Indeed, you make a very good point
I, myself, had my first "real job" back in 1958. I was paid $0.25 per hour (and Glad to get it)
I paid $0.10 for Gasoline. I could go to the "old A&W drive in" and eat & drink (soft drinks) all I wanted to for $0.15 to $0.40 (depending if I wanted to be a Real "Big Spender)
Times have surely changed
(Within my short time span on this old earth)
I'm a real young pup, 32, but I'm very aware of our "Real Living Costs" and how they compare. When someone get nostalgic and says "Gas was only 10 cents a gallon back then!" I remind them that they only got 30 cents an hour pay back then, too.
Look at your example. Let's increase your pay to $8.00 an hour, not a bad wage for someone starting off today in a reasonable market. Now let's increase your gas by the same ratio. $3.20 a gallon. Hmmm. Ok, now a fast food joint after work. $4.80 on the low end, $12.80 as a big spender. That's a little high for a extra-value meal from a fast food place, and about right for a sit down meal at a "neighborhood" type joint (Applebys, Fridays, etc) on the high end. Not somewhere you would eat at a lot on $8.00 an hour, but a nice date place.
Indeed, the good old days had a lot to look back on with wistful thoughts of what was, but we are living in a pretty blessed society today if we think about it.