[Sophia M.]

General Discussion Thread 07.31.2025​

Hey, GrayViners!

I spotted a price tag the other day that made me do a double take, not because it was shocking, but because it reminded me how far a dollar used to go. It got me thinking… what did we spend our dollars on back then?

Let’s finish this sentence together:
Back then, a dollar could buy you…

Image source: Unsplash

Maybe it scored you a snack that hit the spot, a trinket from the school book fair, or a quick ride across town. Maybe it was just fun handing over a crumpled bill and getting change back like it meant something big. Whatever it was, the memory stuck.

Your turn, GrayViners: What did a dollar get you? And what made it worth remembering?

Warmly,
Sophia

 

[Justme]

Back then, a dollar could buy you three gallons of gasoline and five red hots with a couple of cents left over.

 

[doug12]

When I was a kid you could buy three meals from Micky D's!

 

[tennkerrc]

McDonalds: Hamburger, coke & fries and change back from your dollar!

 

[doug12]

lol yep

 

[tennis]

A gal. of milk and a loaf of bread. plus a piece of penny candy.

 

[GaryBlake]

The most glorious hoard of penny candy ever imagined!

 

[Westworld2]

When i was a kid, you could get a lot of penny candy for a dollar.

 

[dgelza]

A hamburger

 

[Whisper]

4 loaves of bread.

 

[violetmoon]

4 gal of gasoline!

 

[Sophia M.]

Back then, a dollar could buy you three gallons of gasoline and five red hots with a couple of cents left over.

Three gallons of gas and a pocketful of candy? Now that’s a dollar doing overtime.

 

[Sophia M.]

When I was a kid you could buy three meals from Micky D's!

Three meals for a buck? McDonald's was practically giving it away.

 

[Sophia M.]

A gal. of milk and a loaf of bread. plus a piece of penny candy.

Milk, bread, and even a little candy? That dollar was working hard.

 

[Sophia M.]

The most glorious hoard of penny candy ever imagined!

A glorious candy hoard sounds like the ultimate dollar-day dream.

 

[Sophia M.]

When i was a kid, you could get a lot of penny candy for a dollar.

It’s amazing how much joy one dollar could bring, especially in the candy aisle.

 

[Sophia M.]

A hamburger

Short and sweet—can’t go wrong with a good hamburger.

 

[Sophia M.]

4 loaves of bread.

Four loaves of bread? That’s a serious haul for just one dollar.

 

[Sophia M.]

4 gal of gasoline!

Four gallons of gas on a single buck? Those were the days!