A New Record!

[gandalfe]

According to some cost of living calculator I found online, it appears the cost of living has risen 2,500% since 1975. I’m not even sure that can be accurate.

Another site which calculates data has inflation having risen almost 500%. That seems right to me.

Based on that, have salaries increased accordingly?

My Dad bought the house I grew up in in 1972 for less than $10,000. When he sold it in the early 90s he got almost $200,000.

 

[The Midnight]

Based on what? Try living like people did in the '60's. Dual income life is badass. DINKs, even better (yes, that's where the term dink came from). But single income never was easy, on average anyway.

But no kids? What kind of life is that?

 

[Miggs]

My Dad bought the house I grew up in in 1972 for less than $10,000. When he sold it in the early 90s he got almost $200,000.

Yep. Ours was built and sold in 1973 for $29,000 iirc. It’s now about $600,000.

 

[Stoked]

But no kids? What kind of life is that?

One with out dirty diapers, sippy cups, car seats and being thrown up on.

One full of sleep and adult conversation.

It’s a life I’m glad I don’t have.

 

[The Midnight]

One with out dirty diapers, sippy cups, car seats and being thrown up on.

One full of sleep and adult conversation.

It’s a life I’m glad I don’t have.

I was being semi sarcastic I guess, I'm 36, still not married and still undecided....

 

[Stoked]

I was being semi sarcastic I guess, I'm 36, still not married and still undecided....

 

[LogGrad98]

I was being semi sarcastic I guess, I'm 36, still not married and still undecided....

It's OK, we live in a gender-fluid world. No judgment here whatever your decision.

 

[Jazzta]

Im doing it currently. Yet im working more than just about anyome to the point that my overtime is kinda like a second income i guess. Yet im still always broke and always living paycheck to paycheck. And im actually quite frugal and good with money. It sucks. Im scared of retirement and will probably work right up until the day i die. I would like to have a second child so my daughter could have a sibling but i cant afford another child.

We're paying too much for food, healthcare and insurance (car and home) here, I know that much.

 

[bigb]

We're paying too much for food, healthcare and insurance (car and home) here, I know that much.

I actually don’t have too much complaint with my car and homeowners insurance. Health insurance is ridiculous.

 

[RandyForRubio]

We're paying too much for food, healthcare and insurance (car and home) here, I know that much.

Food?! Food is ridiculously cheap. Car and Home is cheap, healthcare is crazy expensive.

 

[RandyForRubio]

And yes, wages have been stagnant or regressed while housing has increased.

So what else has changed (with regards to inflation).

Food is cheaper.
Benefits are higher (this includes 401k, healthcare, childcare, PTO, etc).

It’s hard to categorize non-wage benefits, but Human Progress has estimated that it could be as much as 30-40% of our current wages. So that’s significant.

If you compare the average products purchased in the 70’s to now, they are cheaper. For example, the time cost of a typical fridge fell by 50% while using 33% of the electricity. So that’s a savings in two ways.

It’s not all bad. It’s not all great. We’re still capable of living a damn great life. So stop complaining you miserable misers.

 

[JazzGal]

Are you sure benefits are higher? Maybe higher than they were back generations ago, but almost every company I am aware of has reduced benefits in some ways.