Thursday 10 January 2013

'Tis the season to be thrifty...tra la la la la - la la la la la!


Ah - ha - now I understand.....what you really, really like to look at are the insides of people's cupboards!!! In order to wean you off that need I will  one day show UNDER THE BEDS..... 
If  you thought that cupboard was full......

Ho ho 

 For today's lesson let us focus on saving money.  Our mum kept savings in a plain saving tin - different sections for the coal man, milk and bread man and so on.  I was part of that saving because I would count the money to check there was enough.  I had a particular interest in the coal money - another job being counting the sacks of coal as they went into the coal shed (I was very scared of that coal shed - no light but lots of cobwebs - also fascinated by the coal man and his coaley face!), just to check we were not being short changed!

Handy things savings tins. 

 The main driver for all things old was always the saving of money - it was clear from a very early age that buying things second hand was much cheaper than buying new. Along with this was the drive to physically save money.  If 'vintage' is just a passing fashion trend it doesn't matter does it because we will still be ploughing our 'make do and mend' furrow won't we. It has been a fortuitous turn of events that second hand also tends to mean well made, nice looking and lasts.  Trendy....moi!!  Children cannot believe that our rubbish is 'in fashion' - it will still be 'in fashion' with us when it is 'out of fashion' with 'them'!!  When our home was featured in H & A magazine it brought a lump to my throat that the title of the article was 'Acquired over a lifetime'....because that is exactly what it has been...



 Of course you can have toooo many savings tins....


It is an interesting social phenomena that over the decades savings tins morphed from essential savings to more hedonistic savings for things such as ice cream and holidays.  Gosh!


Saving yesterday means that what I have saved on the swings I can now spend on the roundabouts...(what IS she going on about.   Arthur....ARTHUR.....is there an off switch somewhere....)


Moral messages!





We sisters have a pound limit on Christmas presents for each other (not sure if I am posting this in preparation for Christmas 2013 or a 2012 retrospective!)  so we set the maximum amount of money to be spent and rival each other to purchase the 'best' present (judged by the quantity of 'ooo' 'aaahs' generated).    Sister Sue (she of the bowl of brooches!) invariably wins the challenge as she belongs to the WI and seems to snaffle the most extraordinary things from jumbles.  Last year Sue gave me an original copy of this:


Of course it is very easy to buy a new copy nowadays but an old musty one that cost less than a pound (in fact it was in amongst some old magazines) is much better.


It is a marvellous little booklet



This season sister Trudie gave me these (without having read my blog post regarding lack of Angel Chime candles!):



Pressure is now off now for next years chimes at least! 

Wunderbar

 I will perhaps create a post on some of the very smug purchases that I have also made and extra smugly given.  I am not a fan of expensive presents at Christmas - bah humbug.   This is not in a misery guts way - just in a 'I have more than enough' way (We KNOW Jenny!!). In this way I have been able to buy a veritable herd of goats in far off lands built up over the years - a much better use of my money I think.  A handmade card from the children is more the enough - though Dom surprised me greatly with my present this year and I will post about that another time.

I have mentioned in other posts how instilling own thrifty values in your children is a handy dandy thing to do - sometimes I worry that I have gone too far as this year (2012) the children's suggestions (because I had run out of ideas) for Christmas presents were:


So Bronte had asked from some plastic hair slides and craft paints from Homebase...
Maille kindly highlights the price of items and had sourced the cheapest version (the 'ahhhs' are to highlight that this is a pricey item) - she had also set up 'watch' on a Robin Hood DVD that she liked on Ebay - second hand of course...I feel a bit bad now....



Next week = money boxes.....gulp.........


Tra la la
Fiddle de dee
Not so smugly I go off to make some tea....

63 comments:

  1. The instant I saw those money boxes this little song popped into my head!

    I've Got Sixpence

    I've got sixpence
    Jolly. jolly sixpence
    I've got sixpence to last me all my life
    I've got twopence to spend
    And twopence to lend
    And twopence to send home to my wife-poor wife.

    CHORUS: No cares have I to grieve me
    No pretty little girls to deceive me
    I'm happy as a lark believe me
    As we go rolling, rolling home
    Rolling home (rolling home)
    Rolling home (rolling home)
    By the light of the silvery moo-oo-on
    Happy is the day when we line up for our pay
    As we go rolling, rolling home.

