How much it cost in 1978

kath99
kath99 Forum Participant Posts: 6
edited February 2017 in Your stories #1

Having just bought our own first caravan, I've inherited my father's caravan journals from him in the hope that we benefit from his experiences. These consist of handwritten notes taken over the years 1978 - 2004 when he and mum enjoyed 94 trips throughout mainland Britain.  At the back of one of the notebooks is his original purchase list, which he has given permission for me to share with you. I've written it up exactly as it appears.

The caravan was a Fisher, and I found a photo of me peeking out of it in about 1980.

 31 March 1978

Caravan 1650
Insurance 26.45
Number plate 4
Mirrors 8
Towbar and electrics 55
Hitchlock 4.45
Leveller 1.65
Fire extinguisher 3.95
Pan and brush 1.08
1x10lb gas cylinder 11.88
10lb calor gas (15/4/78) 2.65
" regulator 2.60
Tubing 1 yard (for gas) .36
Spanner .28
Finilec 1.85
4 tumblers 1.36
4 plates 1.44
Butter disch .25
Waste water container 1.25
4 gal " " 1.25
2 gal " " (for Mr. D.) 1.00
Hooks .58
Charging relay 5.25
Step 3.80

Comments

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #2

    I remember we were so hard pressed at that time to pay a mortgage with fast rising interest rates that a caravan purchase couldn't have been considered. It's interesting to read your Father's accounts! smile

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #3

     Looking at the photo brought back memories. I bought the first caravan for us in 1981. Just before we went away on our first trip I had a letter form the bank informing me that we were about £100 overdrawn smile

    After we arrived on site at Morfa Nefyn on the Llyn Peninsula I phoned the bank to say that I was on holiday and would sort it out when I returned home but that it would probably be a month before I could resolve the situation. That was in the days when you could speak to a bank manager who had discretion! The response was along the lines of 'That's OK Alan, thanks for phoning, enjoy your holiday. We will not charge you any interest and by all means call and see me when you are back home and we will sort it out.

    Those were the days.

  • birderbilly
    birderbilly Forum Participant Posts: 349
    100 Comments
    edited March 2017 #4

    Thanks for posting this Kath.  Interesting to see how costs have changed over the years and on some items how they have remained the same. To put into todays terms based on rpi you need to multiply the costs by about 6 - so in todays money the caravan was about £10,000 - insurance about £160 - gas refill £16.

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