Fast food wasnt that cheap in the 60's and 70's. I can remember in the 70's My minimum wage job I really couldnt afford KFC, Burger King, or McDonald's on a more than 1 or maybe 2x a week. maybe. Arby's was once a quarter.
I lived off a hostess fruit pie and a strawberry crush for my usual lunch or less.
friday nights was you got any gas money? it was $6 in the tank and $4 for a 12 pack of beer. thats it.
on even my best day on the job at minimum wage the thought of working at any minimum wage job to make a living NEVER entered my teenage mind. oh hell no!
Back in the 80s . I worked mostly minimum wage jobs or a little more...and I was able to live in a cheap hote..by the week..feed myself ...and maintain my gas driven car ($600)..which cost about $5 a week to get to and from work.
No way could I do that today.
In the 70s you obviously didn’t have a microwave or fridge in college dorms. I’d spurge on Sunday getting a 1 piece chicken snack pack and get a coke from a machine for $2. Minimum wage was about $2/hr.
Today’s min. wage is about $16/hr. and a fast food meal is also $16 so nothing has been gained. We have lost the value of any savings we managed to accrue.