While spring cleaning my study I came across a tariff and information brochure for the Riverside Caravan Park in Port Alfred, dated 1985.

The out-of-season rate for a caravan with two people camping was R 15 per night and peak season was R 35 per night. This, having private ablution at every stand, was by no means a sub-standard resort on the Kowie river with boat launching facilities.

At present one of the least expensive but very nice seaside municipal resorts on the West Coast asks R 175 per day for two people out of season and R 500 during peak season.

So, I sat down and considered the relative difference. It would appear as if the increase in tariff was between eleven and fifteen times. During the same period the resale value of my house increased by about 53 times since 1985. The price of cars, although more sophisticated today, probably increased more than that of houses, and energy probably tops it by far! 

What is most surprising is that my monthly retirement income compared to my salary in the mid-eighties compares favourably with the increase in my house value. 

Conclusion: out-of-season camping is a lot less expensive today compared to 37 years ago if the price of fuel and firewood is left out of the context.

I can do without the fire wood, but i sure need the fuel.

My mother-in-law used to tell me that they price they would get  for a number of sheep (they were sheep farmers in the Karoo) was equivalent to the price of a new farm bakkie. And according to her the number of sheep stayed the same over decades to that of a new farm bakkie.

Round about 1970 a friend and me were driving when a news report came through on the radio saying some or other economist reconed even the smallest car would soon cost at least three thousand rand. We both agreed that that meant we would never again be able to buy a car. A VW Beetle at that time cost less than R2000.

I often look at a historic conversion table on internet to compare past values to today's. It is quite an eye opener.

Die lewe is n lied die wet van Transvaal se mos bollie en betaal 😂

Ja, petrol bly n bespreking-topic. Kyk bietjie hiernaq :

Kaapstad na Victoria valle na Kariba en terug na Kaapstad.

Petrol : R50-00

Jaar : 1970

My salaris op daardie stadium : R208-00 per maand