Comments on: What Did Things Cost in 1860? http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/what-did-things-cost-in-1860/ About finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:41:58 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Eddy http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/what-did-things-cost-in-1860/comment-page-1/#comment-23963 Eddy Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:22:06 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/what-did-things-cost-in-1860/#comment-23963 David G, Think about what you're doing. Your inflation calculator isn't taking into account that this was before the days of the Fed. The cost of basic goods like beef and rice that haven't changed significantly in utility over time are excellent inflation calculation mechanisms. Rice is about $2 a pound right now, basic roasting beef is about $3 a pound. That gives us a multiplier of about 27 for both. That makes (rural undeveloped) land $80-$135 an acre. Obviously, land utility has changed a lot. Room & board wasn't anything like a modern apartment - it's somewhere between that and a homeless shelter. The cost of a man for room and board is $75 a month in modern dollars, which is about what a homeless shelter room & board costs. David G,
Think about what you’re doing. Your inflation calculator isn’t taking into account that this was before the days of the Fed. The cost of basic goods like beef and rice that haven’t changed significantly in utility over time are excellent inflation calculation mechanisms. Rice is about $2 a pound right now, basic roasting beef is about $3 a pound. That gives us a multiplier of about 27 for both. That makes (rural undeveloped) land $80-$135 an acre. Obviously, land utility has changed a lot. Room & board wasn’t anything like a modern apartment – it’s somewhere between that and a homeless shelter. The cost of a man for room and board is $75 a month in modern dollars, which is about what a homeless shelter room & board costs.

]]> By: trudi http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/what-did-things-cost-in-1860/comment-page-1/#comment-20650 trudi Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:50:08 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/what-did-things-cost-in-1860/#comment-20650 this is a pretty good sight because i have been using it for my history project! :p this is a pretty good sight because i have been using it for my history project! :p

]]> By: Brad Williams http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/what-did-things-cost-in-1860/comment-page-1/#comment-15008 Brad Williams Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:33:10 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/what-did-things-cost-in-1860/#comment-15008 A- specifically for the Henry Riflem doing research for a novel - part of which - has reference to the civil war in early 1860 - 1861. Need info on the cost of ammunition specifically for the Henry Rifle a .44 caliber rim fire cartridge would appreciate anything you might have Best Regards Brad Williams A- specifically for the Henry Riflem doing research for a novel – part of which – has reference to the civil war in early 1860 – 1861.
Need info on the cost of ammunition specifically for the Henry Rifle

a .44 caliber rim fire cartridge

would appreciate anything you might have

Best Regards

Brad Williams

]]> By: David G. http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/what-did-things-cost-in-1860/comment-page-1/#comment-6605 David G. Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:12:50 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/what-did-things-cost-in-1860/#comment-6605 I thought this article was interesting, so I ran the numbers through an inflation calculator to see the equivalent price in today's dollars. Here's what I found: Barrel of wheat flour: $7.14 in 1860 = $162.95 in 2007 Rice/pound: $0.07 in 1860 = $1.60 in 2007 Granulated sugar/pound: $0.08 in 1860 = $1.83 in 2007 Roasting beef/pound: $0.11 in 1860 = $2.51 in 2007 Soup beef/pound: $0.04 in 1860 = $0.91 in 2007 Cheese/pound: $0.13 in 1860 = $2.97 in 2007 Eggs/dozen: $0.20 in 1860 = $4.56 in 2007 Hard wood/cord: $6.49 in 1860 = $148.11 in 2007 Rent/4 rooms/month: $4.45 in 1860 = $101.56 in 2007 Room & board for men/month: $2.79 in 1860 = $63.67 in 2007 Room & board for women/month: $1.79 in 1860 = $40.85 in 2007 So, the only thing I can see that actually costs less nowadays is eggs, with housing being the biggest difference. I thought this article was interesting, so I ran the numbers through an inflation calculator to see the equivalent price in today’s dollars. Here’s what I found:

Barrel of wheat flour: $7.14 in 1860 = $162.95 in 2007
Rice/pound: $0.07 in 1860 = $1.60 in 2007
Granulated sugar/pound: $0.08 in 1860 = $1.83 in 2007
Roasting beef/pound: $0.11 in 1860 = $2.51 in 2007
Soup beef/pound: $0.04 in 1860 = $0.91 in 2007
Cheese/pound: $0.13 in 1860 = $2.97 in 2007
Eggs/dozen: $0.20 in 1860 = $4.56 in 2007
Hard wood/cord: $6.49 in 1860 = $148.11 in 2007
Rent/4 rooms/month: $4.45 in 1860 = $101.56 in 2007
Room & board for men/month: $2.79 in 1860 = $63.67 in 2007
Room & board for women/month: $1.79 in 1860 = $40.85 in 2007

So, the only thing I can see that actually costs less nowadays is eggs, with housing being the biggest difference.

]]> By: Sybil http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/what-did-things-cost-in-1860/comment-page-1/#comment-5133 Sybil Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:09:44 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/what-did-things-cost-in-1860/#comment-5133 Have you ever thought of publishing your great great etc. Grandfather's journal? I'd read it! Sounds fascinating. Have you ever thought of publishing your great great etc. Grandfather’s journal? I’d read it! Sounds fascinating.

]]> By: Angelena http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/what-did-things-cost-in-1860/comment-page-1/#comment-4912 Angelena Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:39:12 +0000 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/what-did-things-cost-in-1860/#comment-4912 Loved looking at the prices from that era. That is so neat that he kept record of all that and you inherited it. What a treasure! Loved looking at the prices from that era. That is so neat that he kept record of all that and you inherited it. What a treasure!

]]>