Even without working out values 'then' and 'now', I find a useful reality check in converting prices of small items to shillings and pence. For example, if there are ten strawberries in a pack labelled as "only" £1.49, those strawberries are almost 3 shillings each. If a lettuce is "only" 75 pence, that is 15 shillings. And I am never tempted by the little chocolate bars at the checkout, priced at HOW MUCH??? in shillings - they have to be joking.