I’m sure you can imagine how much things have changed since 1957. A lot.
Prices have changed a whole lot. I found an article from howstuffworks.com about grocery store prices from 1957.
The article starts by pointing out what the average person was bringing home in income.
$4,494 per year.
The average person would have paid about $20,000 for their home, $2,500 for their car, and about 27 cents a gallon for gas.
Now, on to the fun part. Going to the grocery store in 1957:
- Milk = $1
- TV Dinner = $.75
- Ground beef (1lb) = $.30
- Butter (1lb) = $.75
- Eggs (1 dozen) = $.55
Those are just a few highlights from the article, but it got me thinking about how much I pay at the grocery store now. I would LOVE to be paying those prices from 1957!
Since we can’t find milk for $1 anymore, here are some tips to save a little money when you do your shopping:
- Make a list (and stick to it)
- Set a dollar limit (and stick to it)
- Avoid buying nonfood items like batteries, medicine, and cleaning products at the supermarket. Use a discount store for these items.
- Plan your weekly meals before grocery shopping. Base your meals around specials and coupons to save money.
- Don’t grocery shop on an empty stomach. You could end up buying more than you need.
- Avoid buying prepared and packaged goods. For example, Consumer Reports found that two pounds of carrots cost $1.29, compared with $7.16 for the same amount of pre-cut carrot sticks.
- About two-thirds of grocery store purchases are unplanned. Shop less often and remember to stick to your list!
Do you have other tips for lowering your grocery bill? Let us know!
