I understand that prices go up over time, wealth is relative, and money is just a social construct. But butter me and call me a biscuit, we live in the age of some outrageous prices!
Now don't ruin my fun by whipping out your inflation calculator and pointing out that $50 in 1960 is worth $540.20 today! (Wait, that's still a great deal.) Just let me revel in the thought of paying less than a dollar per gallon in gas.
Here are 20 photos from back when life just cost less.
1
Five Cents
Throw in some fishing worms!
2
Las Vegas Stretch
Land for sale in 1955.
3
Eight Cent Socks
Clothing Prices, 1930s.
4
Filling Up
Getting gas in the mid to late 1970s.
5
Mortgage Payments
Less than $50! Late ‘50s.
6
16¢
$.16 of buying power in 1935 equals $3.66 now.
7
Grocery Shopping
Deals in the 1960s.
8
19¢
$.19 of buying power in 1960 equals $2.01 in 2024.
9
Mopar, 1970
Muscle cars for well under five grand. That's a Camry in today's money.
10
Sears Modern Homes Catalogue, 1911
“This house can be built for about $1,573.00.” (That's $53,000 today. Dirt cheap.)
11
15¢
$.15 of buying power in 1940 equals $3.43 today.
12
Used Car Lot
Selling vehicles in the 1930s.
13
Dainty Frocks
Expensive ones too, 1920s.
14
27¢
$.27 of buying power in 1962 equals $2.80 in 2024.
15
Cheap Gas
And S&H green stamps, 1950s.
16
Food Prices
March, 1956.
17
Hot Dog and Lemonade Carts
Broad Street, New York, 1906. The price is listed as "3 cents each or 2 for 5 cents."
18
Reliable
Eight gallons for one dollar.
20
Covid Prices
Not that long ago, huh?
