Those were the days… « The HabitableZone

Those were the days... December 22, 2012 2:10 pm SteveS

when things were expensive. Maybe that’s why they called them Wish Books.

As a child I was asked to search through the catalogues (Sears & Wards) and make a list of what I wanted for Christmas. Hopefully I would get one of the items.

Old Wish Books

The items are priced lower compared to today’s prices but the difference is the average wage back then compared to today.
1958 Sears toaster $12.95
Average hourly wage $1.98
2012 Sears toaster $25.99
Average hourly wage $19.19
You would have had to work 5 more hours to buy the toaster back in 1958 compared to today.

Now we shop on a moniter and with accounts like Amazon you don’t even have to pull out your credit card.

Yeah, I remember how cool the Sears Christmas catalog was when I was a kid. by TB 2012-12-22 15:56:04
- What kids used to play with. by TB 2012-12-22 16:04:44
  - I would look over those chemistry set ads for hours by FrankC 2012-12-22 17:34:57
    - My first chemistry set by Robert 2012-12-22 21:37:47
      - You were on “Engineer Bill"??? by alcaray 2012-12-22 21:45:23
        
        Champion of a kid's drinking game, that's me by Robert 2012-12-23 12:34:37
        
        Naw it's the participation in a childhood icon of mine that I envy. by alcaray 2012-12-23 14:41:05
        
        To tell ya the truth, no by Robert 2012-12-24 21:22:51
        
        That makes more sense than the way I remembered it. by alcaray 2012-12-25 10:17:54
        
        In case anyone is wondering..."Highball?" by podrock 2012-12-24 21:39:36
        
        They say the other highball was served in dining cars... by MaryAnne 2012-12-24 22:35:26
        
        some highball etymology by FrankC 2012-12-25 07:47:30
        
        Ever hear of Frederic Tudor, the Ice King? by podrock 2012-12-24 23:03:54
        
        I always wondered where Seaman Jacobs & Ed James got the idea... by MaryAnne 2012-12-23 17:30:51
    - Me too. by MaryAnne 2012-12-22 19:33:38

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