Last updated 08:59, Saturday, 29 November 2008

The credit crunch is hitting us all, no more so than in our weekly shopping. The end of the cheap food era appears to be over and if prices continue to rise, it could become the new class distinction of how people live.

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Weekly shop: Carlisle covered market, above

Back in the late Fifties, money was just as tight. In a survey done by the Office for National Statistics highlighting spending it makes surprise reading.

Maybe we didn’t know much about pasta back then, but we ate twice as many potatoes as we do now.

Even though the average household splashed out a third of the weekly budget on food, the Sunday joint was still expected to last well into the following week, disguised in pies or rissoles. Today we spend a sixth of our budget on food.

Housewives used to set a day aside each week for baking when they’d stock up on plate cakes and buns to last the following week for their husbands and children’s packed lunches. The survey showed a decline in flour sales and home baking produce today as busy working mums just don’t have the time to do it.

The Fifties woman had to be a magician in the kitchen. Many food items were still on ration.

Portions were smaller back in the Fifties but even so, people didn’t snack-eat between meals, especially the children. Instead of sitting in front of the TV or play-stations eating crisps, pop and junk food, they’d be outside playing.

However this generation weren’t saints either. Three per cent of people’s disposable income went on booze, which was more likely to be spent on beer in the pub as opposed to bottles of wine we buy to enjoy at home today. Six per sent (or £13.60) a week went on tobacco compared with just one per cent (£4.10) today.

Setting up home in the Fifties was fraught with dangers. To help get over the problems Good Housekeeping magazine published lots of lists to help in the awesome task of living. Just in case you missed them first time round, or you want to modify your modern way of handling chores, here are some of those lists.

n A sample budget for a married couple setting up house on £500 per annum (after income tax and national insurance was deducted) would be:

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

n Budgeting your time went like this: A married couple with one baby of 18 months, living in a three-bedroomed house.

7 am. Make early tea and give baby a drink.

7.20 am. Dress self and baby while husband attends to boiler.

7.45 am. Cook breakfast and serve it.

8.20 am. Clear away breakfast and wash up.

8.40 am. Put baby in pram or play pen. Collect day’s washing and put to soak. Make beds. Tidy and dust upstairs and in bathroom and lavatory.

9.30 am. Do daily work downstairs.

10.15 am. Do daily washing. Make any preparations for lunch.

11 am. Break for tea or coffee. Attend to baby and put him/her to rest.

11.30 am. Special work. See below.

12.30 am. Get lunch.

1 pm. Lunch with baby. Clear away after lunch, wash up and tidy kitchen.

Afternoon. Attend to baby, shopping, gardening, mending, etc.

4.30 pm. Tea for self and baby.

5 pm. Play time with baby.

5.30 pm. Bath baby and put him to bed.

6.15 pm. Prepare and cook supper.

7.15 pm. Serve supper.

7.45 pm. Clear and wash up supper dishes with tea things. Lay breakfast.

n Special weekly work:

Monday: Washing.

Tuesday: Main bedroom or child's bedroom, alternate weeks.

Wednesday: Bathroom, lavatory, landing and stairs. Spare room when necessary.

Thursday: Sitting room, or dining room and hall, alternate weeks.

Friday: Kitchen.

Saturday: Extra baking. Ironing, silver cleaning, etc – to be fitted in during afternoons and evenings.