Thinking back to my slightly higher than minimum wage job back in 1981 when min-wage was $3.50, it is now $10-$15 depending on where you live, which is 3x-4x back at that time. I could buy a gallon of gas for around $1.30 but it would only take me 8-12 miles in my family station wagon. Today, cars get much better gas mileage closer to 25 mpg or more. Which means that an hour of work today at minimum wage will take you 2-3 times FURTHER now than back in 1985 because inflation in crude oil prices isn't as high as inflation in minimum wages AND gasoline engines are more fuel efficient. So, again, 1 hour of work in 1985 meant I could buy nearly 3 gallons to drive 24-36 miles. Today, 1 hour of minimum wage work will allow me to drive 75-100 miles in an average car (at $3.3-$4 gasoline).
Times are better now.