Back in the late '90s, I'd get a nice Artist Package PRS for about $2700. I had a few of them. I got them at around that price (or maybe a few bucks more) through the very early '00s.
Prices of everything have gone up during the 15-20 years since then.
The same car they charged 36K for in 2011 ran me close to 50K last month.
Let's put things in perspective:
My 1965 Mustang, loaded, went for under $2,800 new. I know because I was the first owner.
My 1965 SG special was $300 with case. In those days, cases cost 1/3 the value of the guitar. I still have both guitar and case.
My Fender black panel Bassman amp, separate head and 2x12 cab, went for $500. A brand new tri-level house in one of my father's subdivisions (he was a developer) ran $29,900 in a then-trendy suburb (still a nice suburb, by the way). In my grandfather's day (1930s), a similar sized house cost around $3,000. My dad paid $1800 for his then-new Buick when I was a little toddler.
Yeah. Inflation is not a new thing.
Building a castle in the Middle Ages cost between £1000 and £30 000, which is equivalent to the modern $4,000,000 to $120,000 000.
Hey, for £1000 I'd be delighted to build myself a castle!
Problem is the serfs needed to do the maintenance won't work for the mere right to till my land...
The world changes. Prices change. It's a numbers game, but a constant you can be assured of. Prices rarely go anything but up! On the other hand, earnings for all but the upper few percent haven't kept pace with inflation recently, so that's a serious problem affecting many of us. Reality bites. People get a new job, or get a raise, and their lifestyles often don't change at all.
Life sucks, and then you die. Bah!
"You should know, Les, you're almost dead."
"Not quite, pal."
"Have friends who are starting to die off?"
"Sure."
"There but for the grace of [god, luck, whatever; insert religious preference] go you, baby!"
"Never remind me of this fact. Ever."