the value of a dollar

The current debate is over Marguerite's finances.

Firstly, I'm not convinced that Marguerite ever owned more than two homes simultaneously (and then only for short periods). Hocus pocus with evidence is a L & H specialty so until I can study it for myself. I suspect that once again, this is based a lot on hearsay from a distance of many years.

But that aside, the point I can take issue with is the claim and counter-claim about Marguerite's relative state of affluence. "In dire poverty" claims big Jim citing the kids placed in an orphanage as his proof. Not so fast, replies Tracy - more realistically suggesting that she needed a place for them so that she could work and keep out of poverty!

The truth here is this:

If her other income is assessed as $17,400 between 1939 and 1951 (12 years), that amount equals $168,036.00 in today's money, compared to 1951. So that is a conservative figure taken from the end date rather than a median or start date.

If we assume she earned an average of $40.00 per week from employment, that is $2080.00 per annum. Today, that equals $19,700 per annum.

So we end up with an average income per year for those 12 years in today's value as being

$168,036 divided by 12 = $14,003 per annum + $19,700 per annum = $33,703 per annum in todays dollars.

The poverty line in the US in 2017 is set at $30,750 per annum for a household of 4 people. Marguerite was keeping her head above the poverty line.

Greg, that's all well and good but which Margurite are we talking about?
Is it Ava Gardner Marguerite or the one who looked like Danny DeVito's mother in Throw Momma From The Train?
I can't tell them apart.

steely dan wrote:Greg, that's all well and good but which Margurite are we talking about?
Is it Ava Gardner Marguerite or the one who looked like Danny DeVito's mother in Throw Momma From The Train?
I can't tell them apart.

Didn't Ava Gardner Marguerite die in Melbourne when all of humanity (and parts of North Queensland and Scotland) choked on The Big One? Isn't that when Danny DeVito's mother took over in the doppelganger universe which quickly evolved from an accident in the CIA sperm bank during the explosions?

I admit, I do have trouble keeping up...

Hmmmm.......maybe that's one to ask Brian on his FB page.
Or we can dig 'em up for shits and grins.