In the beginning after high school in ’62 we all lived at home a couple of years. Plus we were always working over time, over 40 hrs. Paid room and board and bought a new 1963 car about $68/mo. By 1965 my first rental was a waterfront back yard garage cottage for $68/month. ($1.75/hr)
Soon after got a real nice apt for $125/mo ($2/hr) including the heating. By 1967 $2.50/hr, then I quit and got a new job at $3.35/hr to start. Bought a new car again $2840 new ’69 Camaro. In ’72 a new Winner boat 18 ft.
That was my last real job, lasted to 1975, I was up to $5.50/hr. Old pay stub from 5/11/74 in front of me. 39 hrs. at $5.50/hr. $214 Gross pay, net pay $169/week. Rent was still pretty low, maybe $150? Landlord never raised it much. Same apt today about $1600. Went to self employment after ’75. Manufacturing headwinds starting. Soon after my savings were up to $40,000, enough to buy a house cash in my area.
After 1975 I was all down hill. I should have NEVER stayed with self employed manufacturing. No steady pay, 30-60-90 days late, no sick days no holidays, no medical etc. I should have got a job at the school, public works debt, parks dept. etc. Me and the manufacturing companies I worked for got sold out by the gov’t we paid taxes to.