$20K of todays money or 1930s?<p>because:<p>&gt; In 1930 &lt;...&gt; the average American earned $1,368&#x2F;year which is roughly $19,500&#x2F;year in todays dollars.<p>True about the expense shift. Today food is probably as cheap as it have ever been, and rent&#x2F;real-estate is as expensive as it have ever been. :)