Remembering What a Buck Could Buy in the 1950s and 1960s

   

A dollar really went far in the 1950s and 1960s — much farther than it does today. Before you get too nostalgic, remember that the average home was worth $7,354, a new Volkswagen Beetle could be yours for $1,280, and tuition at the University of Pennsylvania was $600.

To get a sense of how far $1 really used to go, check out this list of seven things you could get for a buck back in the 1950s and '60s.

1950: Four pounds of frozen green beans.

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1951: One package of 25 thrift Christmas cards.

 
 
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1952: A little under three pounds of coffee.

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1953: 24 pounds of potatoes.

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1954: One pound of T-bone steak.

 
 
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1955: One Slinky.

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1956: 15 eggs

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1957: One bath towel.

 
 
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1958: 25 pounds of celery.

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1959: Seven cans of cream corn.

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1960: Three cans of Del Monte Peaches.

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1961: Four boxes of Cheerios.

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1962: Five fast food hamburgers.

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1963: Three pints of blueberries.

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1964: Ticket for one car at the drive-in movie theater.

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1965: 80 ounces of frozen French fries.

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1966: Five bottles of Heinz Ketchup.

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1967: Four loaves of bread.

 
 
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1968: 20 Hershey bars.

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1969: Just under three gallons of gas.

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