Now that we\u2019ve explored the ins and outs of how we define and measure basic needs, let\u2019s take a look at how we\u2019ve calculated family budgets. Below is a comparison of a family budget in the 1960s with one today. I\u2019m using the Bureau of Labor Statistics data<\/a> for the 1960s calculation and a calculator from the Economic Policy Institute<\/a> for today.[1]<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n For simplification, we\u2019ll look at the percentages — what percentage of income went\/goes to items like food, clothing, and housing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the 1960s, the breakdown for an urban family with one\nwage-earner looked like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just as we\u2019ve discussed over the last several weeks, it\u2019s\nimportant to look at these amounts with a critical eye. In this case, these\nnumbers represent a \u201cCity Worker\u2019s Family Budget for a Moderate Living\nStandard\u201d and were published in 1966. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, the breakdown looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These numbers are for a family of four in the Little Rock, Ark.,\nmetro area in 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m sure that differences jump out to you. For me, the\ninclusion of child care (and its large costs) as well as the big changes in\nhealth care, housing and, of course, food<\/em>\nstand out. Times and categories change. How we budget changes. How we measure\nand think about poverty and family needs should change, too. ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/southernpartners.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/1960s-pie-chart.jpg\")
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