I never thought I would be giving the "Back in My Day" speech but recently I have been looking at the price of things in 2016 and flashing back to my childhood.

Looking at the vending machine in our break area, I noticed the prices of various snacks, candy bars - $1, a package of cookies - $3, one can of soda - $1.25.

My parents owned a small local mom and pop store on Oak Street in Binghamton back in the 1960s. I was very young, but I remember the candy counter and the penny candy that was 2 or 3 pieces for one penny, and big Reese's peanut butter cups, which I believe were a nickel.

My first summer job in the 1970s, I made $1.85 an hour. We paid $5 a month for cable TV and that was for 13 channels.

I was too young to drive for most of the 1970s but I never heard anyone complain about the price of a gallon of gas, which was well under a dollar a gallon.

We would go to Carrolls on Court street in Binghamton and get a hamburger for 10 cents.

Maybe it was because I was young, but items seemed to be bigger and better in those days.

There are certain things that you don't forget, a big bag of Wise Potato Chips cost 25 cents, a can of soda was a nickel or maybe 10 cents for the better brands.

It kind of makes you wonder how much things will cost in another 10 or 20 years.

Could we be paying $5 for a soda? How much will a gallon of gas be?

Cable TV is already out of control, so what will our monthly bills be then?

And will today's youth be reminiscing about $1 candy bars?

 

More From 99.1 The Whale