Ex-Calif
Well-known member
A bunch of folks were reminiscing in the Joke thread so I thought I would start a memory lane thread.
My first job was delivering newspapers for the local Newsagent in St Kilda Australia. It was probably 1972 and I was 11. I would rock up at 5am to fold the papers and band them. Then I would deliver them on a crappy bike the agent had. For this I got $5 a week. If I was late the Newsagent would come to my house and knock on the window to my room.
I then added an afternoon corner spot. Standing on the corner of a traffic light shouting, "Herald! Late Extra. Get you Herald!" I got 1/2 a penny per paper. Being industrious I added an afternoon paper route as well. I was making 12 bucks a week and was in fat city.
The best was when one of the other kids quit and I got to take over his territory which included the RCAV center. The RCAV was like AAA and the ladies would take the calls in this place. I would rock up on Wednesday with about 15 Women's Weekly magazines and make bank. A lot of the ladies would pinch my cheeks and tip really well. I guess I was just a gigolo - LOL.
I didn't stop working since then until I retired last year.
My first job was delivering newspapers for the local Newsagent in St Kilda Australia. It was probably 1972 and I was 11. I would rock up at 5am to fold the papers and band them. Then I would deliver them on a crappy bike the agent had. For this I got $5 a week. If I was late the Newsagent would come to my house and knock on the window to my room.
I then added an afternoon corner spot. Standing on the corner of a traffic light shouting, "Herald! Late Extra. Get you Herald!" I got 1/2 a penny per paper. Being industrious I added an afternoon paper route as well. I was making 12 bucks a week and was in fat city.
The best was when one of the other kids quit and I got to take over his territory which included the RCAV center. The RCAV was like AAA and the ladies would take the calls in this place. I would rock up on Wednesday with about 15 Women's Weekly magazines and make bank. A lot of the ladies would pinch my cheeks and tip really well. I guess I was just a gigolo - LOL.
I didn't stop working since then until I retired last year.
My first job I made 75 cents an hour. Busboy at Denny's. I worked that until they figured out I was only 14. 1964 Freshman in High School
In 1964 I was 13. My uncle got me a summer job at Melweb signs. After a few weeks they found out I was 13 and they canned me.
My dad used to talk about working at A&P for 10¢ per hour.. So I ask him how much did Bread cost
(5¢/loaf 6 for a quarter) so 8 hours was 20 loaves of bread.. NO income tax back then.
So I ask how much that same quality bread was today... (Note this was back in the 80s) and by the time we totaled the cost of the bread.. Multiplied by 1.5 cause 1/3 of your income (roughly) goes to taxes.. 21.00/hr was what we came up with.. A professional accountant double checked (First female had of accounting in a "Coed" company (both men and women) in the State of MI I might add. so a very distinguished accountant.. (Ok Mother)... 21/hr...
Alas. today many work for 2.50/tips or less than 10/hr..
I really have no idea what the first job I had not working for my dad paid. It was on a fishing schooner. You had to be at least 12 to get a Z-card (merchant seaman's document) and I did. Several times we went off the banks for 3~4 weeks and when the shares were tallied I would not get a lot. It was much more interesting than staying home.
Matt
In 1964 the US government was paying me about $6.50 a day while I was on "vacation" in the beautiful jungles of South Vietnam.