    I've got fourpence
    Jolly, jolly fourpence
    I've got fourpence to last me all my life
    I've got twopence to spend
    And twopence to lend
    And no pence to send home to my wife-poor wife.

    I've got twopence
    Jolly, jolly twopence
    I've got twopence to last me all my life
    I've got twopence to spend
    And no pence to lend
    And no pence to send home to my wife-poor wife.

    I've got no pence
    Jolly. jolly no pence
    I've got no pence to last me all my life
    I've got no pence to spend
    And no pence to lend
    And no pence to send home to my wife-poor wife.

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  2. Hasten to add no idea why!
    Julie xxxxxx

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    1. Aww - thank you so much for reminding me of this - it got into my head all over the weekend. For some reason half way through it morphs into Kenneth McKellar (if you go that far back!) - was it the same tune perhaps!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  3. I remember those money boxes but can't think why because I don't think we ever had one. My mum had a series of screw-top jars each with a handwritten label saying what they were for. That tradition continued with me for very many years until I progressed to an exercise book and a series of building society account books and small purses. I remember my best friend finding these all very amusing and telling her other friends about it in a slightly sneering way. (Without wishing to be too smug maybe at this point I could point out that she used to go severely overdrawn and I was never unable to pay my bills.)
    Now I have reverted to the jam jar system as it seems so much more comforting to be able to see your money grow. Philippa xx

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    1. Yes - I can identify with those thoughts and feeling Philippa. I always used to write down 'incomings and outgoings' and be meticulous in documenting everything. We can be the smug ones now! We have an old sweet jar for change and this is emptied for our summer holidays (we tend not to go far!)
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  4. Whenever I sing the "I've got 6d" song, I have to follow it with a chorus of "Count your blessings, name them one by one"

    My entire childhood I longed for a saving tin with multiple slots - and still hunt for one in charity shops. One day...

    happy new year! [I must stop saying that now we are mid january]

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    1. May 2013 find the tin of your dreams Angela
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  5. Hello ....

    Thank you for your Christmas and New Year wishes chez moi...I must admit to being very slothful on the festive greetings front and even less conscientious on the blogging front...keep having these vague, half-formed thoughts about doing a blog post but the pesky things flit away before I can grab them and act on them...I suppose it's a sort of extended holiday....if I don't blog then it's still the holidays...no that doesn't make much sense in the real world but it does in my mind. Soon though (she says with crossed fingers).

    So anyway Jenny it looks like you had a cracking Christmas which is fab, and I hope January is being kind to you and 2013 is not too vile (for any of us) - but rather yields lots of good stuff in all shapes and sizes and forms.

    Oh and really smashing tins - really really..if I was up for lusting I'd lust for them. But am working zealously on not lusting after things. :)

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    1. Ah dear wendz - back to school marks back to reality and all things 'normal' - very dismal today and ruddy cold too! I too plan for 'no lusting' in 2013 - here's hoping!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  6. ....love this post....but loving your tins more.....ooh and aah...but i am desperately chaining myself away from the sales and shops and all things bargain in an attempt to have a thrifty Jan too....so hard when you are a shopaholic.....off to walk the dog VERY briskly now.....breath in.....x

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    1. Dear vanilla squirrel - now what is that I notice on your blog this very day....
      Keep walking your dog for distraction purposes!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  7. What a fantastic collection of saving tins you have there! We were always encouraged to save as children, I'm still good at it now, although my love of fabric, wallpaper, and now yarn, gets in the way!
    I loved my TSB school savings book, it had bright shiny new pennies on the front, I used to be given some coins each Monday to take to school. They would never do that now! :) x

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    1. Ah - yes I had forgotten about my TSB book - I have it written in my diary how proud I was that I had taken 50 pence to school to save!! I will have to dig that out now!!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  8. Ooh, I have savings tin envy! What a fabulous collection.

    I've clearly failed as a mother ... both my girls requested expensive perfumes at Christmas ... so not something to be found secondhand on eBay!

