General Chat

Talking of notes -does anyone remember what colour they were? I think a pound was green, a five pound was blue and a ten pound was white - each increasing in size according to value. I remember we used to collect 'bun pennies' during the war for charity. I have a full set of all the old coins. Here's an interesting web page on the old coins http://24carat*co*uk/denominationsframe.html

and why do I always put my name at the bottom... like Im sighning a letter ? DOH.....

long gone are the days of real money..... how easy was it ? if you got a bob ... you spent a bob... now all mine ever want is notes.... Sally

Certainly nothing went down to achieve equivalent money! It was the biggest rip-off ever - the beginning of the end I reckon, initally because so many were confused, the shops just took advantage, and by the time everyone did get used to using it, prices were just accepted. Thank you Mr Heath!! What with that and signing us into the EEC!! Won't say any more - wouldn't be polite!

I regularly tease our local hardware store. He keeps quoting things in imperial measure so I offer £ s d prices. He is not amused. C

If I recall correctly, a Double bounty bar was priced at 9d. after decimalisation there was no equivalent for 9d so it went to 4p. 1p = 2.4d, 4x2.4 =10.6d... over a penny/halfpenny increase in price overnight!! Bob

I have a throopenny bit! Didn't Lynda say that David was 83?

I thought the silver 3d bit, that you put in Christmas puds, was called a joey. I actually found £ s d much easier to work with - how stubborn is that! To this day I still can't multiply or divide decimal currency very easily, the business of where the point goes just defeats me, and in the end I just guess-timate what I think it ought to be! ..... and I ran my own business after it came in! lol

Three old penny coin was called a 'Thrupney Bit' ! A old six penny coin was called a 'tanner'. I think a two bob bit was also called a florin. I still convert back to £.s.d. and then get an almighty shock. 2 farthings = one halfpenny 2 halfpennys = one penny 12 pennys =one shilling who can finish it off? Viv

Joan, I was about 10 when we changed over to decimal money and in all those years before that I have never heard a thrupney bit called a joey. Viv

Im with David on this one! He might have been a baby but I wasn't even thought of! Pat x

Was trying to remember what 3 penny bit was called Joan, Thanks for telling us :)) Some good reminders on here about the price things were too. David you don't know what you were missing, if you never had a tanner in your hand :)

Anyone remember the other names... Pennies and halfpennies were coppers. A shilling was a Bob Two shillings was a florin 6 pence was a tanner 3d. was a joey A pound was a Quid and of course there was a Guinea - one pound one shilling. My first wage was one pound ten a week and my husband's was 2 pound ten - never saved much but we never starved. Mind you a loaf was 4d and a pint 6d.

Yes Dorothy I did I think the ciggies were 9d.then got Chips, sweets etc - 4 flying saucers for 1d, shrimps, Lemon sherbert in a paper bag that you dipped your finger in which made them all yellow...lol..Oh the good 'ol days eh!

Sue-y - surely 5 Cadets didn't cost 5/- a packet! You must've bought something else! I remember my Dad buying 2 Weights when his wages were just about gone.

Since 1970, average prices have risen tenfold, so something which cost 1/- now costs 50p However certain items, such as alcohol, because of the high rate of tax, cost far more now in relative terms. By comparison, average earning have risen eighteen fold, so we can now afford to buy nearly twice as much now than we could then, even taking the price increases into account.

Spent my dinner money too on a regular basis (on 5 Cadet cigs) 'til they found out an I got whacked for it.......Ouch!

Frequently Lynda! 5/- for dinner money - which I hated! So sometimes didn't pay and kept it and went to the chippie - on a good day, piece of fish 6d, and a back of ''bits'' 2d - other days a bag of yesterdays buns (about 3 or 4) for 2d. Joe - in the paper at the weekend it said average pocket money is £8 per week! I distinctly remember when decimal currency came in, walking through a large store where the oranges were 6d each, next day they were 6p each! 2/11d (15p) for a pair of 15 denier nylons - 1/- to get them mended if they laddered. Only a few weeks ago, I commented that a large bar of chocolate was the same money as my first job (as a waitress). When I was 18 I left home and got a (big) bed-sit (2 rooms and a kitchenette and a bathroom) which was 30/- a week, all inclusive (no phone! - money in the slot type). After a couple of years, I got a job as a junior draughtsman in a huge Building company in the City of London. Train to London 7am, 16 stops on the Circle line and Train home about 5.30. A really great wage - £9 a week - and I paid for my bedsit out of that too! Didn't do it for long because of the travelling time. When I first married I was earning £8, husband £10 - and we had a pretty good life. Weekly shop was about £2.10s and we ate well. He ran a car and we had holidays. Petrol - well! Round here they won't sell less than 2 litres! I remember one year Selwyn Lloyd put cigarettes up by 6d a packet of 20, we all said we'd give up, cos they'd be 2/10d a packet - but we didn't! lol

Yeh Jac...Same here, my Dad started me off collecting coins, stamps, anything really. I have alot of threepenny bits that my Grandad............made a wooden tray (the same shape of 3d bits) and stuck down loads of them in it. I was the Richest kid up the street Ha Ha I think there was about £1,s worth there = 70 (if my sums are correct!)

Sue-y - someone my old dad knew made a blooming fortune just after decimilisation. He made some long thin-ish boards (about 10 inches deep), covered them with velvet (dark red) and mounted one of each coil in a line down the board (I think he superglued them on). He banged on a hanging loop and bingo - sold thousands of em (as souveniers and keepsakes) and now lives in France (where the currency is now the Euro) lol They blooming were heavy, especially the coppers (and mucky too!) I have a tin somewhere where my dad saved rare pennies (and other cons of the realm) Must dig it out now you have reminded me. some of the coins have Victoria on them. Jac