Friday
Friday was pay day when I first joined the land of the workers. We stood in line to get our reward: £6 14s 0d (after deductions) counted into my hot ice cold hands, I then had to sign a big sheet to show that I got the money. I handed over half of it to mammy to go towards my keep right from the beginning and the remainder kept me in tights, make-up, paid for my lunch each day and the odd trip to the cinema.
What would you get for the equivalent today?
You have time to think about it…. I’ll be back at LBC time! See you then.
gaelikaa said,
February 19, 2010 at 6:23 am
I’d almost forgotten what a big expenditure tights were. Never wear them now. They used to tear all the time. What would I have done without clear nail polish to check the run?
My first pay packet was IRPd 44.50 after deductions. That was in 1982.
Nick said,
February 19, 2010 at 11:34 am
Mr first pay packet in 1965 was £7.50 before deductions, whatever they amounted to. After I’d paid some board and lodging to my mum, there was still plenty left over, so I seemed quite well-off!
Grannymar said,
February 19, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Gaelikaa - I actually remember wearing stockings in thise days. The handy thing was if you kept to one colour then you only lost the one leg to the ladders! I was very hard on stockings and tights.
Nick - We are talking about the same year. I forgot the wage (my part) covered busfares and I saved for new clothes. No such things as credit cards.
Rummuser said,
February 19, 2010 at 1:51 pm
A bottle of cheap booze!
Nelly said,
February 19, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Two bottles of really cheap booze!
or…
A pair of Tesco tights and a sandwich.
My first paypacket was £40 per month (I was a student nurse and they took some out for board), I gave half of it to my mother and lived it up on the remainder. The year was 1971.
Nancy said,
February 19, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Grannymar,
My first real job was in 1946 and I worked 6 days a week including Saturday and Sunday (Had Wednesday off). We worked from 9 A.M. until 6 P.M. with 30 minutes for lunch. Are you ready for my salary for 54 hours? $19.00…. This was in a Candy Store Chain and we were on our feet all the time selling candy and decorating the windows.
When I received my very first pay I was so thrilled with all that money that I bought my Mom a set of dishes and still had enough left over to buy my train ticket for the next week and go to the movies. I was
RICH!
I remember once walking to the train on my way home and realized that my sole fortune consisted of a return ticket to my station and 22 cents. But, guess what? I was on top of the World!
wisewebwoman said,
February 19, 2010 at 2:26 pm
My first pay was just over 5 pounds for the week. while the men in the exact same job got 9 pounds.
Like you, GM, half went to Mum. I never had to save for hols as I had free travel all over Europe.
I made nearly all my own clothes and knitted my own sweaters and cardies and went dancing on those nights of the week that didn’t involve my theatre group and/or my folk singing or art group.
Good times, good times.
XO
WWW
Grannymar said,
February 19, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Ramana - You forgot the free hangover!
Nelly - That wine might clean around the hidden bend!
Nancy - We worked with REAL money and when it was gone it was gone, there were no holes in the wall or money trees back then.
WWW - I too, made my own clothes and being slight in frame, Hickeys Fabrics bargain bin was my wonderland. Two yards of fabric was enough to make a sleeveless dress! Sometimes the lining & zip cost more than the fabric!