My Weekly Allowance Was a Quarter

LJ Spain on Feb 4, 2011

Tags: allowance was quarter, inflation, prices have gone up, raise in allowance, raises in allowances, what would a quarter by, when a quarter was a quarter

My weekly allowance was a quarter. Oh, my brothers and sister and I looked so forward to that day of the week.

Weekly allowance day came around on Friday. My brothers and sister and I actually would get out of bed that morning excited because we knew today was payday! During the week, we had to do chores around the house like picking up, washing spots of the wall, taking out garbage, washing the dishes, making beds, sweeping and whatever else we were able to do in the apartment at our ages.

This was in the late fifties, as I recall. I remember the school I was attending and what grade I was in. Daddy worked mostly during the days, and if Daddy would let Mom, she would work during the nights.

Daddy would come in on Friday after he got paid and give us our quarters. When we could get permission, we would run off to the nearest five and dime store. Not a dollar store, but a five and dime! Amazing, isn’t it? That certainly is a joke of all jokes today!

We would get a coke for a nickle, about 10 cents worth of penny candy, and I always picked my mom out some kind of little wat nat for her collections at home. Can you see now why we were so excited to get our quarter? That is back when a pack of chewing gum with 5 pieces was a nickle. Now, it’s what? Sevent-five cents? Now you go to the convenient store and pay 89 cents for a canned coke? Penny candy, what the heck is that? And a wat nat. You may be able to get a tiny one for a dollar now. And what do the kids expect for allowance today? Oh, for the good ole days!

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Comments (22)

DaYong on Feb 4, 2011
wow, amazing story! isnt it funny how times have changed? sometimes i wish i could live back in the 50s just to have different viewpoints on life!
Wizard Brown on Feb 4, 2011
ha! Everything seems to be going up in price every couple of months. It’s getting worse and worse.
Larry Fish on Feb 4, 2011
You and I are about the same age, so your story brought back so many memories to me. I remember loading up soda bottles in the basket of my bike and taking them to the store to trade in. it got me enough money to buy some soda and some candy. How I miss those old days.
pguims on Feb 4, 2011
i love this one.. very nostalgic..
CanIgetMyPrivacyBackPlease on Feb 4, 2011
very good post. thanks for sharing this wonderful story
vijayanths on Feb 4, 2011
Good post.
Val Mills on Feb 4, 2011
Not sure how much a quarter is in New Zealand currency, but it certainly sounds as if you made it go a long way.
CletaB on Feb 4, 2011
I don’t think I ever got an allowance – but I got money for birthdays, Christmas and from the tooth fairy! I just remember putting money in my piggy bank & I didn’t want to spend it – I wanted to save it.
tiffi on Feb 5, 2011
Very nice share! So much has changed since then
Starpisces on Feb 5, 2011
thanks for sharing this lovely memory with us.
nimbleful on Feb 5, 2011
sounds like good times : ) Not much you can get with a quarter these days!!
Karen Gross on Feb 5, 2011
My mom came from a huge, very close family. I remember spending Friday evenings at Grandma’s house and meeting up with lots of cousins. Our mom’s would give us each a quarter to go to the corner store. With that we could get Bazooka Joe bubble gums for 2 cents, and penny candy. My favourite was a candy cigar that came with a ring. I didn’t really like the candy, but I wanted the rings – they usually fell apart after about a week.

Thanks for the memories!
samgoldencoffee on Feb 5, 2011
well, apparently i was only born in the early 90s..so i can only imagine the fun you had then..
awesome post.
TrevorS on Feb 5, 2011
Linda, you brought memories flooding back! Different continent, same scenario. Friday nights Dad coming home with goodies for us, and handing out the 2 shillings and sixpence that we used to buy Superman comics, fruit gums, and marshmallows, and pay to go to the bioscope on Saturday morning!
Betty Carew on Feb 5, 2011
Oh LJ I can certainly relate to this. I use to buy a bag of chips five cents, a bottle of Pepsi 10 cents and a plate of homemade french fries for a dime. We had it good and didn\’t know it lol. Thanks for the memories LJ in a very well written article.
Erin Miller on Feb 5, 2011
I was born in the late eighties so I obviously don’t remember this but well written. My mom was born in the sixties so she wouldn’t be able to remember either. I did enjoy reading your post though.
David Roy on Feb 5, 2011
Very good article!
Minister Marlene on Feb 5, 2011
I just love your story, you absolutely do have talent! I love the story, you write well. I can imagine all.
PR Mace on Feb 6, 2011
Loved your story. You have really taken me down memory lane.
JonnyJames on Feb 6, 2011
Wow.Nice article.You made me flashback my school days.
Erin Miller on Feb 6, 2011
Still loved this story and this is my second time reading it.
Freethinking on Feb 6, 2011
Thank you for a trip down memory lane. I remember sitting at the soda counter in the pharmacy and having a nickel cherry coke with my best friend Paul. We could go to the movies and see 2 feature films with door prizes during intermission for $.35 cents.

My Weekly Allowance Was a Quarter

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