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Do you remember when.......

My mom turns 80 this week and it reminded me of the birthday cards that tell what happened and how much things cost in a persons birth year. Do you remember when candy bars were a nickel, and a bottle of pop was a dime? Soft serve ice cream cones were a nickel or a dime, bubble gum was a penny. My high school grocery store job paid $1.65 per hour and as a college student in 1970 I remember paying $.29 per gallon for gas.

What's it going to be like for my kids? When they're my age (57) are they going to be saying they remember the good old days in Oklahoma City when gas was $3.50 per gallon? When it only cost $8.50 to get in the theatre to watch a movie? I guess it's all in a person's perspective, isn't it?

So let me ask you this.......what's the most ridiculous?

1. Gas at $3.50 per gallon

2. Milk at $3.50 per gallon or

3. Bread at $3.00 per loaf

My vote is for the bread at $3.00 although I bought a less expensivive loaf. By the way the first home I sold was in 1975 for $30,000 and that was pricey! I sold several in the $15,000 to $20,000 range.

Posted by Steve Mangus on 09/07/2008 09:48 PM

Comments (21)

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21 Comments on Do you remember when.......

SEP

2008

I have often thought about what our kids will remember about the economy. Gas is probably my #1 pick.

Steve it will all be relative, I just find it funny that many in my area talk how inexpensive gas is when it went under $4 a gallon, I am waiting for it to get back to a dollar.

Take care!

RJH

Steve,

Thanks for the post and the unfortunate reminder of how things have spiraled out of control. I think I am in agreement with you on the bread!

Steve, I think the thing that bothers me the most is that 80 doesn't look so far away now that I have hit the big 50!

William... so far that's 2 for bread and 1 for gas. How about this? I remember my dad stopping at a little restaurant and bringing hot dogs home (with chili and onions)......the price? 12 for a dollar! yep, that's right, 12 for a dollar.

Sara, I know exactly what you mean--my birthday was a couple of weeks ago and it's mind boggling to me that in only 20 years I will be 77! How can that be when I feel 37?

Hi Sara: I heard this comparison some time ago. It is still alarming. Can you believe that I paid $.50, yes, 50 cents for a tank of gas when I was going to college in the 1960's. No wonder our generation of baby boomers are getting anxious about retiring, especially when our life span is expected to be in the 90's. We won't be able to afford what we can afford now on the fixed incomes of our pensions and social security. It's really scary!

Hi Steve: I apologize for not addressing my last comments to you since it is your blog.

Jane, you hit the nail on the head. What seems like an adequate retirement income now will be woefully inadequate if present trends continue. When I was in college, I remember thinking if I could ever make $30,000 per year I'd have it made! I graduated college in 1973.

I went grocery shopping yesterday and was blown away by how high grocery prices in general have become. I don't know how people are getting by....

Gas is the most ridiculous! I remember being in high school and 4 of us girls would get into one's car and each pitch in a quarter - got 5 gallons...and then would go cruising around town. Now 5 gallons = $20

Hey Steve,

I would have to agree GAS is the worst. Where are the cars with the 50 - 100 mpg??? Did you know on average cars still only get 15 mpg. This has remained constant since the 1970's. With all our advances in technology, our cars remain the same...... :-(

Thanks for the memories,

Ann

so now it looks like gas--3, bread--2, milk--0.

Hi Steve -- I grew up in Tulsa OK and remember going to the movies for 25 cents -- oh my! Also, no one seem to be complaining about the designer coffee for 3.00 for 10 oz. hmmmm. Maybe they will make hybrid cars that can run on Starbucks!

let's see......if my math is correct, that $3.00, 10 oz. coffee from Starbucks equals $38.40 per gallon! Remember when coffee at a restaurant was almost free--and in some cases it was.

My vote is for bread, but a few months back would have been for milk when it was even more expensive than gas! And if movie prices keep going up, your kids will end up explaining to your grandchildren just what a theater was.

SEP

2008

Steve. I am amazed everytime I go to the gas station or store. My guess would be bread also. Thanks, Royal..

ok, now it's bread--4, gas--3.

John...you're right about theatres possibly becoming a thing of the past. It's much mre cost effective to watch an "on demand" movie from the cable company, pop your own pocorn and watch it on the big screen plasma. But if theatres become extinct, what will kids do for dates? Do I really want to know?

I am only 38 and I can remember ice cream at Thrifty's for 17 cents. Gas was under a dollar for the longest time. Even my first house only cost $95,000. I'd by the street for that price on each unit now!

I vote milk, it comes out of the cow for free.

good one, Jim......I'm sure it costs more to feed the cows, but as far as I know the cow union's labor agreement hasn't expired and they haven't gone on strike for higher wages yet.

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