It’s true that kids used to have fun with money. Money used to be more value, that’s true. Weekly allowances used to be more fun because you could actually spend money on cool things like candy or save money for something big like a comic book collection. But today kids just burn cash and buy nothing. They think it’s cool to buy dumb stuff. In the 1970s, value meant something. Our parents grew up in a time that they could actually spend money and get stuff. Lets reminisce about how much our parents money from their allowance could get.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Comic Books
- 2 2. Movie Tickets
- 3 3. Baseball Cards
- 4 4. Candy Store Haul
- 5 5. Record Singles
- 6 6. Model Kits
- 7 7. Fast Food Meals
- 8 8. Arcade Games
- 9 9. Magazine Subscriptions
- 10 10. Trading Card Packs
- 11 11. Hobby Supplies
- 12 12. Paperback Books
- 13 13. Roller Rink Admission
- 14 14. Sticker Collections
- 15 15. School Supplies
- 16 16. Snack Bar Treats
- 17 17. Toy Cars
1. Comic Books
For just 20 cents you could buy a new comic book. It was 1 dollar to buy a whole batch of comic books and those comic books would last hours and hours of entertainment. They spark the imagination of kids and lead to the endless playground discussions. Boys would literally go out and spend money on comic books and boys would talk about the comic books in the playground.
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2. Movie Tickets
A Saturday show would be about 2 dollars. That includes a movie and popcorn. Kids movies had special pricing and that would allow families to go to the movies every week.
3. Baseball Cards
15 cents got you a pack of collectible sports cards and those brought the little boys on the playground a lot of excitement because they could trade cards for money like they would buy and sell candy.
4. Candy Store Haul
A quarter was enough to buy a candy and that encouraged a lot of kids to spend their money.
5. Record Singles
Singles at 45 rpm (revolutions per minute) used to sell for less than a dollar which meant that building a music collection was possible on a low budget. Each individual record was a personal selection that came along with the consumer’s most valuable possession: decision-making power regarding the song that would go in the collection.
6. Model Kits
Basic model kits for airplanes or cars used to go for about 2 dollars. These kits also provided entertainment for hours and a sense of achievement. It also taught patience, attention to detail, and efforts to construct the final model.
7. Fast Food Meals
With dollar menu options, a shake, fries, and burger also cost less than a dollar which made McDonald’s a now-a-days affordable option. 15-cent burgers meant that one could feast like a king of their own allowance.
8. Arcade Games
A quarter would provide several minutes of action on game consoles in the form of pinball games or video games. A really good player could make their coins last all afternoon. These games were more than just games. They served a social purpose.
9. Magazine Subscriptions
Saving 5 dollars (the price of a year-long subscription) to magazines like Boys’ Life or Mad was easy. Each delivered issue opened a window to the world and was eagerly awaited.
10. Trading Card Packs
Trading cards from the 80s and 90s had a lot to offer to kids. Each pack was only 10 cents and featured characters from movies, TV shows, monsters, cars, and more. Kids looked forward to opening each card pack, as a card could start a conversation or become the main piece in a trade deal for something else. It was easy to trade cards and each fostered a sense of ownership. The smell of the wax pack and the cardboard texture were memorable.
11. Hobby Supplies
Children could turn their entire allowance into a hobby creating endless days of fun. They could buy model paints and glue, brushes, and other fun art and craft supplies. It would take only a few dollars to fill an entire box.
12. Paperback Books
A paperback novel cost only 75 cents. Books are a much better deal compared to candy because they can entertain you for hours. Every science fiction, mystery, and adventure novel you read is a new world to explore.
13. Roller Rink Admission
For 2 dollars you could rent skates and then roll around the rink for hours. Saturday skate parties created memories and friendships that would last a lifetime. They brought the disco and turned the wooden floor into a rink of dreams.
14. Sticker Collections
Stickers are not just for decorating. Special holographic, scratch-and-sniff, and puffy stickers cost only a few cents. They became coveted prizes among kids and created an underground economy.
15. School Supplies
Fancy styled erasers and notebooks became an extension of kids personalities. They would spend their entire allowance on school supplies and make their personalized desk.
16. Snack Bar Treats
On a hot summer day a dollar would buy a pack of ice cream, chips, or soda to share to friends. Snacks became social currency at pools and stores.
17. Toy Cars
Due to Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars being under a dollar, people have been able to build massive collections over time. They did not just serve the purpose of being toys. They sparked interest for many people in cars and driving. Each new addition was cherished and handpicked.
