This post is part of our 10th birthday celebration. Stay tuned every month for fun posts, like this one, contests and more!
Ten years ago, your financial situation may have looked radically different than it does today. Maybe you were working a 9 to 5 at a big corporation daydreaming about the small business you would start in the future. Maybe you were just entering the workforce and exploring how to set-up your first 401(k) plan. Or, maybe you were still in high school, earning and spending money from babysitting or mowing the neighbor’s grass. No matter where you are or where you’ve been, your money has probably gone through a whirlwind of change – right under your nose, too.
For most of us, life seems much more expensive now. But is it? Check out how the costs of these ten things have changed in the past ten years.
1. Gas Prices
Back in 2003, CNN Money reported that gas prices had reached a record high – $1.72 per gallon. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast for this year? $3.56 per gallon. Ouch.
2. A Stamp
Today, it costs 46 cents per ounce, to send a letter via First-Class mail in the United States. That’s nine cents higher than in 2003, when the cost was 37 cents.
3. Your House
Home prices have experienced dramatic fluctuations in the last 10 years, cycling through all-time lows and all-time highs. In February 2003, the median home sale price was $187,000 in the United States, according to the Census Bureau. Real estate website Zillow says that number is trending higher – in February 2013, the median home sale price was $192,000.
4. College Tuition
According to the College Board, the average tuition, room, board, and fees for college students was $31,633 for one year at a private, non-profit, four-year institution. That was for the 2002-2003 academic year. The 2012-2013 academic year is about $8,000 higher at more than $39,000 for one year of school. And in case you were wondering, the number does account for inflation.
5. Residential Electricity
If you think that your electricity bills are rising, it’s not in your head. Because of the rising costs of infrastructure upgrades, electricity retail prices are actually getting more expensive. In March 2003, average residential electricity prices were $8.35 per kilowatt-hour. In March 2013, that number was $11.72.
6. The iPod
In 2003, your Apple’s 10 GB iPod cost $299. It was an amazing piece of technology and surely the envy of your friends back then. For that price today, you could get a 32 GB iPod touch.
7. Raising a Child
Thought kids were pricey back in 2003? Take a look at those same numbers now. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), raising a child from birth to the age of 18 cost middle-income families (those earning between $40,700 and $68,400) approximately $178,590. According to the USDA’s most recent report, middle-income parents today can expect to spend around $300,000. The cost for higher-income families has also grown rapidly, rising from $261,270 in 2003 to nearly $500,000 today. Yikes!
8. A 30-Second Super Bowl Ad
According to a recent survey by Kantar Media, the average cost of a 30-second Super Bowl ad back in 2003 was around $2.2 million. 10 years later? $3.8 million – over $100,000 per second_._ Then and now, the Super Bowl is still probably the most expensive 30 seconds of your life.
9. A Big Mac
When you went to McDonalds back at the beginning of 2003, you would have probably paid about $2.40 for a Big Mac sandwich. Today, that same hamburger costs $4.19 – an aggressive 75% increase.
10. Gold
Here’s a figure that will shock you. Back in 2003, gold cost around $400 per ounce. As of March 2013, that number is about four-times higher at $1,600. What a change!
Your Thoughts
Did any of these numbers surprise you? What other costs would you have liked to see compared? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!