Rachel Cruze: 7 Things You Forgot Were This Cheap in 1995
Written by
Ashley Donohoe
Edited by
Amen Oyiboke
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A Harris Poll conducted for The Guardian found that Americans viewed inflation as the top economic concern, and 74% were spending at least $100 more per month on household expenses.
While your wallet is likely feeling the pain from more recent rising prices, you might be even more surprised by how much prices and incomes have changed if you go back 30 years.
In a recent video, financial expert Rachel Cruze discussed several things that were much cheaper in 1995 and offered simple advice on handling ongoing price increases.
Movie Tickets
Cruze used data from The Numbers, which showed that the average movie ticket was $4.35 in 1995. She also recalled being able to get a movie ticket, a drink and popcorn with just a $10 bill.
The average movie ticket alone will set you back $11.31 in 2025, which can easily make you reconsider your plans. To save some money, you can try looking for discounts, avoiding peak times and checking if your cinema has a loyalty program.
Concert Tickets
You might feel concert tickets have become ridiculously expensive. Cruze referenced Pollstar data showing average concert ticket prices of $25.81 in 1996 and $98.40 in 2025. She also brought up the idea that Beyoncé’s and Taylor Swift’s tours have driven up prices over the last few years.
While prices might not drop soon, you can try to get your tickets early to avoid the risk that your only option will be an expensive reseller. You can also check if there are ways to waive any ticket fees.
Milk
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, you would have paid $2.49 for a gallon of fresh milk in September 1995 versus $4.13 in September 2025. Government policies and increased supplies have helped keep the price from rising too much over the last few decades.
Surprisingly, some stores still sell generic milk for around the 30-year-old price. As of November 2025, depending on your location, you can get a gallon of whole milk for $2.65 at Aldi or $2.37 at Walmart.
New Cars
Cruze discussed how new car prices have more than doubled. The Bureau of Economic Analysis listed an average new car price of $19,757 in 1995, while Kelley Blue Book reported $50,080 in September 2025. Tariffs have played a major role this year.
Financing a new car at such prices can especially be damaging to your finances, as you’ll be stuck with large monthly payments with interest for several years. That’s why Cruze and other Ramsey personalities recommend buying a used car you can afford in cash.
Babysitter
Since she couldn’t find good data on babysitting prices in 1995, Cruze got input from coworkers: “So, people that were babysitting in 1995, they were saying anywhere from $2 to $7 an hour.”
That price range was far below the $28.10 average hourly rate that Urbansitter listed for watching two kids in 2025. Cruze addressed how the high cost makes going out expensive and mentioned that she accounts for babysitting in her monthly budget. Besides following her budgeting approach, you can carefully research trusted yet affordable care options.
College Tuition and Fees
The cost of college tuition and fees for an in-state student going to a public four-year school has nearly doubled over 30 years. The National Center for Education Statistics noted that the average cost for the 1995-96 academic year was $5,786, while the CollegeBoard cited an average cost of $11,610 for the 2024-25 academic year.
Cruze added that a private university can cost you around $43,000 per year, so the type of school is important for affordability. To deal with high college costs for your kids, consider options such as attending a community college first, finding grants and scholarships and taking advantage of dual enrollment courses.
Household Income
When comparing these different prices, you should also consider changing incomes. Cruze referenced data from the U.S. Census Bureau, which showed average annual household incomes of $44,940 in 1995 and $114,500 in 2023. While that increase may seem large, the cost of certain expenses, such as housing, has gone up faster than wages.
Cruze’s Final Advice for Handling Rising Costs
To deal with rising costs in general, Cruze recommended accepting that there are some uncontrollable factors, such as inflation and government decisions. If you stay fearful or stressed about these things, you’ll just waste your energy.
Instead, do what you can to control your finances, such as rethinking certain expenses, finding ways to boost your income and budgeting the money you have. Also, make sacrifices when necessary and avoid living beyond your means.
Cruze explained, “If you continue a standard of living that is above that, you will be in a spiral of stress and debt for the rest of your life.”
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