How things change

[kelliem]

The other night we had a family get-together, and as is her wont upon occasion, my mother couldn't resist being critical of my weight and my spendthrift ways. When I commented that it was very hard to save money while being the sole support for my kid-unit, she shook her head and said "Well, you know, the most your dad ever made in his life was $2200.00 and he supported 4 of us on that and still managed to save. You make more than that now." I gritted my teeth and pointed out that inflation makes a big difference. When I got home, I was still seething a bit so I went online and found an inflation calculator. The first one I found gave me this information:

What cost $2200 in 1973 would cost $9713.88 in 2005. Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2005 and 1973, they would cost you $2200 and $498.26 respectively.

The second one I found, on NASA's site, gave me a slightly different result of $2200.00 = $9116.800000000001, but that's still a HUGE difference.

I make approximately 1/3 of what my dad made at his earning peak. No wonder I am always broke, rent instead of own, cannot save, and generally feel stressed about money most of the time. :-P

Comments

[sithdragn.livejournal.com]

and generally feel stressed about money most of the time. :-P

*squeeze*

I've always said, as pathetic as it sounds, little else can make me a nervous wreck the way the constant worry about money can.

Oy veh, and your mom doesn't make it any easier.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

It really is maddening how money rules our lives despite every effort not to let it. *sigh*