Reply #21: When I was young, my dad was making about

[lukasahero]

$50k/year. My mom worked part-time and brought home about $15/k more.

-When I was young, the house we lived in cost them $15,000.
-They could fill the tank with $5.
-Cigarettes (yes, they smoked) cost $0.57/pack.
-Levi's jeans might have cost $12.
-My anticipated college tuition fees were expected to be around $4000/year.

Today (30 years later) my brother-in-law earns about $45k/year. My sister works part time and bring home an additional $15k/year.

-The house they live in (it's small) cost them $85,000 (in 1985 - now would be about $130,000).
-They can get 2 gallons of gas for $5.
-Cigarettes (they smoke but are quitting) cost $5.00/pack.
-Levi's jeans cost $35/pair and
-the anticipated college tuition fees they are expecting for their three boys at a modest in-state-school are $14,000/year.

What changed in this picture? I'll give you a hint, the only thing that didn't were the earnings.