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Why Your Money Buys Less Every Year (And It's By Design)

· 4 months ago · 2 replies · 402

Today's average wage paid in gold is 50% less than in 1913. In nominal terms you make way more, averaging 70k, but that requires two wage earners to raise a family. If you got paid in gold ounces same as people did in 1913, before the Federal Reserve was authorized, your dollar denominated wage would be a little over $175k.

2 replies

· 3 months ago

On Jun 9, 2026, MoneyMan said:
Today's average wage paid in gold is 50% less than in 1913. In nominal terms you make way more, averaging 70k, but that requires two wage earners to raise a family. If you got paid in gold ounces same as people did in 1913, before the Federal Reserve was authorized, your dollar denominated wage would be a little over $175k.

Nuts, crazy statistic. People lived a lot better back then apparently. $175k would be nice even by today's standards.

OP · 3 months ago

On Jun 14, 2026, DavidB said:
Nuts, crazy statistic. People lived a lot better back then apparently. $175k would be nice even by today's standards.

Yup and consider this: In 1964 minimum wage was $1.25 which was 5 quarters. Those silver quarters are now worth $59.15. $59.15 of purchasing power for minimum wage in 1964.

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