$1.25 per hour was my first pay. and I worked my tail of for it. It took a good 12 hours to cut and rake the huge lawn owned by my mother's layer boss, on the river of course, where it grew lush, and thick very quickly. Gas was .40 per gallon. I had a little Honda motorcycle that gave me 100 mph. For .80, I could drive it all over, and still have money for snacks. Soda pop sold for .12 per full sized bottles, or a nickel for the small bottles. Candy bars were a dime. Bubble gum was a penny candy. There were also Nickle candy bars, and a host of other penny candies. A pitcher of beer sold for .40. Pizza was cheap. My first vehicle, that I bought 2nd hand, looked like junk. The back center was crunched in. it was an Oldsmobile Delta 88, with a 454 rocket V8, and 4 barrel carburetor. That engine purred and could squeal ties from a dead stop, up to about 30 mph. I could afford to drive it on that $1.25 per hour.
My next vehicle was a Rambler American, with a straight 6 under the hood. I raced a guy near Memphis, Tn., one night. This Rambler was a real beater car. It had a simple three on the tree stick shift. When we dropped our speed to 15 mph, my passenger dropped his hand and the race was on. I took that Rambler to 60mph, in 2nd gear, power shifted into 3rd gear. With max rpm's on that fly wheel, the car shot forward like a rocket, leaving that local in my dust. I pulled over and he accused me of having a sleeper car, all set up for racing. I popped my hood and showed him the 6 banger. He couldn't understand how my little car could win. I smiled and said "Up North, where I'm from, they teach us how to drive."
We didn't need much money, a little for the 12 foot fishing boat, a little for gas money, and a bit to slash Ashman with friends on a Saturday night. Someone always hid in the trunk when we went to Drive-In movies. The Paul Bunyan half pound burger was .90, as was the 2/3rds lb. Big C, with a slab of American cheese melted on top. and the West Pier burgers were 2/3rds lb. for a single, again at .99.
Boone's Farm, and Annie Green Springs pop wines were .99 per bottle. Me, I drank root beer, or 7-Up, as I detest the favor of alcohol. I was always the designated driver, and best air-hockey player wherever I went.
This was all happening around 1972 to 1975. In 75, the price of sugar went through the roof. The price of pop followed. A car that you could get new for $2500 rose to $6000 by 1976. OPEC decreased their oil output to force increased petroleum prices. I suppose that helped delay our present global warming problems.
Still, I sure miss those days when I had endless energy, and could find entertainment so readily available, and cheap. It helped that I was a country boy, and loved camping, swimming, hunting, fishing, etc. That rope swing that sent us high over the river before we dropped off was a thrill. I've never had a lot of money, but no one could ever say I had a boring life.
Seeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North