What $5.63 Bought Back In 1962...The American Food Store

Youtube ^ | 5/30/2011 | Youtube

[Oshkalaboomboom]

The problem with comparing 1960 to today is not possible because a 1000 square foot home is so small and not even possible to live in.

Try watching a few episodes of House Hunters International on HGTV or going to an Ikea, where they have complete households set up in a 500 square foot space. Most of the world lives in homes of less than 1000 square feet and they pay dearly for the privilege.

Or if you really want to downsize, try living in Hong Kong

[napscoordinator]

Oh wow. To be honest I am glad that we like our space. I have been to various countries where they all sit on each other. In my one friends home, they have a home theater. It is seriously awesome. I watch Book of Eli and was so impressed with the sound and picture. We are so lucky and there is no way in the World that I want to go back to the past! Yuk who would want that. I love the world today. Sure you have to lock your door but big deal. Today is absolutely wonderful in so many ways.

[BwanaNdege]

During my Senior year in High School my Mom bought a ‘65 Valiant 170 Slant 6, 3-speed manual, with optional heater and AM radio for $2400, tax, tag, delivery & rubber floor mats in late 1964.

Y’all got a great deal at $1700!

[vwbug]

Our family car was a Valiant with the push button automatic. Dad couldn’t drive a standard because his leg left leg was removed due to a WWII wound via the Germans. His new leg was made from wood, hard to press a clutch.

[Rebelbase]

“Also, the shelves are full not like today’s where whole sections may be empty. “

Unlike today where the grocery stores products are shipped and restocked each night. Back in that day they got one or two shipments a week of everything and stored it in the back.

[BwanaNdege]

I was a cashier at Krogers in 1964-65. IIRC, a full bag of groceries averaged about $5. I made $1.25/hour.

DON’T forget to give the customer their Top Value stamps!

[Overtaxed]

The problem with comparing 1960 to today is not possible because a 1000 square foot home is so small and not even possible to live in.

I like my little 1954 1000 sq. ft. ranch.

[driftless2]

While I prefer todays gadgets to yesterdays, life wasn't too bad fifty years ago. Even though, like many Boomers, I was one of seven kids with Pa the only one with a job. One car, one tv, no vacation trips, but we had it pretty nice. The only things a boy needed for summer was a bike and his baseball glove. I remember we got a glass of soda pop once a week, Saturday night, and we used to measure it with a ruler to make sure one kid didn't get a smidge more than the other. My mother gave me a nickel reward for going to the store to get bread (which we were always running out of), and I thought that was great.

I do remember talking to an old surveyor one time some years later (a friend of mine and I were helping him do a little work), and he remembered growing up around the turn of the 20th century. He remarked that people who complained about life now didn't know how easy it was to live today (1972) than sixty years earlier.

[bgill]

Here, there’s empty sections. Manager claims the truck didn’t deliver x, y, z. Of course, there’s also the problem these last several months that they seem to have “problems” with delivery of advertized specials. Once, ok, delivery snag but when it becomes a habit I don’t buy it. Once, they had catfish on sale for $1.27 lb. Not a package could be found in three towns. When I confronted them, it was like I was making a drug deal - ok, meet “the guy” in the back at X time, put your order in,
“the guy” brings out your order, slips back in the back and doesn’t restock shelf, then at the checkout the cashier and sacker both look at you like you have two heads and comment they didn’t know there was any catfish, hmmm.... When there’s only the one game in town, you can email the company but that’s about it.

[libertarian27]

~Kitchen Ping List~

(to be added/deleted, please PM me)

[Silentgypsy]

“The women all wore dresses...”

Not only dresses but slips, stockings, full appropriate undergarments including hoops and all those crazy petticoats.”

Did your legs freeze in winter? Mine did. Thank heaven for pants, tights, long underwear, woolen knee sox, etc. Oh, and forget those spike heels. Surprising that we didn’t break more ankles.

[Silentgypsy]

Actually, there’s a website called “Tiny Houses” or something like that. They seem very functional. If you need storage, you can pick up a container online (we have three 40’ by 8’).

[Windflier]

In 1952 my mother and my step father bought a 3/2/1 on 2.5 acres(in CA)for $4500. I don’t know what the payments were but they were to the former owner, not a bank and they paid it off early.

My grandfather bought his first home in Los Angeles around the same time, and burned the mortgage in less than ten years.

I'm pretty sure he paid about what your mom and step dad did. The man worked a whole lot of extra jobs to do it, but it was a different day, when such a thing was possible for a working guy to do.

[Mike Darancette]

$.10, $.12, $.23, $.19, $.17,..... That roast today would be over $20 by itself. What have we done?

[goat granny]

I don't think they even build beginner homes at 1000 sq. feet today. Everything is big and expensive...Our first home didn't have my name of the mortgage cause I wasn't 21 yet. Starter homes were small and people could not even get a mortgage unless you met certain requirements. It was big enough for us to have 5 kids in but not 6. We felt we were lucky to buy our own home...

A lot of things we have today were not invented yet...ouch...

[metmom]

Problem is, tanning a kid’s jacket in public these days will get you a visit by CPS and likely end up with your kids in foster care, fodder for the molesters there and you facing criminal charges for child abuse.

[unkus]

That’s cool. Thanks for sharing that.

“Cool” hasn’t ever gone away, I just realized. LOL

[Cardhu]

Ping

[PA Engineer]

I was 7 in '62. My parents' mortgage was ELEVEN DOLLARS/mo. I used to go to the bank with my mom and the teller stamped her book with her payment. We lived in a shake-shingled Dutch colonial in a beautiful middle-class neighborhood. This was an average mortgage payment in that day.

I remember queuing at the bank on Friday afternoon with the savings book. The only thing I thought was missing from the movie was the green stamps and books.

As for kids behaving in public in those days...did we have a choice? I didn't know you COULD misbehave in public!

Not only would you parents straiten you out, but so would the neighbors.

[Joya]

Quite interesting. Thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gu8QFMlAg0