The Computer Age

In terms of the proportion of an item’s cost compared to my wages at the time, the most expensive item I ever bought was a ZX Spectrum 48k computer back in 1984. Clive Sinclair’s company was at the forefront of the early home computer industry.

At the time, the way to access computer games was through a connected cassette player which made a lot of high pitched beeping noises! I remember a few of the games, pool, golf and an early version of a combat game where you were flying a plane to attack an enemy which bore some resemblance to the Falklands War about 18 months earlier. I was absolutely hopeless at all of the games, as I have been ever since! The coordination needed to play anything like that was beyond me with my dyspraxia, but I think it was a good way to practice my fine motor skills and I did notice some improvements.

The Computer lasted about 9 months or so until I went into the RAF. I am not sure what happened to it. In those days it would probably just have been binned, maybe when I left home. It was, by the standards of the time, a hugely expensive purchase. It was close to £200 at a time when I was earning £300 a month before tax! I have never spent a bigger proportion of my salary on one item before or since. On balance it was a complete waste of money! I would love to say it was lesson learned, but I have to admit it took a long time to be more careful in my spending!