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...