Found an old 1987 estimate book in my truck, prices hit different

Cleaned out my work truck on Sunday and found my uncle's old estimating notebook from 1987. He wrote down what jobs paid back then. A full living room plus hallway install in Phoenix ran about $135 labor. I just did the same size room last month for $900 and felt like I was charging too much. The kicker is the materials. He paid $2.10 a yard for a plush nylon. I paid $18.60 a yard for the same basic grade at my supplier in Tempe. Anyone else ever dig up old pricing and get a little sick about how much the margins have flipped? Mainly curious if anyone else keeps old books or receipts from the early days of their career.

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hill.jade11d ago

Man, that hits different for sure. My rule of thumb is to always double check current supply prices against old numbers like that, because it shows you exactly where your overhead is eating you alive. If anything, that 1987 book is a solid reminder to lean on volume pricing with your supplier now, since you can't just match those old margins.