Income and Expenses: 1935

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Apr 18, 2004

Imagine you are a doctor. The year is 1935. The world is in the middle of the Great Depression. Are you rich? Well, definitely better off than most. Your income is about $ 61.00 per week. You have one of the highest paying professions of the era. Your neighbor is an accountant. He makes $ 45.00 a week. He too is well paid.

Your patients are not so well off. Many of them are factory workers. They make about $ 16.00 a week. Cooks make $ 15.00 a week. You charge your patients $ 3.00 a visit. Many people, even those who are ill, don't bother to come to you. They can't afford your prices. Sometimes you accept something in trade for a house call or office visit. You don't like to do this, but if the patient is deathly ill, you'll make an exception. You have a family to support. You need money for clothes, food and shelter. Some people say you are greedy. You don't think so. After all, you want to continue the lifestyle to which you are accustomed. Why should the Great Depression affect you?

You own your home. You don't have to pay a mortgage like your neighbor, the accountant. Many of your patients rent apartments. They pay about $ 12.00 a month for a two bedroom apartment. They have a dining room, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. On top of that, they pay $ 1.00 a month for electricity, the same as you do. Most of them can't afford a telephone. Phone service is $ 3.00 a month.

Today, you picked up a copy of Time Magazine. It cost ten cents. You paid the same price for a hamburger you had for lunch. Tonight, the price to get into the movie theater to see the new movie, Dracula, will also be ten cents.

You must remember to pay your maid when you get home. She charges $ 10.00 a week for her services. You hope her husband is working. It would be hard to pay rent and hydro and put food on the table on those wages.

You pick up a newspaper for three cents at the new stand. You head to the local diner for a cup of coffee. You like it with cream and sugar. It only costs a nickel. Maybe on the way back to your office you will buy an ice cream cone. This too will cost a nickel.

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