I remember back when I first started to drive and really pay attention to how much it cost to fill up a tank at the gas station. I would complain to my mom about the constantly rising price, and she'd tell me how her dad felt the same way back in the day — but his frustration was when it rose to 25 cents per gallon, while I was shelling out over $3 a gallon.
It's always shocking to see just how low priced everything seemed to be just 50 years in the past. There are obviously a lot of factors to consider, like the average annual salary being about $4,450, so pennies definitely needed to stretch farther than they do today. In fact, the copper coins are all but obsolete these days.
Take a look below to see just how much the times have changed for our wallets over the decades, and be sure to let us know if we missed any other surprisingly changed prices.
And don't forget to SHARE with your friends!
[H/T: Reference, Fifties Web]
1. New House
Depending on the size, of course, a new abode could cost somewhere between $11,700 and $22,000.
2. New Car
Ford models coming off the factory line in 1956 ranged from $1,748 to $3,151.
3. Gallon Of Gas
Filling up your tank would cost a whopping 22 cents per gallon.
4. College Tuition
In 1956, the tuition for private universities like Harvard and Radcliffe rose from $800 to $1,000 for a full year, including dorm and food.
State schools like the University of Wisconsin were $675 per year for out-of-state students and a mere $225 for students already residing in the state.
5. Monthly Rent
This varied between boarding homes and apartment homes, but on average, folks were spending about $88 per month.
6. A Loaf Of Bread
Bakers charged a mere 18 cents for a fresh loaf.
7. A Dozen Eggs
Eggs from the dairy were less than two quarters, only 45 cents for a dozen.
8. A Pound Of Ground Coffee
Mornings were perked up after paying just 69 cents for a pound of grounds.
9. A Gallon Of Milk
If you didn't want to rely on a milk man delivering your dairy, you would have paid 97 cents for a gallon back in the day.
10. A 12-Pack Of Beer
Rheingold, one of the most popular brands of the era, ran at about $1.20 for half a dozen bottles.
11. Postage Stamps
You only needed three pennies to purchase a first-class stamp for your letters in 1956.
Do you remember anything else that cost significantly less money for folks 50 years ago? Let us know below, and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
