Typical Expenditure of Family of 5(Husband, wife and 3 children)

Income £1 13s. 6d.  

 

 

 

 

 

£

s.

d.

 

 

 

s.

d.

 

 

 

Rent

 

 

 

 

 

8

6

Food

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bread

4

0

 

 

 

 

2 Tins Condensed Milk

 

3

 

 

 

 

Potatoes

1

6

 

 

 

 

2 ½ lbs Butter

2

6

 

 

 

 

½ Margarine

 

2

 

 

 

 

½ lb Lard

 

4

 

 

 

 

1 lb Cheese

 

8

 

 

 

 

4 lbs Flour

 

7

 

 

 

 

4 lbs Sugar

 

9

 

 

 

 

1 lb Tea

 

8

 

 

 

 

½ lb Currants

 

3

 

 

 

 

2 lb Pot of Jam

 

10 ½

 

 

 

 

Cocoa

 

2

 

 

 

 

Salt

 

1

 

 

 

 

1 lb Bacon

 

10

 

 

 

 

1 lb Peas

 

2 ½

 

 

 

 

Meat for Sunday

1

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

10

Other Household Expenditure

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coal & Coke

1

8 1/2

 

 

 

 

Light & Matches

1

0

 

 

 

 

2 lbs soap & Persil

 

7 ½

 

 

 

 

Polishes

 

4 ½

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

8 ½

Insurances

 

 

 

1

3

Boot and Clothing Clubs

 

 

 

4

0

Doctor and Hospital

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

1

12

9 1/2

 

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.)