Yesterday's Prices

[Mups]

Prices shoot up over the years,  but in some ways we have perhaps got used to it.
We have to accept it anyway because we either cough up - or go without.

I have just seen this almost unbelievable list of prices we paid back in 1966.
See if you remember any of these -


1. Average wage was £20.30s a week.    (Today £749)  - It didn't say what job this was!

2. Cinema tickets - 15p  -   (£9.50)

3. A pint of Beer - 10p  -  (Today £5.50)

4. Fish & Chips - 10p  (Today - £9.50)

5. Flight to Spain  (return charter) - £31

6. Men's haircut - 15p   - (Today £20.)

7. Packet of 20 Cigarettes - 20p  (Today - £13.)

8. Loaf of Bread - 5p -  (Today £1.60)

9. Pint of Milk - 4p  - (Today £1.)


Astonishing what we have come to expect now,  isn't it.

[klondike]

If you compare that £20 wage with now and apply the multiplier to those prices they beat what we have to pay now for many. I'm pretty sure that £749 a week is significantly higher than minimum wage but is probably average wage

I always remember ordering fish and chips as a piece and six. Usually with batter bits.

[Mups]

Yes, I thought that wage seemed high too.  

I Just looked it up, and the minimum wage for 2026 for over 21's  is now  £12.71 apparently,  so that would work out  around £508 for a 40hr week.    So don't know where they get the £749 from.

[Alex]

My Mum kept the letter from my first job, I was a trainee Clerk/Typist with John Laing & Son and my salary was £275 per annum !  

[Mups]

My Mum kept the letter from my first job, I was a trainee Clerk/Typist with John Laing & Son and my salary was £275 per annum !  

Wow.   

That reminds me of my first job after leaving school.   I was an apprentice hairdresser and I remember earning
 £2. 5 shillings 8p per week  -   and that was after my first rise!!
Almost impossible to imagine now isn't it.

[Michael Rolls]

1953 17 years old junior clerk £135 p.a. and my 6 O levels put m three points up the scale!

[CHF]

When I was married in 1954, my husband's weekly wages were £5. 13s.

[klondike]

I know when I started my wages were around £5 a week. I think they were paid weekly then too but for that job I had to open a bank account. Most of my working life pay was monthly but I don't recall which job that started with. Must have been a stretch waiting for that first monthly payment.

[Mups]

I know when I started my wages were around £5 a week. I think they were paid weekly then too but for that job I had to open a bank account. Most of my working life pay was monthly but I don't recall which job that started with. Must have been a stretch waiting for that first monthly payment.

Yes I seem to remember it was weekly pay too.   And I'm not sure, but wasn't it cash, too?

[klondike]

Many were but my first job was in a small office of a big company and the pay went into your bank account. No card payments in those days so you went into the branch and cashed a cheque. I had other jobs later that paid cash.

It was a company called Midland Assurance and I think it was Midland bank too so maybe they were both in the same group.

[Alex]

I know when I started my wages were around £5 a week. I think they were paid weekly then too but for that job I had to open a bank account. Most of my working life pay was monthly but I don't recall which job that started with. Must have been a stretch waiting for that first monthly payment.

I had to open a bank account too Klondy, I guess my salary was around £5 and a few coppers a week too.  I don't remember how much I gave to my Mum, do you ?

[klondike]

Pretty sure it was £1