Or, "pennies, what's the clucking point?"
I was wondering, what's the smallest single unit of something you can actually buy (or round up or down to)? As a kid we'd go to the sweet shop and ask for "one of those, two of them..." with our 10p or 20p pocket money. Can you even buy single sweets any more or has pick 'n' mix destroyed that?
If we got rid of 1p and 2p coins, would anyone care?
What are these 'coins' of which you speak?
I remember Blackjacks or Fruit Salads being a farthing each. Four for an old penny. Although to be fair, I was only one year old when the farthing was demonetised so I had to buy two for a halfpenny. And I've always hated liquorice so the only reason to buy Blackjacks was because they were the cheapest thing in the shop.
Werther's Original type reminiscing apart, even people who still use cash would hardly notice the withdrawal of the 1p and 2p coins.
I was amazed when I went to Australia and they didn't have 'coppers', it made it so much less hassle, but that was years ago, before everyone used cards for nearly everything.
Mojos were ½ pence each. Then went to 2 for a penny when ½ pence coins disappeared.
As for not having small coins, I lived in Italy for a short while growing up and change in shops was "topped up" with boiled sweets because small enough coins didn't exist. Fruit bonbons if memory serves
What are these ‘coins’ of which you speak?
Well, that's a whole other discussion isn't it. The only paper money I carry is an emergency tenner in case I end up in some throwback place that doesn't take cards, and the only time I have coins is if I've had to break that note or I know in advance that I'm going to need them for parking or air at the petrol station or some such.
I doubt I'm alone here either; it must be a particularly difficult time to be a tramp.
The pusher machines at the arcades would get a lot more expensive to play!If we got rid of 1p and 2p coins, would anyone care?
Also the Rotary's Telly-Go-Round machine opposite Herne Bay pier in the summer takes 2p pieces and has hitherto been protected from inflation since it's construction in 1983; I guess they could re-jig it to take 10p but would be the end of an era!
Yeh I try to keep a pound in my wallet for shopping trolleys, and some cash in my saddle bag for 'emergencies' , but rarely use anything other than my card now.
I'd never have money on me for any charity collections, homeless people, or tips.
Black jack's, fruit salads, highland toffees, refreshers oh... the memories!
I think the lowest I've used is 5p coins in car park machines when I've rummaged through the car glovebox for change!
Problem is that while coins exist something thats priced at say 71p would be rounded up to 75p so the right change could be given. It won't be rounded down! 🙂
The example I gave from when we lived in Italy (pre euro) there prices weren't rounded but the total bill was - and then compensated with sweets.
Buy one thing a 71p and pay with a pound coin, you'd get 25p back and a couple of sweets. Buy 5 of them and it all works out
Problem is that while coins exist something thats priced at say 71p would be rounded up to 75p so the right change could be given. It won’t be rounded down! 🙂
With inflation through the roof, any additional inflation caused by rounding up a couple of pence would be statistically insignificant. We could even make the smallest denomination £1 and the change would be barely felt.
The pusher machines at the arcades would get a lot more expensive to play!
Also the Rotary’s Telly-Go-Round machine opposite Herne Bay pier in the summer takes 2p pieces
I suppose there's no reason why they couldn't be treated as tokens in an arcade, plenty of places do this already. Go to the change booth, get a quid's worth of 2p coins, change back any winnings you might have (ho ho!) into valid currency at the end of the day.
Cheapest 'penny' sweets are 2p now at RRP. Freddo frog is 25p, cheapest chew bar is 10p.
I read somewhere that a 1p coin is now worth less than the 1/2 penny when that was removed from circulation.
I doubt I’m alone here either; it must be a particularly difficult time to be a tramp.
Or a busker.
NZ lost 1 and 2 cent coins in the early 90s and 5 cent ones in 2006. Wish we'd do the same.
I keep change in the car for parking but it's rare now that you can't pay with card or app.
Or a busker.
Ive seen a few with those sum up card machines permanently set on contactless payment for £1 or £5 tips.
I keep change in the car for parking but it’s rare now that you can’t pay with card or app.
The apps are all well and good of course, except everywhere you go uses a different one.
The only paper money I carry is an emergency tenner in case I end up in some throwback place that doesn’t take cards
Or quite a few takeaways. Or somewhere that has little or no signal. These places do exist even today.
The apps are all well and good of course, except everywhere you go uses a different one.
Or the location has little or no signal. Like a few in Hampshire we visited this year.
Parking apps should be standardised, I’ve got about 4 on my phone. Harrogate, Norfolk, Hampshire & Dorset
I doubt I’m alone here either; it must be a particularly difficult time to be a tramp.
If you see someone in need and don't carry cash then the best way to help them is to PayPal-gift some money to a some random top rate taxpayer and the money will trickle down.
