Fun fact: if you feel like life in general used to be a lot better, it's not your imagination. 1983 the median income...

[BaronVonHeinsteidel]

was 24,580. That would translate into 77,414 today

Today, the median income is 44,225. Just 57% of what the median income was in '83 when adjusted for inflation.

It dawned on me recently when I noticed people in Kirkwood and Decatur paying waaaaay too much to live like regular people did in the early 80's.

Also, I think standards were just generally better then, too. I remember people wearing suits when they went to chain restaurants like Sizzler, Western Sizzlin and Steak & Ale. I couldn't imagine that level of pride in going to a Applebee's. Applebee's is really only good for Dollaritas and watching someone getting beat up for no good reason.

 

[WinderDad80]

Lets take it easy on Applebees. I usually wear a suit when I go.

 

[Hydrant Chaser]

was 24,580. That would translate into 77,414 today

Today, the median income is 44,225. Just 57% of what the median income was in '83 when adjusted for inflation.

It dawned on me recently when I noticed people in Kirkwood and Decatur paying waaaaay too much to live like regular people did in the early 80's.

Also, I think standards were just generally better then, too. I remember people wearing suits when they went to chain restaurants like Sizzler, Western Sizzlin and Steak & Ale. I couldn't mind that level of pride in going to a Applebee's. Applebee's is really only good for Dollaritas and watching someone getting starched for no good reason.

People wore suits when flying too, different times.

 

[bbrdawg]

As a data point, my income in 1983 was $5 a day plus lunch and a snack. I'm doing a little better than the inflation adjusted amount today.

 

[BaronVonHeinsteidel]

Lets take it easy on Applebees. I usually wear a suit when I go.

Me and my chums will occasionally wear Hawaiian shirts there for the Dollaritas.

 

[KirbySmartsVisor]

Obligatory:

 

[Troubadawg]

Yeah..back then, you could smoke in church.

 

[BaronVonHeinsteidel]

And let me tell ya, a SOB that worked at RadioShack selling speakers was usually a real silver tongue'd cock-smith. My older brother was pulling all kinds of tail at that gig.

 

[BaronVonHeinsteidel]

Yeah..back then, you could smoke in church.

My dentist smoked when he worked on me when I was weee.

 

[BaronVonHeinsteidel]

Obligatory:

Shut up nerd.

 

[Whosyodawgy]

was 24,580. That would translate into 77,414 today

Today, the median income is 44,225. Just 57% of what the median income was in '83 when adjusted for inflation.

It dawned on me recently when I noticed people in Kirkwood and Decatur paying waaaaay too much to live like regular people did in the early 80's.

Also, I think standards were just generally better then, too. I remember people wearing suits when they went to chain restaurants like Sizzler, Western Sizzlin and Steak & Ale. I couldn't mind that level of pride in going to a Applebee's. Applebee's is really only good for Dollaritas and watching someone getting starched for no good reason.

Shhhhh ... you're not supposed to notice and certainly not supposed to mention it.

 

[GATORSWEARJORTS]

was 24,580. That would translate into 77,414 today

Today, the median income is 44,225. Just 57% of what the median income was in '83 when adjusted for inflation.

It dawned on me recently when I noticed people in Kirkwood and Decatur paying waaaaay too much to live like regular people did in the early 80's.

Also, I think standards were just generally better then, too. I remember people wearing suits when they went to chain restaurants like Sizzler, Western Sizzlin and Steak & Ale. I couldn't imagine that level of pride in going to a Applebee's. Applebee's is really only good for Dollaritas and watching someone getting beat up for no good reason.

If you are at Applebee's and get beat up...there was a reason.

 

[Radi Nabulsi]

was 24,580. That would translate into 77,414 today

Today, the median income is 44,225. Just 57% of what the median income was in '83 when adjusted for inflation.

It dawned on me recently when I noticed people in Kirkwood and Decatur paying waaaaay too much to live like regular people did in the early 80's.

Also, I think standards were just generally better then, too. I remember people wearing suits when they went to chain restaurants like Sizzler, Western Sizzlin and Steak & Ale. I couldn't imagine that level of pride in going to a Applebee's. Applebee's is really only good for Dollaritas and watching someone getting beat up for no good reason.

Individually or by household?
As for households, the median income is 74K in 2022. It was $20,884 in 1983. Per the Census Bureau that is. Adjusted for inflation that would be $55k, again per the CB.

Link: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2023/demo/income-poverty/p60-279.html
Link: https://www.multpl.com/us-median-income/table/by-year

Not trying to be the "well actshually" guy just noting that median household and individual may be different. I too have seen the standards fall off a cliff. Remember air travel? But also we are able to take more flights than I remember. A lot of things are cheaper (electronics, clothing, domestic tickets) but so many things that didn't kill us cost wise (food, shelter) are now beyond the pale. I see folks learning to cook again since the cost of eating out is through the roof and not getting better. Restaurants are charging 3.99 for a Coke or regular coffee.

 

[BaronVonHeinsteidel]

If you are at Applebee's and get beat up...there was a reason.

I've seen more strange confrontations at Applebee's than Waffle House.

 

[BaronVonHeinsteidel]

Individually or by household?
As for households, the median income is 74K in 2022. It was $20,884 in 1983. Per the Census Bureau that is. Adjusted for inflation that would be $55k, again per the CB.

