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MineralMan

(150,838 posts)

25. So much was so different in those days.

Reply to yardwork (Reply #17)

Tue Feb 3, 2026, 10:19 AM

Tuesday

I got married the year I got my degree. Instead of hunting for a job that required that degree, I fell back on my auto mechanics experience and worked for the county I lived in at their fleet garage. In 1974, my new wife and I bought a run-down little cottage in the ocean front town I was living in. We paid $20,000 for it. We paid off the mortgage in 6 years. In 2004, with a different wife, I sold that same house for $337k.

Many things were possible in those days that are not possible today. By the accident of when we were born, we fell into a period where opportunities were numerous and there wasn't much to keep you from succeeding. It's not bragging. Those were the conditions at the time.

We were fortunate in many ways. When I look at young people in their 20s and 30s today, I despair for them.

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In 1970, I returned to college after four years in the USAF. [View all] MineralMan Monday OP

The people have voted to defund themselves and enrich the fat cats. It's crazy. 617Blue Monday #1

It is refreshing to see a fellow Boomer admit dugog55 Monday #2

Reagan gutted California's Higher Education thomski64 Tuesday #26

Ditto...in 1978 my tuition and books were less than $300...I was one of the last to serve under the old G.I. Bill. pecosbob Monday #3

Over the past 30 years, inflation has averaged 2-3% while tuition inflation has averaged 5-6% in the US Shermann Monday #4

Thanks So Much for Your Post. Very Well Said! The Roux Comes First Monday #5

Yep. I'd have not been able to attend Uni if tuition was a whole lot higher than it was late 80's AZJonnie Monday #6

Yep, early 80's very good state University with in state tuition you could definitley find a way to pay tuition ToxMarz Monday #7

In the 1970s, my wife and I worked our way through college and graduate school. Sancho Monday #8

Same story starting in 1969 BeneteauBum Monday #9

The statistics say otherwise Cirsium Monday #10

I don't think those numbers include the cost of tuition loans FakeNoose Monday #14

Of course Cirsium Monday #19

Percentage with degrees is only one statistic that can conceal a problem. Shermann Monday #22

Agreed Cirsium Monday #23

The OP's conclusion is that "it's getting worse, not better" Shermann Tuesday #27

No Cirsium Tuesday #30

Most everything costs ten times what it did in the seventies. twodogsbarking Monday #11

One thing in the financial literacy curriculum is overlooked: debt to projected income JT45242 Monday #12

Realistic, I suppose, but it's just fucking noise. hunter Monday #21

Similar story.. surfered Monday #13

Couple of years behind you, but Maeve Monday #15

GI Bill was great rickford66 Monday #16

I'm about ten years younger than you, and things were much easier than now. yardwork Monday #17

So much was so different in those days. MineralMan Tuesday #25

The GOP has weaponized their own policies against Democrats. yardwork Tuesday #28

The Republicans Are in a Desperate Battle with Reality. MineralMan Tuesday #29

In the late 80s I went back to college and all it cost me was for books. My employer paid the rest. multigraincracker Monday #18

I was a Boomer on the GI Bill in early 70's Bavorskoami Monday #20

I was having similar thoughts lately. We need a shift left. Joinfortmill Monday #24