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‘they hired a live-in maid for £36 ($2,600) per year’ It should be noted that in those days low-wage workers might spend half their income on food.* Presumably
by rodric 5y ago
‘they hired a live-in maid for £36 ($2,600) per year’
It should be noted that in those days low-wage workers might spend half their income on food.* Presumably as a live-in maid her room and board were provided, so her compensation was not as low as her salary alone might imply.
*cf https://ahundredyearsago.com/2019/05/30/percentage-of-u-s-total-household-expenditures-spent-on-food-1919-and-2019/ https://ahundredyearsago.com/2019/05/30/percentage-of-u-s-to...
- manmal 5y agoStill, it's pretty much impossible to have a family (or provide for any other human being, e.g. sick relatives) on such an allowance alone. Marriage, and maybe even partnership, was often out of the question for two people who both held such jobs.