Even Freddo's are about 30p now !
The pusher machines at the arcades would get a lot more expensive to play!
Bigger prizes though.
Even Freddo’s are about 30p now !
That's a Thing.
I remember growing up in the 80's. You'd get a huge buzz finding 1ps and 2ps (hell, if you were lucky maybe even a 5p!!!!) on the floor on the way to school. Straight to the newsagents to spend it on penny chews.
Fruit Salads, Postman Pats, and those milk flavoured ones were the best. Anglo Bubbly were amazing too. Got a ton of fillings and a big gold crown to show for it all. 😀
If we got rid of 1p and 2p coins, would anyone care?
Yes, I use cash wherever possible so would care if those coins disappeared. Use it or lose it.
Any spare change guv?
Yes, I use cash wherever possible so would care if those coins disappeared. Use it or lose it.
WTF are you buying for a penny?
(also, I'm almost afraid to ask but, why?)
I remember growing up in the 80’s. You’d get a huge buzz finding 1ps and 2ps (hell, if you were lucky maybe even a 5p!!!!) on the floor on the way to school.
We used to call that the Pez Test. Chuck a penny on the floor and see which kids were enough of a 'pez' (peasant) to pick them up.
Kids are bastards.
If we got rid of 1p and 2p coins, would anyone care?
There's some proper wealthy gits on stw.
Those of you worrying how rounding would work, you've bought petrol right?
That's had a pointless .9 on it, which hasn't been possible to charge for since the farthing (0.104p). And was arguably rendered pointless when fuel stopped being 20.9p and started being 200.9.
There’s some proper wealthy gits on stw.
It takes over a kilo of them to buy a Greggs meal deal (£3).
To put that into context, the scrap price of copper is £3.50/kg. You'd get more 'money' for your coin jar at the scrappy than at the bank! Enough to get a meal deal and a sausage roll.
We used to call that the Pez Test. Chuck a penny on the floor and see which kids were enough of a ‘pez’ (peasant) to pick them up.
I always wondered how all that copper ended on the floor. Also, thanks for all the penny chews. 😀
To put that into context, the scrap price of copper is £3.50/kg. You’d get more ‘money’ for your coin jar at the scrappy than at the bank!
...if only they were actually made of copper! 🙂
To put that into context, the scrap price of copper is £3.50/kg. You’d get more ‘money’ for your coin jar at the scrappy than at the bank!
Copper coins aren't copper, they're copper-coated.
I always wondered how all that copper ended on the floor. Also, thanks for all the penny chews. 😀
Right? I saw this happen, a little kid baited the bullies to throw coins on the floor whilst they all laughed at him for being a pez, then went straight to the tuck shop with their money.
…if only they were actually made of copper!
they were not so long ago - pennies have a steel core now, (so they're magnetic) but they were solid copper back when you bought Mojos with them
Those of you worrying how rounding would work, you’ve bought petrol right?
That’s had a pointless .9 on it, which hasn’t been possible to charge for since the farthing (0.104p). And was arguably rendered pointless when fuel stopped being 20.9p and started being 200.9.
When did you last buy a single litre of petrol though. It takes 90 litres for me to fill the tank so if fuel stations priced in full pennies then they could only vary the price of the transaction by quite large increments - plus or minus 90p, Given that petrol retailers are often only making between £1 and £2 profit (most of which vanished in fees if you pay by credit card) on each fuel sale then thats quite a large step between prices.
WTF are you buying for a penny?
(also, I’m almost afraid to ask but, why?)
Its not really a case of whether theres anything you can buy for a penny its what difference it would make your your weekly shop if retailers could only vary their prices buy 5p or 10p of they couldn't give change in coppers. 5p isn't much but a lot of 5ps, every week, is. And given 25% of families are living in poverty in the UK (its close to 40% in some areas) just now I think lots of people are counting their pennies even if individually they don't buy very much.
I remember Blackjacks or Fruit Salads being a farthing each. Four for an old penny. Although to be fair, I was only one year old when the farthing was demonetised so I had to buy two for a halfpenny
Good memory for a 1 year old, let alone shopping skills.
Think you can still get penny sweets but can’t say for sure.
Copper coins aren’t copper, they’re copper-coated.
It must be a very thick coat - I have never seen the copper wear off a coin! Nor can I recall coins turning green.
But yeah, they aren't worth the metal that they are struck from.
Oh they turn green.
Good memory for a 1 year old, let alone shopping skills.
Fair point. By the time I was actually old enough to be buying them they were technically two for a halfpenny rather than one for a farthing.
Oh they turn green.
I have never noticed modern coinage turn green no matter how wet it gets. I would expect damp copper to turn greenish fairly quickly.
