DAILY DIRT: Was the decade of the ’90s THAT long ago?

What I’ll always remember most from the ’90s is getting acquainted with Quincy and eventually moving to the Gem City … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,001 of The Daily Dirt.

1. At this point in time, the 1990s seem like such a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, especially when it comes to anything related to bills and/or your wallet.

See if you agree. Here’s a sampling of what we paid not that long ago:

• Minimum wage was $4.25 an hour early in the 1990s, increasing to $5.15 closer to 2000.
• Average cost of a new car was $15,000.
• Average annual income was $23,750.
• A six-pack of Coca Cola was $1.
• Gas was $1.15 a gallon.
• A loaf of bread was $1.
• A 27-inch color TV was $750.
• A postage stamp was 30 cents.
• Coffee was $2.50 a pound.
• Groceries for a family four were about $300 — for a month.
• Average monthly rent was $400 for a one-bedroom apartment.
• A movie ticket was $4.25.
• Utility bills, including electric and water, averaged about $100 a month. The average phone bill was around $20 a month.
• Average cost of a home was $130,000
• Cable TV averaged between $20 to $40 a month.
• Milk was $2.50 a gallon.
• Annual tuition averaged about $4,000 a year at a public college.
• A wedding cost an average of $15,000.

2. Did you know (Part 61)

• That in the 1950s $100 could buy you a new black and white TV or 370 gallons of gas.
• That in the 1960s $100 could buy you a new stereo system and 322 gallons of gas.
• That in the 1970s $100 could buy you 15 vinyl albums or 185 gallons of gas.
• That in the 1980s $100 could buy you a Sony Walkman and 84 gallons of gas.
• That in the 1990s $100 could buy you a Super Nintendo system or a pair of Air Jordans. 

3. Speaking of the 1990s, here are some other memories from the 1990s not tied to your purse strings:

• Picking out movies at Blockbuster
• Slap bracelets
• Starter jackets
• Discman
• Gameboy (hand-held system) 
• “Rugrats”
• Crystal Pepsi
• Surge
• Beanie Babies
• Watching “Friends” on Thursday nights
• Dunkaroos

Steve Thought O’ The Day — For the record, I had a Charlotte Hornets Starter jacket.

Steve Eighiner writes daily for Muddy River News. He also wore Garanimals.