Setting up home in the fifties was fraught with dangers. To help you get over the problems the 'Good Housekeeping' magazine published lists, lots of lists, to help you in the awesome task of living. Just in case you missed them first go round or you made a mistake and want to rectify your household. Here are some of those lists.

Some Sample Budgets

Married couple setting up house on £500 per annum.(After income tax and national insurance have been deducted)

Rent, rates and insurance. £150
Food and laundry for two. £156
Fuel, including coal, gas and electricity. £50
Clothes and personal expenses. £70
Holidays and amusements.. £40
Margin for special expenses. £20
Savings. £14
Total £500

 

National Insurance.
  Employer Employee Self- employed
Men 6/- 6/9 8/5
Women 4/11 5/6 7/2
Boys (under 18) 3/6 3/11 4/10
Girls (under 18) 2/10 3/3 4/3

 

 

Good House Keeping

Married couple with two young children; income £780 per annum.(After income tax and national insurance have been paid).This couple are buying their own house.

Mortgage and interest. £120
Rates and Schedule "A" Tax. £33
Maintenance and repairs. £21
Food. £236
Household expenses. £76
Clothes for wife and two children. £52
Clothes for husband. £26
Fuel £52
Life assurance. £24
Telephone. £15
Holiday and household replacement fund. £30
Husbands lunches and fares. £52
Miscellaneous. £43
Total £780

 

Licenses.
Radio: (sound only) £1; Television and sound £3. Renewable annually on the date first taken out.
Dogs: 7/6; (puppies under six months of age, dogs kept by blind people and sheep dogs are exempt). Renewable annually.
Driving license: 5/-; Renewable annually on the date first taken out.
Information about Gun and Game license can be obtained from the post office or police station.

 

Ah! those were the days. Read on to find out how you managed your time....
Index Time Lists