# Higher prices if you're an older adult?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/higher-prices-if-youre-an-older-adult/285046>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [January 16, 2005, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/higher-prices-if-youre-an-older-adult/285046 "2005-01-16T18:30:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/higher-prices-if-youre-an-older-adult/285046/21 "2005-01-16T22:52:08Z")

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> [@grienspace](#):
>
> Sure. After searching, I realize that I should have used the term “discretionary income”, but really no matter. I found this [cite](http://www.foreseechange.com/forgotten_but_not_gone.htm) presenting Household Expenditure Surveys by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for 1998/99. Please scroll down to Chart IV showing Household Income per Person. This chart shows a continual decrease of total,disposable and discretionary income for a reference person (head of household) until he/she reaches the age group of 45 -54. Clearly, as I’ve stated and I know through experience, having kids is a major factor in whether you can blow 120 bucks for one night.

That might be true of Australia, or even of the United States as a whole, but it doesn’t mean it’s also true for a subgroup- such as the people in the Washington , DC area who would be interested in attending such an event. Sure , a 22 year old single cafeteria worker might have more discretionary income than a 35 year old cafeteria worker with two kids. But I don’t think many cafeteria workers are likely to attend this event , and I suspect that discretionary income goes up with age in some fields. Certainly, I know I had more discretionary income at 31 than I did at 27. Had the kids and the house before I was 30, and the years between 27 and 30 got me the experience I needed to get a much higher paying job.

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**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/higher-prices-if-youre-an-older-adult/285046/22 "2005-01-17T01:12:53Z")

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It is a neo-conservative ploy to influence the younger voters. 😉 [sup] **Carl Rove is a genius.** [/sup]  
**Someone had to say it.**

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