Link: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2023/demo/income-poverty/p60-279.html
Link: https://www.multpl.com/us-median-income/table/by-year

Not trying to be the "well actshually" guy just noting that median household and individual may be different. I too have seen the standards fall off a cliff. Remember air travel? But also we are able to take more flights than I remember. A lot of things are cheaper (electronics, clothing, domestic tickets) but so many things that didn't kill us cost wise (food, shelter) are now beyond the pale. I see folks learning to cook again since the cost of eating out is through the roof and not getting better. Restaurants are charging 3.99 for a Coke or regular coffee.

Individually. I got it from The World Population Review.

Air travel when I was a kid was very much a part of the vacation itself. I was saddened to see that fried chicken wasn't automatically served on planes as an adult.

 

[rugslanger]

My dentist smoked when he worked on me when I was weee.

My dentist was also a wee smoker. Found that out years later, though.

 

[USA1DOG]

As a data point, my income in 1983 was $5 a day plus lunch and a snack. I'm doing a little better than the inflation adjusted amount today.

I don’t think that you were part of the work force in 1983. If you were, you had a very bad job. Just saying

 

[Athens is Heaven]

Lets take it easy on Applebees. I usually wear a suit when I go.

Better take a 45 with you.

 

[Whosyodawgy]

1983 was the first full year I spent in the regular job world after I blew my knee up and couldn't run pro track anymore. I made $8 an hour working in my friend's cabinet shop. That is what almost everybody was making there. We could eat and pay rent on that. I did have money stashed though.
I was using my GI Bill to finish school at night. I had a kid too. If it had not been for my ex wife's mom living close and getting my daughter after school, it woulda been complete overload. But it worked.
God bless anybody trying to do that now.

 

[Athens is Heaven]

1983 was the first full year I spent in the regular job world after I blew my knee up and couldn't run pro track anymore. I made $8 an hour working in my friend's cabinet shop. That is what almost everybody was making there. We could eat and pay rent on that. I did have money stashed though.
I was using my GI Bill to finish school at night. I had a kid too. If it had not been for my ex wife's mom living close and getting my daughter after school, it woulda been complete overload. But it worked.
God bless anybody trying to do that now.

I was making around 12 an hour working in maintenance at Rheem.

 

[bayrooster]

People wore suits when flying too, different times.

Some people pretty much wear bed clothes to fly these days.

 

[bayrooster]

Individually. I got it from The World Population Review.

Air travel when I was a kid was very much a part of the vacation itself. I was saddened to see that fried chicken wasn't automatically served on planes as an adult.

The last decent meal I had on a plane was a burger with everything on it (it was cooked well done, but they didn't have a grill on any of the jets I've flown on 🙂). I'll just say that it was more than a few years ago.

 

[jbpayne32]

Individually. I got it from The World Population Review.

Air travel when I was a kid was very much a part of the vacation itself. I was saddened to see that fried chicken wasn't automatically served on planes as an adult.

Yeah, this is just not right.

1983 Mean: $20k and $60k in 2023 dollars
2023 Mean: $74k

At least maybe looks up a source or two before posting some stuff that’s just not close.

 

[nice marmot]

this is good shit talk. obviously it originated on the Gentleman's Vent.

 

[ugadoc]

Individually or by household?
As for households, the median income is 74K in 2022. It was $20,884 in 1983. Per the Census Bureau that is. Adjusted for inflation that would be $55k, again per the CB.

Link: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2023/demo/income-poverty/p60-279.html
Link: https://www.multpl.com/us-median-income/table/by-year

Not trying to be the "well actshually" guy just noting that median household and individual may be different. I too have seen the standards fall off a cliff. Remember air travel? But also we are able to take more flights than I remember. A lot of things are cheaper (electronics, clothing, domestic tickets) but so many things that didn't kill us cost wise (food, shelter) are now beyond the pale. I see folks learning to cook again since the cost of eating out is through the roof and not getting better. Restaurants are charging 3.99 for a Coke or regular coffee.

Per this site it’s higher. $64586

$20,854 in 1983 → 2024 | Inflation Calculator

The 2.83% inflation rate means $20,854 in 1983 is equivalent to $65,395.30 today. This inflation calculator uses the official US consumer price index published by the Department of Labor.

www.in2013dollars.com

 

[ClydeDawg]

this is good shit talk. obviously it originated on the Gentleman's Vent.

The Chat is way more refreshing than that stuffy ass Vent.

 

[poorpreacher]

I'm no economist. But I had a supervisor who used to say, "I'd be glad to go back to 1960's wages, if things went back to 60's prices".

House, car payment, groceries etc. on 1 income.

If average income is 70k, I need to have a talk with my church board.

 

[jbpayne32]

I'm no economist. But I had a supervisor who used to say, "I'd be glad to go back to 1960's wages, if things went back to 60's prices".

House, car payment, groceries etc. on 1 income.

If average income is 70k, I need to have a talk with my church board.

The average home was 1,500 square feet.
Over 50% of families only had 1 car.
Only 12% of homes had AC and 20% of cars.
Not to mention, heart surgery and cancer treatments were in their infancy or yet to be invented.
Cars didn't have seatbelts and the vehicle death rate was much higher.
Life expectancy was a full decade less than today.
Hell, there was only 1 college football game on TV per week!

 

[Athens is Heaven]

I'm no economist. But I had a supervisor who used to say, "I'd be glad to go back to 1960's wages, if things went back to 60's prices".

House, car payment, groceries etc. on 1 income.

If average income is 70k, I need to have a talk with my church board.

Man I was making 100 a week and my wife was making 50. We were living like royalty.

 

[bayrooster]

Man I was making 100 a week and my wife was making 50. We were living like royalty.

Ralph Kramden and Alice were doing alright.