Typical Expenditure of Family of 4 (Husband, wife and 2 children)
Income £1 10s. 6d.
s.
d.
£
s.
d.
Rent
7
0
Food
Milk and Bread
4
0
14 lbs Potatoes
1
3
2 lbs Butter
2
2
½ lb Margarine (for cakes)
3 ½
½ lb Cheese
4 ½
1 packets Flour
5
4 lbs Sugar
9
½ lb Tea
8
1 lb Currants
5 ½
Meat for weekend
2
0
Meat for Wednesday & Thursday
1
0
Cabbage for weekend
4
13
8 ½
Other Household Expenditure
Coal
2
6
Electric Light
1
0
2 Boxes of Matches
2
1 lb Soap
5
1 Packet Washing Powder
3
Polish (boot, floor, metal, etc)
6
4
10
Insurances
1
1
Boot and Clothing Clubs
3
0
Doctor and Hospital
4
Sunday Paper and sundries
6 ½
1
10
6
Source The Geographical Magazine 1936
For those not familiar with the pre-decimal British coinage:-
there were 12 pence (d.) to the shilling and 20 shillings (s.) to
the pound (£). To add to the complications each penny could
be split into halfpennies (1/2 d.) and farthings (1/4 d.)