Anonymous
Post 09/30/2022 05:46     Subject: Remembering 1994
Anonymous wrote:Rent on my 1 BR apartment (in Dallas) was $550/month.


Rent on my place in Rosslyn was $500. And wasn’t a stretch even though first job was paying $20,000 plus OT. Everything was cheaper. Cable w/internet $50. Groceries $50. Two for 1 happy hours, or even all you can drink for $5 HH. First new car $11k. Last minute weekend flights to Europe $200. Hotels when you got there $40-60 a night.

Cute well made clothes, no fast fashion, and personal grooming were my biggest expenses.

And no credit card debt. Paid in full every month.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2022 22:58     Subject: Re:Remembering 1994
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:In 1994 a brand new cd cost around $14.99. Now you can get Spotify for $9.99 per month.


And most CDs had only one good song on it. Way better now getting a song for $1.29. Stock trades are free now.

Good luck getting that in 1994.

Computers and TVs are way cheaper now.

It’s not all doom and gloom.


Long distance phone calls were ridiculously expensive then & are now effectively free.

Clothing was much more expensive.

Gasoline was the same price (adjusted for inflation) and cars got much worse mileage.

In addition to music media, you don’t need to buy a VCR/DVD, answering machines, watches, newspapers, alarm clocks, annual calendars, address books, pedometers, maps, encyclopedias (which were ridiculously expensive), or reference books and you don’t need to visit the bank in person, drive to stores or use travel agents — that’s all on your phone.


Another one — cameras, film and having prints made were very expensive (now free on your phone). Video was even more expensive.


But now you have to pay $1000 for your phone… Clothes were more expensive but much better quality. May I remind you of what happened to JCrew and Banana Republic? Also - everything made in Italy was cheap, beautiful and of great quality. Now that economy was destroyed by Chinese imports, aka the WTO.


You don’t “have” to pay $1,000 for your phone. Plus, that phone will last 4-5 years. You may *choose* to spend more or replace your phone more often. Even if you choose to replace your phone yearly, in the 80’s and early ‘90’s, it was easy to spend $100 a month on long distance phone calls alone (and that’s real dollars, adjusted for inflation, that would be about $200 now).

And, no, clothes were not all better quality. A simple t-shirt would be $10-15 then ($20-30 adjusted for inflation), and quality Italian products were not “cheap.”
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2022 18:19     Subject: Remembering 1994
Anonymous wrote:My starting salary in DC was $17,000.00 and the job market was tough.


Dang. And I thought mine was low at $24K. But yes, the job market was really tough back then. But then look at what happened just 5 years later!
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2022 18:17     Subject: Remembering 1994
Anonymous wrote:The business world was still formal. I know because it took me multiple shopping trips to Casual Corner and Dress Barn and a few pieces on sale at Limited to put outfits together for my new job as an contract administrator.

Skirted suits, pumps, pantyhose and an ox blood briefcase were my essentials. I was one of those ladies who commuted in my Reeboks and toted my NineWest pumps.


I never thought my first job - in the 90s - would be the most formal. I wore skirt suits everyday. I had several.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2022 18:15     Subject: Remembering 1994
My starting salary in DC was $17,000.00 and the job market was tough.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2022 18:10     Subject: Remembering 1994
Anonymous wrote:The business world was still formal. I know because it took me multiple shopping trips to Casual Corner and Dress Barn and a few pieces on sale at Limited to put outfits together for my new job as an contract administrator.

Skirted suits, pumps, pantyhose and an ox blood briefcase were my essentials. I was one of those ladies who commuted in my Reeboks and toted my NineWest pumps.


+1 It was Lord & Taylor for me. On my way home from work I'd stop in at the Mazza location and cruise the sale rack. I got some great skirts/jackets!

I do miss that time of my life. I was free, exploring my sexuality, different date every night of the week, HFStival...oh how I miss those days!!
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2022 13:33     Subject: Remembering 1994
Anonymous wrote:Do you remember 1994? .99 cents for a whopper.$4.99 for a large pizza.
I miss those prices.


I was just thinking about this! Taking my family to Chick Fil A is like $45 these days. Crazy.

In 1994 I did an internship in Dupont Circle right near the Burger King and that 99 cent Whopper got me through.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2022 11:12     Subject: Remembering 1994
Anonymous wrote:The business world was still formal. I know because it took me multiple shopping trips to Casual Corner and Dress Barn and a few pieces on sale at Limited to put outfits together for my new job as an contract administrator.

