Money and Income Value

Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 5:05 pm Post subject: Money and Income Value

I took my daughter to see P&P adapted for the stage at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. In the playbill there was a paragraph explaining the value of the the amounts of money talked about in P&P.

"The Bennet’s lived on an annual income from Longborne of 2,000 pounds which would be the modern day equivalent of $109,000 per year. So they were a moderately well off family, but with so many daughters money could get tight. If none of the daughters married and Mr. Bennet died, then Mrs. Bennet and her 5 daughters would have to live the rest of their lives on the annual interest of her 5000 pound dowery which would be 200 pounds/year, only $11,000 per year - this would include finding a house to rent."

So roughly - Mr. Bingley’s 5,000/yr = $275,000 and Darcy’s 10,000/yr = $550,000/yr
This really helped me to understand the modern day value of money in the Regency period. So many times I find myself not sure about how much money my characters would need to live sufficiently, luxuriously, or just to scrape by. It also made me realize that I would probably be pushing my girls into marriage too. Wink

Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 2:50 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can see why young girls were pushed into rich marriages!!!!!!!!!!!! Can I just say though, I probably wouldn't need to be pushed. Embarassed

...... Oh come on!!! Books are expensive!!!!!! study

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Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

I'd actually say it was higher, more like $200,000 today. The rule of thumb I've always used is 100 x the amount.

Measuring Worth (fab site) shows this"

In 2008, £2000 0s 0d from 1800 is worth:

£108,000.00 using the retail price index

£1,600,000.00 using average earnings
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-Kalen
w/a Isobel Carr
Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011
Book 1: The League of Second Sons
www.isobelcarr.com