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    1. Mmmm- that is a bit of problem as perfume does go off after about 30 years I think!
      best wishes
      jenny

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  9. Ive led a sheltered life as I've never seen a savings tin like those before! We had tins but they were usually old empty ones and my mum used the electric/gas meters as savings pots...always pputting in more than was needed so when the gas/electric man came to empty it she ALWAYS had a nice little sum left.
    My middle son had a very modest Christmas list this year, 2 Diary of Wimpy kid books, a card game & a new lunchbox...
    Off to go get another dose of tin envy {I do love a good tin!}
    Nicky
    x

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    Replies
    1. That is lovely about your middle son - I feel quite moved when children don't ask for much
      Always best to save too much and have left overs - a nice surprise
      Keep warm today
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  10. My brother and I do a similar thing with our pressies - but he definitely won one year, when he gave me a really good amplifier for my hi-fi (dates me I know...) - he'd found it at a car boot sale and repaired it for me. If we can't find something amazing, we go for the seriously tacky instead.

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    1. That sounds like a great idea
      Thank you for calling in - I was trying to find the follow do dah on your blog - could you possibly point me in the right direction please?
      Many thanks
      Jenny

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    2. Hello Jenny, now we're in dangerous territory if you're asking me techy questions - but I think if you scroll down - quite a long way possibly - the widgety bit is at the very bottom - tricky isn't it, I'm not sure if I can do anything about that - but I think there should be a follow button there. So pleased you wanted to!

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  11. likw you're saving boxes, it is only nice when you have alot of it :-)
    just like money ...

    xx

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    1. Ah yes - multiples of three or more are good!
      Keep warm today
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  12. hello Jenny:
    We absolutely love your savings tins collection. So jolly and so reminiscent of a time when every penny had to be accounted for and treats were saved for rather than being an everyday occurrence.

    We have an old tin savings box here in Budapest in the form of a dog in a kennel. One places the money on the dog's tongue and it is hastily [almost too hastily as one can easily lose a finger]consumed into the bowels of the tin!!!!

    Clearly, your children are following in your own thrifty footsteps. What a perfect role model you are. Wishing you all a joyously thrifty New Year!!!!

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    1. Not a phrase that you will hear too often but could I see your kennel box please!
      Lovely to have you back in town so to speak - keep warm on those icy steppes (a little out geographically)!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  13. All of those tins are so fun and lovely!!! I have a very small stash that's building up...waiting to be used for something cute! :) Happy Thursday! Hugs, Holly

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    1. That sounds lovely and look forward to seeing them
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  14. Ah Jen helloo,

    I'm back...don't you know?

    "Cooperate with the inevitable" what a mission statement for life that is!!

    Bestest
    D x

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    1. So glad that you are back in town Ms Jones - and Foxy too!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  15. Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best in 2013. This post is typical of you, full of wit and wisdom. And thank you for all the lovely things you shared with us last year. Minerva x

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    1. Awww - thank you kindly dear Minerva

      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  16. I've never seen one of those saving tins before, but I love the idea! Before I married, I used to divide my cash money like that on payday, to pay my bills. I could have used one of those tins!
    Yours are very cute. I must look on eBay!
    Thanks,
    dorothy

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    1. Hello again Dorothy - there is no shortage of such tins I think as they represent a time of physical money and no 'plastic'. Keep me posted
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  17. Great collection of savings tins and new to me. Adorable graphics that would make saving all the more fun. New to your blog and enjoying it immensely!

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    1. Welcome dear laurie magpie ethel - I think that they are an incentive to save in a good way
      Thank you for calling in
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  18. I never cease to be amazed by all your wonderful stuff Jenny :)
    x

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    1. O dear Barbara - that is exactly what Dom says but he omits the 'wonderful'....
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  19. Hi Jenny I have never seen tins of that gorgeousness in all my rummagings! I am quite certain that you have a secret shed at the bottom of your garden where you craftily make these things and PRETEND that you have been given them from an old jumble sale!!!Your post does make me chuckle!So anxious to read your latest blog that the tea hubby made has gone quite cold.Can't wait to see under your bed, in the nicest possible way!!Warm regards Pam.

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    1. Ah dear Pam - one day I will offer you a special invite to an 'under the bed ' viewing! Crikey!
      I wish I had the old,plain tin my mum had though...
      Best wishes and keep warm today
      Jenny

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  20. Great post dear Jenny... I just love those tins!! Cx

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  21. Funny, entertaining post, as always, Jenny! Love the tins, but I've yet to come across any on my treasure hunts.

