Klarinet Archive - Posting 000265.txt from 2003/01
From: "mlmarmer" <mlmarmer@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] New Obituary
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 10:53:03 -0500
I know the feeling Mark, as I worked my way through U of MD from 1973 to
1978, working three summer jobs in 1975 and taking out bank loans, not
student loans, as they needed to be pay back on time within TWO years, not
for ever. Worked two jobs the others summers, as three job in 1975 was too
much to handle. One does need sleep! But the graveyard shift at Jack in
the Box by MD, was something! Lots of stories of weirdness at 2 a.m. and
the strange people who came in all drunked up! And the gnats in the fries
by the drive thru window was neat! "You did ask for pepper in those fries!"
LOL! Sorry, that this is getting off topic and silly. Those of you who eat
food food, I feel for you, the next time you go to a McD's! Just avoid it,
you will live longer, too.
Credit is a good thing, but it can be easily mis-used quickly, as
advertising has made a great impact on making people want things NOW and not
wait till later when we have the money for it.
Thanks for the fond memories of the 1970's! Fries anyone?
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Charette" <charette@-----.org>
Subject: RE: [kl] New Obituary
> I was around and working hard back in 1970 trying to make my way through
> college.
>
> Luckily my kids haden't had to do the same until two years back year when
I
> was out of work for nearly 6 months, and again last year when I was out of
> work for a couple of months. The two older ones worked hard to help out
and
> help[ pay their college bills; the younger one did what he could.
>
> So - I don't think kids & families have changed all that much since the
70s.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: mlmarmer [mailto:mlmarmer@-----.com]
> > Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 9:31 PM
> > To: klarinet@-----.org
> > Subject: Re: [kl] New Obituary
> >
> >
> > Mark,
> >
> > Thanks the information about credit cards and income, as I hope the main
> > reason of my email, was more important than my wrong statistics, as Mr.
> > Levin did allot for kids in the area of band rentals, which probably was
a
> > pain to the store and costly overall, due to mis-use, etc. He didn't
have
> > to do that, as he was quite successful in the music business in
> > other areas.
> > And yes, some renters probably did buy an instrument in the end,
> > like I did,
> > but most kids gave up playing quickly, before they got to that next
step.
> >
> > If mean income was 11,106 per year, that is about 214 per week
> > before taxes,
> > still allot for a $295 clarinet for most families.
> >
> > Yes, BankAmerica and other credit cards, were available back then, but
not
> > easy to get, as credit today, is way overuse by many people and
> > very easy to
> > get. Back then, saving for something was still part of the way to buy
> > something. Today, no body wants to save for things, for the most part.
> > Household credit card debt is way too high today, as the cost of the
R-13,
> > new, has gone up quite a bit since 1970. So do people charge for
> > the R-13,
> > when a high schooler wants one today and pay it out over time, or do
they
> > save up for it?
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Mark Charette" <charette@-----.org>
> > To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> > Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 9:08 PM
> > Subject: RE: [kl] New Obituary
> >
> >
> > > > From: mlmarmer [mailto:mlmarmer@-----.com]
> > > > I was one of those who rented from him a clarinet and was
> > able to bring
> > in
> > > > money to his store, weekly, on account, to save up for that $295
R-13
> > > > clarinet in 1970, as those were the days of no credit cards and
> > > > the average
> > > > incomes was $8,000!
> > >
> > > For the sake of accuracy:
> > >
> > > Per capita income in 1970 in the US was 3,177, an equivalent of
> > 12,543 in
> > > 2001 US dollars (http://www.census.gov/hhes/income/histinc/p01.html)
> > >
> > > Mean income/family was 11,106, an equivalent of 43,846 in 2001
> > US dollars
> > > (http://www.census.gov/hhes/income/histinc/f06.html)
> > >
> > > If indeed an R13 in 1970 was $295 then it would be $1164 in 2001 US
> > dollars.
> > > 1950 saw the introduction of the 1st Diner's Club card.
> > > 1958 saw the introduction of American Express.
> > > in 1967 BankAmericard (now Visa) had 2.7 million members.
> > > 1969 saw the introduction of Mastercard.
> > > 1970 was the "big year" for credit cards - it was the year of the
> > > standardization of the magnetic stripe.
> > >
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
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