Just musing...

[ostarella]

I started working in 1970, part-time in a grocery store in the little town I grew up in. I worked Friday nights (the only night of the week any stores were open past 5PM) and all day Saturday. Friday nights were also "Drawing Night", where the town sponsored a cash drawing. Everybody came to town on Drawing Night. I can't remember what my wages were - but it was something to have a job like that instead of working at the A&W during the summer.

My first full-time, self-supporting job came in 1975 - $1.65/hour. I not only bought a brand new sports car (for a whopping $3000) but I was able to afford my own two-bedroom apartment ($190/month).

Now, federal minimum wage is $7.75. You can't look at a two-bedroom apartment for less than $800/month and the cheapest new cars (not sports cars) are over $10,000.

I think I liked things better at $1.65/hour...

Comments

[billy-shriner.livejournal.com]

You are so right. Kids of today really haven't got an easy ride. We're trying to save, (and maybe when we downsize our house) and hope that some savings we have put by will help them go to University etc. I really want to make sure they get a rung on that ladder... because if its bad now... what's 20 years from now going to be like.

Me and my hubby were really lucky, bought our properties in 1997 when the market was rock bottom and started to rocket. Enabling us to put a good deposit on the house we own now (as well as buying a sports car and a great holiday in New Zealand thanks to selling my flat that had made good equity being close to London). I really am worried for my boys.... but hoping our "luck" back then, will help them in the future.

[mlpsunflower.livejournal.com]

Tell me about it. I'm having trouble finding a reliable used car for under $7000.00 myself. Sports car? what sports car?
I will never have enough money to ever think about buying one.