Something has me pretty perplexed

[madokie]

How is it I was making as much as a bunch of workers are making today thirty some odd years ago and was barely making it then or so I thought, how do the young kids make it now? Back then the dollar was worth more too. Hell 35 years ago my car payment was less than a 100 bucks and thats was on a new car, full coverage auto insurance was less than a hundred buckaroos for 6 months then too best I remember. Back then if we spent 40 bucs a week on groceries we were living high on the hog too, so to say. I have to be careful when I'm talking to my stepson, a damn good young dem btw, pumping him up and telling him that he's doing good on his wages as to not say what I just typed for fear of depressing him. So how does our kids do it???
Surely it wasn't all the drugs I was doing that makes the difference, heck, as far as that goes those prices have soared up to today too.

61 yo here

[Lyric]

1. Credit. But that's going to end.

Credit took the place of wages, sadly.

I think that one of the worst effects of the collapse is yet to come--the realization that, with stricter credit standards, our wages are simply not enough to live on. There MUST be a change.

[grasswire]

2. they've been doing it on credit, apparently

I saw some stats the other day about the average credit card balances owed by college students. It was just stunning. I'll have to go retrieve that article.

[Happyhippychick]

3. I think, too, the price of goods has declined somewhat. The whole "Made In China" thing has made

clothing and other goods much cheaper in terms of "today dollars". For example, I can buy clothing for my daughter at Target and pay $5 for a shirt, $8 for pants and walk out of there with an entire wardrobe for her for less than $150. That's a pretty good deal compared to what it cost in the 70's and 80's for clothing.

[LittleOne]

5. Back then I was making my clothes...

I was being taught to sew when I was 4. At 12 I was making barbie doll clothes for the kids I was babysitting. In high school I was making a good portion of my clothes and my Mum and Grannie knit all my sweaters. I loved those clothes way more than anything I buy today.

[Happyhippychick]

6. I really wish I had learned to sew, what a great hobby. I think it would be so great to just make

what you wish to wear, exactly how you want it to look. I have come to realize that I don't have enough interest in it to learn now but I'm encouraging my daughter.

[asjr]

4. My family is tired of my saying

Back in 1973 I was spending $30.00 a week on groceries and feeding a family of five. We ate well and were never hungry. I would play a game with myself every time I shopped. I would see just how much below that $30 I could go just to test my ability to manage well. We were making less money then but were able to get along. I can spend $30 now just going through the under 10 items fast check out lane. And have to go back the next day. I fully realize times are different but also times are much harder. But, back then our country manufactured the items we bought. It stayed "in the family". We did'nt need to import our washers and dryers, nor much of anything else. Our companies hired Americans and did not export jobs as is done now. Ah, well, I now know what my parents and grandparents meant by "the good old days."

[seabeyond]

7. i really wonder. i do. increase in grocery, living expense, insurance,

all things have gone up and wage doesnt.

i agree

[Hawkowl]

8. This is why there will be no economic recovery

You are 100% correct and have summed up our economy's problem in a nutshell. We have been in a downward wage spiral for 30 years. Wages have not kept up with prices. If people don't earn any money, we can't buy our way out of this depression. Too much money is in the hands of the super rich and they can't power the economy. The USA is becoming more and more like Mexico. Mexico is not a poor country. It has the second highest number of billionaires in the world. Mexico has no middle class. This is our future.

[maglatinavi]

9. economy

Tthere will be no recovery until we stop outsorcing jobs and production to foreign countries. It is a grim perspective... Why this situation is not corrected? Anyone with half a brain can see this. :kick:

[CrispyQ]

10. In his book, "Take This Job & Ship It"

Senator Dorgan states that if minimum wage had kept up with CEO pay since the early 90s, it would be over $23 per hour.