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America’s favorite family outings are increasingly out of reach

Discussion in 'Too Hot for Swamp Gas' started by philnotfil, Jul 20, 2022.

  1. philnotfil

    philnotfil GC Hall of Fame

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    With five kids, we have definitely felt this.

    America’s favorite family outings are increasingly out of reach

    In the 1950s and ’60s — the so-called Golden Age of American capitalism — family outings were within the realm of affordability for most median income earners. Many blue-collar workers could afford new homes and cars and still take their kids to Disneyland.

    Despite rising wages, many of those same activities are now out of reach for everyday Americans.

    The Hustle analyzed the cost of three family activities in 1960 vs. 2022:

    1. A baseball game
    2. A movie at a theater
    3. A one-day Disneyland visit
    We found that these family outings have increased in cost at 2-3x the rate of inflation — and that, in order to afford them, today’s American families have to work up to 2x as many hours as they did 60 years ago.
     
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  2. Orange_and_Bluke

    Orange_and_Bluke Premium Member

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    There are too many people occupying this space. If Disney didn’t raise their prices, the entry lines would wrap around the city of Orlando. There is simply too many people with money. I wish Disney would increase prices even higher to chase people out. It’s become a mad house.
     
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  3. philnotfil

    philnotfil GC Hall of Fame

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    I didn't used to believe the line about there being two Americas. We were travelling to visit family a few years ago and our kids saw an ad for a cool experience in a random small town, and begged to go. We had time and I figured it couldn't be that expensive because it was a small town. $1500 per kid. Apparently a bunch of rich people from the big city an hour away bring their kids out, and the event has limited space, so they keep raising prices and keep selling every available space they have.

    As expensive as Disney is, they could still raise prices another 50% and still have long lines. There are enough people who can afford those prices that the rest of us get priced out for events, or attractions, that have limited capacity.
     
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  4. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

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    Yeah, and people that cant afford it are more than willing to finance the crap out of a Disney vacation, because its a "once in a lifetime" type thing.
     
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  5. Orange_and_Bluke

    Orange_and_Bluke Premium Member

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    World is changing quickly.
     
  6. g8trjax

    g8trjax GC Hall of Fame

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    With buttloads of money. Just look at the jax area on a map...miles and miles and miles of occupied waterfront property.
     
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  7. channingcrowderhungry

    channingcrowderhungry Premium Member

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    Yeah, but we don't count the folks on the Trout River as rich :)
     
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  8. antny1

    antny1 GC Hall of Fame

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    I know a few people who have to hustle to make ends meet. They still have their Disney passes though. I can't get my head around it because the passes are just one expense. That doesn't include gas, parking, food etc

    I am on the other end of the spectrum. I worked too much and make to little to justify expenses like that. When I do the math it costs too many work hours for what I get in return. I'm scaling back on restaurants as well. Can't justify $20 for a burrito when I can eat at home. If I lost my job I'd be ok for several years but I have chosen peace of mind and security over life experiences and I need to find a better balance. With that said, knowing I'm blowing multiple pay checks on an OK experience isn't that fun for people like me.

    It's a roll of the dice to sacrifice life experiences for what you hope is security in older age or trying times but that's the way it is.
     
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  9. Spurffelbow833

    Spurffelbow833 GC Hall of Fame

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    Any excuse to not feed the mouse is a good one.
     
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  10. Spurffelbow833

    Spurffelbow833 GC Hall of Fame

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    Virtual reality is a much better experience, but the resolution is still crappy and there seems to be no future for it beyond gaming, which I don't do. I was hoping it would develop into a magic carpet that would take you anywhere you wanted to go on Earth, in space, or under the sea.
     
  11. G8trGr8t

    G8trGr8t Premium Member

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    even national parks now require a year advance planning in places.
    attending a good SEC game in hogtown for 4 typically costs me $1500 + between gas, hotel room, meals, tickets, etc
     
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  12. DoubleDown11

    DoubleDown11 GC Hall of Fame

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    Wouldn't have pegged you for a wealth redistribution guy.
     
  13. slocala

    slocala VIP Member

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    Kudos to you. I wish more people would live within their means and be unapologetic about it. Excess and debt go hand in hand.
     
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  14. g8trjax

    g8trjax GC Hall of Fame

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    You are correct IRT trout river. A buddy's mom that lived there passed away and I was absolutely stunned at how much that piece of beautiful property wasn't worth.
     
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  15. oragator1

    oragator1 Premium Member

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    I am the same way. The security of having money saved means more to me than a lot of ways I could spend it. I am afraid though that I’ve created such a mindset around it that when I retire I won’t feel comfortable enjoying what I did all that work to save. Even now I have to convince myself it’s ok to even spend a few dollars on unneeded things, and I have plenty of disposable income.
     
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  16. antny1

    antny1 GC Hall of Fame

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    Yup. My fear as well. I've always had to have 2 or 3 jobs. I'm down to 1 right now and I'm more stressed than before. It's a mindset. I've never paid interest on anything ever except for my current house. Regret not buying some property earlier in life but otherwise I got more satisfaction out of savings than something like a new car. I pay everything off either cash or by putting it on a card and paying it off immediately. I work with several younger guys at my department who drive new cars and trucks. I try to explain to them the value of my car isn't bluebook but what I save in payments every month.
     
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  17. citygator

    citygator VIP Member

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    Charlotte
    Supply and demand?
     
  18. homer

    homer GC Hall of Fame

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    My wife and I are similar. We both love to cook and cook well. Occasionally we go to restaurants. We also prefer eating at home so take out rules also.


    We would rather walk on the beach, bike, watch birds, and drink decent wine while talking with friends.


    There is a lot to do that doesn’t take an arm and a leg in cash.
     
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  19. G8trGr8t

    G8trGr8t Premium Member

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    have to have balance. you will not lay on your death bed and remember how much money you made or how much you have left, hopefully it is not the focus of your family either. SO many people wait until they are too old and physically unable to do many of he things they wanted to do.
     
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  20. philnotfil

    philnotfil GC Hall of Fame

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    At least the national and state parks haven't raised their prices. It can be a pain to get a spot, but we have enjoyed a great many national and state parks across the country over the years. And you meet some really neat people when camping in those places, rarely have those kinds of interactions when staying in hotels.
     
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