Yikes, Cost of Living Predictions Coming True
When I was younger I always remember my parents talking about how cheap things used to be. How they could get a handful of candy for a dime...how they could go to the movies for wayyyyy less than the $4.50-$5.00 I was paying when I was in high school. Based on what they told me, when my oldest daughter was born, I remember telling my husband that by the time our daughter old enough to drive and go on dates to the movies she'd have to pay $100 to fill up her tank of gas and $20 would NOT be enough for 2 people to go to the movies anymore.
When we were in high school, my husband used to tell me that it cost $20 to fill up the tank in his El Camino. So I multiplied that by 5 and that's where I came up with the $100 prediction for a tank. Now back in 1996-1997 that sounded quite ridiculous. But here we are in 2007. My daughter is just 10 years old and the other day I went to fill up my tank and the PUMP stopped when it hit $75. It didn't stop because my tank was completely filled, but just because the pumps at that particular gas station won't go over $75 for any one transaction. My tank was just about full, but probably could have taken a few more dollars. So....by the time my daughter is driving in 6-7 years, I'm thinking it will cost about $100 to fill up our gas tank.
Then there are the movies. My husband and I used to be able to withdraw $20 from the ATM and that would be enough for us to eat and go to the movies. I think the cost of movies here is currently about $8-$9 per ticket, so I'm quite sure my other prediction will come true too. When my oldest daughter is old enough to go on dates to the movies, $20 will NOT be enough for her and her date to gain entrance to a movie theater much less ea dinner too. Like I said, 10 years ago when I told my husband these things, they seemed kind of far-fetched. It's kind of strange to see it actually happening.
When we were in high school, my husband used to tell me that it cost $20 to fill up the tank in his El Camino. So I multiplied that by 5 and that's where I came up with the $100 prediction for a tank. Now back in 1996-1997 that sounded quite ridiculous. But here we are in 2007. My daughter is just 10 years old and the other day I went to fill up my tank and the PUMP stopped when it hit $75. It didn't stop because my tank was completely filled, but just because the pumps at that particular gas station won't go over $75 for any one transaction. My tank was just about full, but probably could have taken a few more dollars. So....by the time my daughter is driving in 6-7 years, I'm thinking it will cost about $100 to fill up our gas tank.
Then there are the movies. My husband and I used to be able to withdraw $20 from the ATM and that would be enough for us to eat and go to the movies. I think the cost of movies here is currently about $8-$9 per ticket, so I'm quite sure my other prediction will come true too. When my oldest daughter is old enough to go on dates to the movies, $20 will NOT be enough for her and her date to gain entrance to a movie theater much less ea dinner too. Like I said, 10 years ago when I told my husband these things, they seemed kind of far-fetched. It's kind of strange to see it actually happening.
posted by Stacie at 3:11 PM
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2 Comments:
I think of this often, it used to be $100 was a huge amount of money, now it takes me almost that as well to fill my van (about $70) It's mind boggling.
I remember pulling up to the gas station and getting $2 about 20 years ago, that was when I was broke but it was enough to get me around, I often only put $10 (probably filled up) in to get me back and forth to work all week.
Groceries have also doubled (at least) for us in the last year or so, probably due to the gas increase.
What's scary to me is what we get used to and how little we can do about it.
I'm sure that there are families out there truly suffering because of this, minimum wage is a joke compared to the cost of living now, although it's not funny if you are trying to feed your family on it.
Actually it's an insult. (one of the bees in my bonnet!)
I agree with you on the minimum wage thing. I remember being at an airport some years back and someone asked me what the minimum wage was in Hawaii. After I answered the guy goes, "Why so high?"
I was thinking "Are you kidding? You can't even LIVE off that!"
My sister is single, lives with family, has no car payment, no rent, and n thought. She makes over $10/hr vs the $6.25 minimum and she still wonders how the heck people make enough money to live on their own.
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