Comments on: Changes in Personal Finance

By: Weekly Update: The ‘I Feel Like Chicken Tonight’ Edition — Almost Frugal- a frugal blog

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:03:15 +0000

[...] How has Personal Finance Changed in the Last 50 Years? @ Mrs Micah [...]

By: Monroe on a Budget

Monroe on a Budget — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:09:37 +0000

This was a great idea for a post! I’m glad you found good material.
Monroe on a Budget´s last blog ..Here’s what I got from Angel Food Ministries in August

By: Mr. Not the Jet Set

Mr. Not the Jet Set — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:04:16 +0000

Financing is now considered the norm. People don’t even pay cash for a Big Mac. Basically, we’ve lost our minds.
Mr. Not the Jet Set´s last blog ..Seasonal Recipe: Peaches

By: Roundup and Link Love: Welcome to Mandi Edition! | The Wisdom Journal

Roundup and Link Love: Welcome to Mandi Edition! | The Wisdom Journal — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:52:43 +0000

[...] Changes in Personal Finance — Mrs Micah looks at how our attitudes, methods, expectations, and customs have changed over the generations. [...]

By: MrsMicah's Mom

MrsMicah's Mom — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:08:39 +0000

One minor correction: My scholarship paid only the tuition, $3000. My parents paid half the room and board, and my college job and summer savings paid the other half.

Actually, I’m beginning to doubt my memory. It may be that the total fees were $3000, with the tuition scholarship paying $1500, and my parents and I each paying half of the rest. If that’s right, then St. John’s only cost 2.25 times the cost of your father’s college.

By: Lorta

Lorta — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:30:27 +0000

I considered applying to St. John’s in the mid 1970s so I’m familiar with its focus on the Great Books. The school may have been retaining other traditions along with its focus on classic books. Another college that might have still had waitresses then is Wellesley. An acquaintance of mine from high school went there, and I heard via the grapevine that there were waitresses at her dorm (!). I think a major factor in the more downscale life of the average college student back then was the first point in your post, the lesser availability of credit.

I have an interesting book out of the library about the experiences of Roger Martin, a past president of Randolph-Macon College, when he enrolled in St. John’s for a semester as a freshman at age 61.

By: David @ DINKS Finance

David @ DINKS Finance — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:13:06 +0000

I would agree that it is, for the most part, necessary to go to college. Even if you don’t “learn” a lot in class, the paper gives employeers re-assurance when they think about whether to hire you or not.

I do think college is not in any way necessary for a small business owner, though, but I have seen that it allows you to buy time before facing the “real world.” Most entrepreneurs I know went to college. It gives you a network, connections, time, and information.
David @ DINKS Finance´s last blog ..DINKs Buy NOKIA

By: mrsmicah

mrsmicah — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:14:45 +0000

@Lorta St. John’s College in Annapolis. It’s a different sort of college, even today (though w/o maids and the like).

I’d say that if you go back even farther, around the turn of last century perhaps, you’ll find things like that. I believe St. John’s was either retaining or imitating that.

By: Lorta

Lorta — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:09:58 +0000

I’m surprised about your mom having had maid service and waiters at college in the ’60s. Where did she go to college? I first went to college in the ’70s. Over the years I’ve taken courses at public and private colleges in NY, Virginia, and Maryland. I also worked at a medical college for about 10 years. In my observations the housing, food, and recreation of college students have gotten progressively less frugal and more upscale over the years.

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:53:23 +0000

Your article on this blog is fantastic.
Well done! I’m a big fan of your blog and be sure to keep up the great work.
I plan on returning and linking to your site.
Sincerely,
Alan H.