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Original poster

£500 in the 1930s is what today?

10 replies

whatausername · 07/04/2023 20:03

Is there a way to quantify or gauge it? I'm watching a tv show set in the 1930s where the character says he will donate £500 and it is met with a gasp. If it cannot be equated to today's money, then what would it get at the time, e.g. it was a secretary's annual salary...a car...six months' rent...?

OP posts:
TheMadGardener · 07/04/2023 20:06

About £28,000

Thecomfortador · 07/04/2023 20:10

My grandad paid £300 for a semi detached house, 3 bedrooms, double garage, drive way and a massive patch of lawn at the back. New build.

Original poster
whatausername · 07/04/2023 20:12

Poirot is very generous then!

OP posts:
LindorDoubleChoc · 07/04/2023 20:14

I love that inflation calculator but it's incredibly depressing when you use it to look at UK average salaries and wages in comparison to the not too distant past (20 or 30 years ago).

In 1994 I worked in publishing (notoriously badly paid) in a senior assistant role as I had about 8 years experience in the industry. My salary was £16,400 and I didn't feel well off at all, I struggled to pay my half of the mortgage. That's what you expect when you work in the arts right.

Today that salary should be over £32,000. But I know for a fact it would pay about £25 to £27,000.

And this is why we are royally fucked right now!

newtb · 07/04/2023 20:14

The price of a new 4 bed semi in Higher Bebington. It's what my father paid for à new house before the war.

BarbaraofSeville · 07/04/2023 20:27

Thecomfortador · 07/04/2023 20:10

My grandad paid £300 for a semi detached house, 3 bedrooms, double garage, drive way and a massive patch of lawn at the back. New build.

Was going to say something similar. DMs house was a new build 1930s semi. They cost £450 and are now worth about £230k.

BarbaraofSeville · 07/04/2023 20:31

LindorDoubleChoc · 07/04/2023 20:14

I love that inflation calculator but it's incredibly depressing when you use it to look at UK average salaries and wages in comparison to the not too distant past (20 or 30 years ago).

In 1994 I worked in publishing (notoriously badly paid) in a senior assistant role as I had about 8 years experience in the industry. My salary was £16,400 and I didn't feel well off at all, I struggled to pay my half of the mortgage. That's what you expect when you work in the arts right.

Today that salary should be over £32,000. But I know for a fact it would pay about £25 to £27,000.

And this is why we are royally fucked right now!

That was a good salary. I was a scientist in the civil service and earned £8k in 1994.

But we could buy a 2 bed terrace for £32k.

Runningoutofusernamestochange · 07/04/2023 20:38

i just put in my Dad’s salary as a factory worker in 1980. It was worth more than my teacher’s salary now!

LindorDoubleChoc · 07/04/2023 20:58

BarbaraofSeville · 07/04/2023 20:31

That was a good salary. I was a scientist in the civil service and earned £8k in 1994.

But we could buy a 2 bed terrace for £32k.

Show quote history

Yes but I lived in London and the price of a 2 bed basement flat with 2 tiny bedrooms was £76,000.

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