Back In My Day: How much did things cost back in another decade ?

monnagran

House prices are the most dramatic examples of value change and seem to have the occasional sudden peaks and troughs according to the state of the economy.

My parents got engaged in 1936 and for two years they saved the 10 shillings a week which was left over from paying their mothers for their keep. After 2 years of never going out, never buying anything that wasn't desperately needed, and spending their courting evenings making rugs and things for their new home, they had each saved £50. My father put his £50 down on a new build bungalow and my mother furnished it completely and paid for their wedding with her £50. Neither of them had fathers so were both helping to support their mothers. They sold the bungalow 20 years later for £1,500.

When I got married in the sixties we bought a huge old barn of a house from my father in law for £2,000. In 1994, my children having left home I sold the house for £250,000.
In 2009 we saw that house was being sold for £1,700,000!

My sons were horrified that I had missed out on such a windfall. Ah well, if we all had a Crystal ball I'm sure that there are things we would all do differently.

I agree with JackieO, the things that appal me most are the things like postage stamps and newspapers. 12 shillings to post a letter? WHAT?
Jackie, I too translate present prices into pounds, shillings and pence. Pass me the smelling salts.

x

[Deleted User]

and 18/- for a newspaper :):) my late Mum would have a fit :):)

Spendless

My Grandmother was born in Battersea in 1924 and went to school in Balham after passing the 11+. There the Headteacher was considered progressive and the girls went to visit a building site that were building new houses (much to my G-Grandfather's disgust who thought 'they should be behind a desk learning':D). This trip then formed part of their lessons for maths and art etc.

I recall my Grandmother telling me the cost of the house was £500. This would have been between 1935-1939. I have no details as to what style of house or how many bedrooms and unable to find out unfortuantely, as though she's still alive, sadly she has dementia.

In 1972 in Yorkshire, my parents first property cost just under £3000 for a 3bed EOT. They sold in 1978 for £8K and bought a 3 bed detached bungalow for £14K, where they still live.

Other than chocolate animal bars by Nestle which cost 2p somewhere between 1972-78, I am hopeless at remembering what cost what. Oh I do remember that walkers crips cost 3 1/2p around 75-77 as my Junior school sold them to children during playtime.

JackieO- I am impressed you were eating curried lamb and rice back in the 60s:). My first experience of eating a curry was buying a vesta in the 70s to see what it was like. I didn't enjoy it.

[Deleted User]

I too only once bought a Vesta Curry after seeing the advert on TV and dished it up to my OH who took a mouthful and asked if I still had the box it came in.I said yes ,why ? and he said its got to taste better than the stuff on the plate Never bought one again \:):):) I went back to making my own with spices and almost anything I could find.I used to put apple and sultanas in it as well.Living in London at the time it was easier to buy spices as my little local corner shop the lovely asian chap in there sold them in small packets that his very pretty wife would sit in the back of the shop and weigh up on small scales.The shop smelt gorgeous and I loved going in for a chat with her and him.Got lots of tips on indian cooking from her as well

DigForVictory

Ergle years ago I saved the day when dad ran out of fuel & had left his wallet behind by having concealed about my person my savings of 50 pence. There wasn't a minimum spend then (that I was ever aware of!) but my father was delighted & not a little impressed. And repaid me promptly. So much so I didn't get interest.

I also have a fuzzy recollection of a roll of Polos for four pence, but I may have the right size & shape & colour of coin but the wrong 'value'.

Katiehound

Katiehound wrote: »

Sorry, I'm pretty sure there is a zero missing there!

I bought a terraced house in 1975 , it was £5000- that in a low priced part of the country. London prices have always been considerably higher.... certainly not lower.

Checked with a friend : her 3 bedroom house bought in Pinner in 1968 was just over £6K....not £600!