you stood outside during a tornado. Your hair was dry but you had a sharp piece of wood driven clear through your skull and that's the way it was and we were grateful!