This really gives a good example of the economic conditions in the 1930s during the Great Depression (1929-1939). Taxi drivers make about $5-6 a week according to the script, and an average grocery bill was around $6.07 according to this sample. His weekly salary wouldn't even cover the groceries, let alone other appliances. Six dollars a week for a year (52 weeks) comes out to be $312 a year (assuming, generously, that Sid makes $6 and not $5). For reference, a refrigerator cost ~ $150 and a toaster cost ~$10 in the 1930s. You can see how these expenses quickly add up, not to mention rent, clothing and other expenses. Especially when you consider the fact that Florence wants to raise a family with Sid, and she contributes only "a few dollars" to the household, assumably per week (pg 18). Assuming that's $3 per week for 52 weeks, that's $156 per year. Together, they would have to raise a family on ~$468 per year, which almost guarantees that Irv would have to step in and help, considering that their mother seems too sick to work.
UPDATE (7:04pm)*****Cab drivers make ~80 cents per day, which is barely enough money to buy beans. (compare that to the grocery list below)
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