    Love Clare xxx

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    1. They will appear eventually Clare I am quite sure
      Keep that log fire going today
      best wishes
      Jenny

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  22. I am smiling ear to ear....I have never seen boxes like this! You have such a magical way of weaving the tale...but you are correct, our "vintage" will be around time and time again!

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    1. Hello again and thank you for your kind words
      Over time it will just become a different vintage - 2010s for example!
      Yikes
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  23. Those savings tins are wonderful. I love the way your thrifty ways have been installed in your children too. My children are the same andasked for the second hand versions on their Christmas lists too.
    Sarah x

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    1. Many thanks Sarah - it is tough sometimes as some children seem to have sooooo much and endless supply of clothes and new shoes but I stick to my guns all the same. Bronte now only wants second hand and nothing else will do!
      Keep warm in that chilly sea breeze!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  24. Oooh Jenny I feel rather old now.. as I had a thrift tin when I was first married in the 70s..It was the only way we knew how to mannage our bills..we were very young bless..
    Yes it is good to be thrifty and it is amazing what one can find for very little..
    Stay Warm
    Thea x

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    1. Oh please tell me that you still have that tin Thea. I think seeing physical money and dividing it up is a very good way indeed of managing money
      Keep warm indeed - it is a chilly one today!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  25. Love your tins. Wish I had one to start the year well. It's was so cute what your children wrote. It is never to young to learn that money does not grow on trees.
    You are doing a good job.
    Rosezeeta

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    1. Hello and thank Rosezeeta - I have tried to leave a comment on your own blog but cannot locate the publish button - Blogger may be having an off day today!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  26. What sweet little money tins. Of course the categories have changed from "needs" to a "wants". There is a big difference, isn't there? When I was a kid we often made Christmas gifts for each other, and I still have some of the lovely things that my mom and sisters sewed for me. Today I like giving gifts that help people. One year I gave my best friend a "day of cleaning". Her son was coming home from for Christmas and she needed to get his old room ready for him. Over the years it had been turned into a junk storage room. It took 5 hours, but we got that room cleared out, aired out, washed down, new linens on the bed, etc... I can't remember how many bags of junk and trash we hauled out of there.

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    1. Thank you GardenofDaisies - I LOVE the idea of giving time as a gift - that really is a super, duper idea and I will hang on to that for next year if you don't mind. By sheer coincidence I offered to weed my neighbours front garden the other day but he had asked his granddaughter to do it instead.
      Thank you for that great idea
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  27. Lovely little tins,how different things have become. Hubby and I don't do Christmas gifts to each other, thinking we get things we like all year long.

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    1. Yes indeed simmone - we just exchange token items usually - this year I have been surprised (in a good way though!)
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  28. I love the tins Jenny but strangely I cant ever remember my mum using anything like that for saving.I remember us having a big cupboard, similar to yours in our old house when I was growing up and she kept bits of money in teapots and jugs.I suppose a similar sort of thing anyway.At least you knew where you were with cash, all this debit card stuff can leave you not knowing where your money is going.

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    1. Ah - yes indeed Anne - that debit card does not seem like real money and is a dangerous bit of plastic. Bring back vanilla envelopes for all financial transactions!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  29. Dear Mrs. Custard, I have to tell you my husband has traveled to England nearly every month for the last twenty years, and I never knew there were such lovely things as tins and baskets and dishes to be found there. Postcards and tea towels have been about it. But now that I have put before him your lovely blog, I am expecting a basket or tin from his next trip!
    This is such a lovely post. Thank you for all you share. Elizabeth

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    1. Dear Elizabeth - thank you for your kind words - please do direct your good husband towards the tin and basket section of our isles! There are plenty (too many) to be found
      All the best
      Jenny

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  30. OMG... I so want a savings tin....
    fab blog post..

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    1. Dear Knittynutter - since reading this I notice a plentiful supply on Ebay!
      Oh dear
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  31. Hi! I just discovered your lovely blog and I'm so pleased I did what a fun read. I'm a big fan of anything vintage and just love those heavenly tins!

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    1. Welcome to your good self - be careful vintage can get out of hand!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  32. Beautiful. I am very jealous now as I have a boring green savings tin. Maybe I should jazz it up a bit!
    Emma xxx

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    1. Dear Oooh Betty - I am quite sure that you would do a lovely job on any jazzing up
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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