Ralph spent money on get quick rich schemes
He also had enough money to belong to a lodge and go bowling regularly. Clearly they had some disposable income.
I don't think that they lived in squalor. People lived a lot more modestly in the 1950s. The Kramdens had a one-bedroom apartment and most apartments at the time had exterior fire escapes.
As for the Nortons, their apartment was nicer. I did some research after my initial post and found this, https://eyesofageneration.com/welcome-to-the-ed-norton-apartment-this-great-color-photo-was-taken-in-april/
Yes, the Nortons clearly had a nicer apartment. I also remember that they got a television before the Kramdens did.
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