Skirted suits, pumps, pantyhose and an ox blood briefcase were my essentials. I was one of those ladies who commuted in my Reeboks and toted my NineWest pumps.


“Shell tops” we’re all the rage. These were essentially silky, blousey tank tops. My favorite was from dress barn and it was reversible with four colors; mustard yellow, Hunter green and navy blue and maroon. Never took off my jacket so no one ever would have seen the multiple colors. Fashions were still somewhat stuck in the late 80s; drop waist dresses, big, busy florals, headbands were a thing as were Walkmans.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2022 11:02     Subject: Remembering 1994
The business world was still formal. I know because it took me multiple shopping trips to Casual Corner and Dress Barn and a few pieces on sale at Limited to put outfits together for my new job as an contract administrator.

Skirted suits, pumps, pantyhose and an ox blood briefcase were my essentials. I was one of those ladies who commuted in my Reeboks and toted my NineWest pumps.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2022 10:07     Subject: Re:Remembering 1994
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:In 1994 a brand new cd cost around $14.99. Now you can get Spotify for $9.99 per month.


And most CDs had only one good song on it. Way better now getting a song for $1.29. Stock trades are free now.

Good luck getting that in 1994.

Computers and TVs are way cheaper now.

It’s not all doom and gloom.


Long distance phone calls were ridiculously expensive then & are now effectively free.

Clothing was much more expensive.

Gasoline was the same price (adjusted for inflation) and cars got much worse mileage.

In addition to music media, you don’t need to buy a VCR/DVD, answering machines, watches, newspapers, alarm clocks, annual calendars, address books, pedometers, maps, encyclopedias (which were ridiculously expensive), or reference books and you don’t need to visit the bank in person, drive to stores or use travel agents — that’s all on your phone.


Another one — cameras, film and having prints made were very expensive (now free on your phone). Video was even more expensive.


But now you have to pay $1000 for your phone… Clothes were more expensive but much better quality. May I remind you of what happened to JCrew and Banana Republic? Also - everything made in Italy was cheap, beautiful and of great quality. Now that economy was destroyed by Chinese imports, aka the WTO.
You don't have to pay $100 for a phone. If you do pay $100 for a phone it's because you WANT to.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2022 10:05     Subject: Re:Remembering 1994
Anonymous wrote:I wish I could go back in time. 1994 was a great year. My parents were young, I loved my mom so much. I had no responsibilities other than school. Lots of friends. Beautiful life.
+1
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2022 08:05     Subject: Re:Remembering 1994
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:In 1994 a brand new cd cost around $14.99. Now you can get Spotify for $9.99 per month.


And most CDs had only one good song on it. Way better now getting a song for $1.29. Stock trades are free now.

Good luck getting that in 1994.

Computers and TVs are way cheaper now.

It’s not all doom and gloom.


Actually it was pretty much all Doom in 1994. Wolfenstein was old news and Quake wouldn't come out until 1996!


Wolfenstein!! Haven't thought about that game in many years.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2022 07:49     Subject: Re:Remembering 1994
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:In 1994 a brand new cd cost around $14.99. Now you can get Spotify for $9.99 per month.


And most CDs had only one good song on it. Way better now getting a song for $1.29. Stock trades are free now.

Good luck getting that in 1994.

Computers and TVs are way cheaper now.

It’s not all doom and gloom.


Long distance phone calls were ridiculously expensive then & are now effectively free.

Clothing was much more expensive.

Gasoline was the same price (adjusted for inflation) and cars got much worse mileage.

In addition to music media, you don’t need to buy a VCR/DVD, answering machines, watches, newspapers, alarm clocks, annual calendars, address books, pedometers, maps, encyclopedias (which were ridiculously expensive), or reference books and you don’t need to visit the bank in person, drive to stores or use travel agents — that’s all on your phone.


Another one — cameras, film and having prints made were very expensive (now free on your phone). Video was even more expensive.


But now you have to pay $1000 for your phone… Clothes were more expensive but much better quality. May I remind you of what happened to JCrew and Banana Republic? Also - everything made in Italy was cheap, beautiful and of great quality. Now that economy was destroyed by Chinese imports, aka the WTO.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2022 07:47     Subject: Re:Remembering 1994
I wish I could go back in time. 1994 was a great year. My parents were young, I loved my mom so much. I had no responsibilities other than school. Lots of friends. Beautiful life.
Anonymous
Post 09/26/2022 19:21     Subject: Remembering 1994
The things I miss most about 1994 is my health and physical condition. I had a full head of thick hair and I didn't need any reading glasses. Could also walk 4 miles to work and then walk home after work.