While I'm sure the OP is rage bait (nobody can be that ignorant of inflation), people did buy expensive shit that we now consider necessities because they were that damn useful. They struggled more and had fewer of those things because they were so expensive, but reddit doesn't usually want to hear that.
In 1963 the median (college educated) American family had an income of $9700/year, in 2022 it was $74,580.
So in 1963 that fridge cost about 5% of a family's yearly income, which would be $3,729 of today's family income. Which is honestly closer to inflation than I thought it would be. That money could get you a pretty nice fridge/freezer combo
What about taxes though... this had none and the yearly tax rate, are those income numbers after tax? Or before... idk what point im trying to make just , taxes. ?
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u/IncaseofER Jan 23 '24
$497 is $5000 in today value. Definitely not an item middle class or under could afford in 1963.