1977 Diner Prices - Cheeseburger 55 cents, yes, cents

[mr ed]

You could have had a date night on one hour of minimum wage back then.

Some where about '77 was when prices started jumping. I started working at Looboyle's in '75 for $3/hr thought it was great since Min wage was $1.50/hr. Gas was about .57-.59 cents a gallon. When I was in Gunsmith school the choice was 60 cents for a gallon of gas for the bike to ride around town or a cheeseburger. that's where you learned about 7 cent Ramen.

 

[TwoForFlinching]

How much were the average man making in 77? I was 8 then and we lived payday to payday as mom stayed home and we had one car. Dad probably made less than $1000 a month gross, Closer to $500 probably

Minimum wage was $2.30/hr in '77. Equivalent to just over $10/hr in 2020 dollars.

Median income in the US was $13,5xx/year.

I remember my dad saying he worked for the tire shop in Weatherford off the books for $1/hr from 72-77 and still managed to pay for tuition, books, rent, wife and a kid. Stories like that are just wild.

 

[Hobbes]

How much were the average man making in 77? I was 8 then and we lived payday to payday as mom stayed home and we had one car. Dad probably made less than $1000 a month gross, Closer to $500 probably

I started work at children's hospital in 77 for $800 a month.

When I watch Andy Griffith reruns from the 60's I like to checkout the grocery prices in the window signs.

 

[MacFromOK]

My first job was at a full service Texaco gas station in '73. Minimum wage was $1.40 hr IIRC.

I remember buying gas for 18.9¢ a gallon when I was 16. The gas wars were on and self-service stations were just getting popular.

 

[Snattlerake]

How about the A & W frosty mug's on the car tray half the cars stole and the Momma Burger, Pappa Burger and Teen Burger. I wasn't a teenager yet but I thought I was too cool because I always got the Teen Burger. The only difference was it had bacon on it.

 

[Hobbes]

My first job was at a full service Texaco gas station in '73. Minimum wage was $1.40 hr IIRC.

I remember buying gas for 18.9¢ a gallon when I was 16. The gas wars were on and self-service stations were just showing up.

Yep
Full service gas stations were the norm until the oil embargo following the 73 war.
Then gas became scarce, expensive, and they took off the little lever on the gas pump handle that filled the tank full.
All of a sudden people pumped their own gas and cleaned their own windshields and a million jobs went poof, just like that!

 

[rickm]

How much were the average man making in 77? I was 8 then and we lived payday to payday as mom stayed home and we had one car. Dad probably made less than $1000 a month gross, Closer to $500 probably

Minimum wage was $1.60 a hour back then, oops that was in 74/75 by 77 i was making $2 a hour working at Safeway.

And we had a hambuger joint that sold burgers for 8 for a dollar.

 

[Dumpstick]

Probably 1971 or so, Mom would give me a 25¢ piece, I would ride my bicycle to the corner gas station.
A gallon of gas in the wire basket on the handlebars for the mower, and bring back the change.

In high school in the 70s. McDonald's 1/4 pounder was 60¢, and an extra 5¢ for cheese. No way I was paying a nickel for a slice of that cheese.

 

[O4L]

When I was in high school there was a mom and pop place in town called Taco Hut. They had tacos 4 for $1. Three dollars worth made a pretty good lunch for a growing teenager.

 

[n423]

I think I made $2.30 an hr in 1977. Worked at a gas station 60 hrs a week, thought I was rich. hahahaOnly one day Sunday off a week.