Posts Tagged ‘prices’
from the pages of an old diary – cost of living
Some of the most interesting entries in my great-aunt’s diaries concern the cost of living. She often recorded the prices of food, goods or services they obtained. I read through her entries for 1954, 1955, 1957 and 1967 and noted some of these. By comparing the amounts for the same items in the 1950s and 1967, you can see that prices were on the rise!
| Date | Item | Cost |
| food | ||
| Nov. 22, 1954 | chicken | $3.00 per chicken |
| Nov. 10, 1967 | chicken | haircut (barter system) |
| June 30, 1955 | eggs | $0.40 per dozen |
| Dec. 14, 1957 | eggs | $0.50 per dozen |
| July 12 and July 14, 1967 | strawberries | $0.35 per box |
| July 19, 1967 | strawberries | $1.40 for 4 boxes |
| Oct. 22, 1967 | oysters | $2.00 per pint |
| Nov. 17, 1967 | box of chocolates | $1.29 per box |
| entertainment | ||
| June 5, 1957 | lobster supper at church | $1.00 |
| June 7, 1967 | lobster supper (community function) | $1.50 |
| November 1, 1957 | turkey dinner (community function) | $1.00 |
| October 25, 1967 | turkey dinner (community function) | $1.25 |
| Feb. 13, 1954 | Valentine Tea at church hall | $0.60 |
| June 22, 1957 | tea in church hall | $0.50 |
| July 9, 1957 | show (movie theatre) | $0.50 |
| goods | ||
| May 7, 1957 | T.V. from Simpsons | $269.95 |
| March 12, 1957 | ‘silence’ cloth for table | $2.00 |
| Sept. 10, 1954 | new shoes | $6.95 |
| April 23, 1957 | black Oxfords (White Cross) | $9.95 |
| June 14, 1954 | shingles for barn | $50.18 |
| May 17, 1967 | house shingled | $163.00 |
| May 17, 1954 | wood for stove | $40.00 (probably total for year) |
| services | ||
| July 8, 1954 | hair permanent | $4.00 |
| Dec. 16, 1957 | hair permanent | $3.25 |
| Sept. 20, 1967 | hair permanent | $6.00 |
| March 13, 1957 | tailoring – a ‘Black Watch’ skirt | $4.94 for material and sewing |
| Sept. 6-10, 1967 | vacation accommodation (room in house) | $8.00 per night |
| Sept. 6-10, 1967 | vacation accommodation (motel) | $14.00 per couple |
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© Jane Tims 2012
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