Week 2: Day 9 1950's Budget and Running Errands at Retro Speed

     Oh Curiosity...it gets me every time! I wanted to do something additional this week and delve deeper into the 50s, so as I was sitting down and writing out my menu for next week I started to think of the 50's Household Budget. So, Google research began,
that got me on a government site...100 years of Consumer spending...data ending 2003. But, I wanted to know basically what was spent on Groceries and it was 29.7 percent!! I took a look at what that would mean for us and I am definitely below that! But, started to look at other expenditures and basically housing, clothing and food took 68.4% of the budget in the 1950s...we are sort of at that same point...with housing being a bigger chunk. 

But I found it interesting to see how far off we were from 60+ years ago and the biggest jump I see is in the non-necessary spending. The 1950's hovered around 32%, while in 2003 we were at 50%! FIFTY PERCENT of Our earnings were going to things that were not necessary. I am sure we have all changed those spending habits after 2008...I hope.
     So, I used my 50's Cookbook

(trying to even see if I can make eating more Vintage) , made my menu and grocery list and will make Friday my Market and Errand day.  My Mom always went on Saturday. But, we had one car and my Dad had that at work Monday through Friday and at times, my mom would throw us in the car, still in Jammies, to take my Dad to work so she could have the car for the day for maybe a dentist appointment or something. 
     Cue the fog for a flashback .... memory of seeing the big factory my Dad worked at, Raybestos, in Stratford, CT, 

where there was a smell that I am sure was their factory, but my Dad always said when we pulled up that it was the Tilo Factory next door and then laugh. I would watch him walk across the parking lot, past a gate and guard that he would greet and disappear into this huge building. I don't know why we remember certain things and not others but this is one of those Crystal Clear Memories.) 
     Back to Today:   I was thinking that the only one car available  is where it started that we would borrow a few eggs and a cup of sugar from neighbors. They were all housewives, all were one car families and their husbands more than likely worked M-F during the day. We were all in the same boat,  stuck in suburbia waiting for shopping day to replenish and could easily run out of things before that.  So, the Camaraderie of understanding was there. Hmmm....being independently self sufficient and private hasn't helped us too much has it? 

So, this is what I came up with for a 50's week. 

I usually do all my baking on Monday that is also the day I deep clean the kitchen, fridge etc. It is a LONG day. The reason behind every other day being leftovers is because I discovered that I was throwing an awful lot of food out, I had a large family and still tend to cook a large portion of every meal even though there are only 4 of us at home. This has worked out perfectly for us and it has freed up some of my time only cooking every other day. At times I do find the need to cook 2 days in a row when seconds and taking food to work has made it necessary. I can always put together a meal without plans...there is so much in my pantry that we use regularly. And as I said, we eat mostly Vegetarian so that makes things easy to throw together a Black Bean Corn chili, or Potato Corn Chowder or...what we call "Garbage Pasta" Whatever we find in the fridge, Freezer,  and Pantry, add a jar of home canned tomatoes, Italian Herbs and Parmesan and Garlic, cook whatever pasta we have and toss. We have named it a horrible name, I know. I think I said it as a joke the first time someone asked me what was for dinner but now it is what it is and we love it! 

    One of my Errands on Friday will be to go to the Bank! As this is the way you used to get money out of your account to use and I will need cash for the week. Back in the day the Banks gave away "FREE" Toasters and Clock Radios...Grocery Stores had promotions with dishes...I actually own a set of A & P's Promotional dishes from the 50's that I switched out to use this month...

     Dish detergent had Glasses and other gifts hidden in the powder...sometimes a towel...LOL Then there was the S & H Green stamps. They didn't stop those till the 80's and I used mine when I first got married to get some household things. I loved them...loved going into the green stamp store and get "free" things! 

Wish they still had them! 

My Mom would also use a Meat market for meat instead of a Super market. Western Beef in Milford, CT. would be one Giant cooler that  you would put white coats on to enter in. I miss these days. Okay, well off to start the day! I must say that my house is getting super organized and clean. I guess the time I didn't think I had was being sucked up with Social Media and other things that they didn't have back in the Good Ol' Days!

Any memories of Banking and Grocery store days I am missing...Would love to reminisce with you all.