Woman finds 1997 grocery receipt tucked inside family book. Her jaw dropped when she saw the prices from the 'H-E-B' receipt
Dated June 20, 1997, the girls began going through the H-E-B receipt, which was saved by Zoe's late mother-in-law.
Life before the 2000s was unrecognizable compared to the world we live in now. Things were indeed different, but what Gen Z is unaware of is how cheap life was back then. TikToker Zoe Dippel was at a girls' night at her sister-in-law's house when she pulled out her late mother-in-law's grocery store bill from 1997. While the girls went through the bill, they learned the harsh reality of economic life back then. Sharing their stunned reactions to the prices of each product, @zoedippel's video from December 28 has young adults in the comments wishing they could go back in time!
Newlywed dental hygienist Zoe Dippel was on a girls' night at her sister-in-law's house when she discovered an old grocery store bill tucked inside a baby book. Dated June 20, 1997, the girls began going through the H-E-B receipt, which was saved by Zoe's late mother-in-law. While the girls knew that the items listed in the receipt would be cheaper than today's prices, they were surprised to find the stark difference. While they went through the 122 everyday items in the list, their jaws dropped, especially once they noticed the total. To their surprise, the total came out to just $155 for 122 items.
They began comparing the prices of baby food, diapers, vegetables, and other essential goods to the current prices. From vegetables sold in cents to Little Debbie's brownies, which retailed for $1.09 in 1997, the girls were amazed to find the difference the economy has undergone in the last 30 years. According to Today, Dippel delved deeper into the difference in receipts made back then and today. She explained that receipts back then were printed on regular paper using real ink, as compared to thermal receipts we receive now. She also expressed her frustration over the struggle people undergo to make ends meet in today's world. Unfortunately, despite inflation and an increase in purchasing power since 1997, the minimum wage has only increased from $4.75 an hour in 1997 to $7.25 today.
According to the 2020 report released by the US Department of the Treasury, the costs of goods and services have witnessed a drastic increase. The findings revealed that while items such as electronics and clothing have seen a drop in prices, essentials such as housing, childcare, and healthcare have increased their prices far beyond the average wage growth. As per the report, more than 90% of Americans live in counties where median rents and house prices grew faster than median household incomes between 2000 and 2020. As noted by Dippel, the report also emphasizes the burden of the increasing price difference, which could weigh heavily on families with children.
Dippel's video gained massive popularity on TikTok, with many users coming forward to share their reactions. @Danie wrote, "Keep in mind, minimum wage has only increased by $2.50 since then." @case.jpeg commented, "Hey, old people, this is why young people don't see the purpose of working hard. We could have this, but the people in power just chose not to let it happen." @Misty shared, "And the boomers will ridicule us for not saving up."
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