What about gas prices as a percentage of our income?

In other words, does the gas bite of our paycheck rival the bite of yesteryear? Not even close. Given today's fatter paycheck, we pay less as a percentage of our mean disposable income. A gallon was 27 cents in 1949 – but to put the same pinch on your wallet today, you'd pay $6.68. Gas for 1962's "muscle cars" cost 31 cents a gallon. To feel the same economic impact today, you'd pony up $4.48 a gallon.[/QUOTE]

I agree to some extent, your paycheck may be fatter then most peoples. But some people make minimum wage, in our state I think that is 6.85 an hour. Also back then a weeks worth of groceries were 25.00 to 35.00 dollars, now about 200.00 with coupons if you are lucky.

Rent or mortgage payment, Back in 1963 my parents bought a 3 bedroom 1300 square foot home for 14,000 bucks, I payed 140,000 bucks for my 1600 square footer. And I am sure it was not 170.00 just to heat it every month back then either.