I might leave some loose change in some water to see what happens. And figure out a cunning way to cut a two pence piece in half so that I can marvel at its steel inner core.
Although presumably it would be easier to just file off the copper coating on one side?
It must be a very thick coat – I have never seen the copper wear off a coin!
Its a bit more than a coating. They were copper right through once. Now theres a steel core in the middle of a copper coin to reduce the cost of producing them
Not withstanding the current shit-magedon it was still the case recently that 1p cost less than 1p to manufacture (having made that cost saving measure).. But states 1cent cost 1.5cents to make and a dime (5c) cost 6cents to make.
And figure out a cunning way to cut a two pence piece in half so that I can marvel at its steel inner core.
And deface an image of old queenie? In the current climate? Are you mad? You'll be third against the wall after Philip Scofield and wosname.
Cheapest ‘penny’ sweets are 2p now at RRP. Freddo frog is 25p, cheapest chew bar is 10p.
That's this week's price, do we know what they will cost next week? Should I go long on Freddoes?
I remember growing up in the 80’s. You’d get a huge buzz finding 1ps and 2ps (hell, if you were lucky maybe even a 5p!!!!) on the floor on the way to school. Straight to the newsagents to spend it on penny chews.
Pennies fallen out of penny falls in the arcade when you hadn't put any in and just walk by. Used to actually be able to buy things with a few pence. Though would get chucked out for harvesting the arcade, especially the 10p coins in reject slots. Free games 😁
Earliest coin for me was 1/2p and yeah probably Black Jack's for that. Cause of many fillings, and removal of. 50p pocket money would go a long way. £1 if your parents were well off. 😄
Black Jack’s
And they were proper racist sweets with pictures of golliwogs on their wrapping, not like the later politically correct ones.
Reminds me of this:
I can remember 3x Black Jack or Fruit Salads for 1p
When I first left school and was working, i was in my local papershop and three kids were arguing over what to spend the tiny amount of money one had. so as i was leaving i reached over and handed one of the boys a couple £'s so they could go for it, and left them to it..
When I was in secondary school there was a length strike by the school caterers and in response the school took the preferably reasonable step of inviting the ice-cream vans that usually lurked outside the school gates on to the school grounds and step in to feed the masses.
Kids had £1 dinner money - so whatever they bought they'd make up the balance with blackjacks, mojos and fruit salads (one of your 5 a day). Within a few days of a diet entirely of sugar it became apparent that the penny sweets were the best value bit of the transaction. So each kid in the que would just order 100 sweets - of course never in the same quantities "73 blackjacks, 6 fruit salads , ten mojos and another 11 blackjack please"
But states 1cent cost 1.5cents to make and a dime (5c) cost 6cents to make
Er isn’t a dime worth 10 cents? It’s a nickel that’s worth 5.
USA pennies are so tiny! And that a nickel is way bigger than a dime always confuses me.
Agree, pennies and two penny pieces are pretty useless.
Maybe some monetary rationalisation is needed? Which coins to keep?
5p
20p
£1
And make a £5 coin?
Seems weird not having a coin for the minimum unit of currency but since it only turns up as the compliment to £x.99 maybe not that bad. Perhaps retailers eager to not move up to the next full £ would move down to £x.95? 🤔 maybe not.
I worked in a bar as teen in the 80's. A new manager arrived and rounded every price up to the nearest 10p, so we have been selling pints for 1.98 or whatever I can't remember it was along time ago. It whad been such ball ache doing change etc. And then it was easy, we only had 50p and 10ps in the till apart from change that was used to pay with. Joyous day.
Er isn’t a dime worth 10 cents? It’s a nickel that’s worth 5.
USA pennies are so tiny! And that a nickel is way bigger than a dime always confuses me.
Yeah.
The biggest annoyance for me is that shops often don't include sales tax (VAT equivalent) in prices, so it's near-impossible to have exact money ready when your $2.99 McD's costs $3-something. Add to that the fact they still haven't fully rationalised card payments so some places take (say) credit cards but not debit cards, it's near-impossible not to just accrue pennies like mad. A week in the US and I'm walking like ED-209.
The biggest annoyance for me is that shops often don’t include sales tax (VAT equivalent) in prices
that used to annoy me for exactly the reason you outline.
I then realised that it was a fair thing to do: show the price of the product that the store could sell it for and then add the state sales tax: transparency about who is taking what chunk of your money.
If this were done here I expect the regressive monster that is VAT would be more apparent and folks might encourage their MPs to do something about it.
Add to that the fact they still haven’t fully rationalised card payments
oh the card system is wild! It’s like a weird 1970s/2010s mashup. Will the restaurant need me to enter the PIN? Are they pre-authorising or am I paying there and then? Will I have to enter the PIN and sign? Funniest is when you use contactless and then are asked to sign the counterfoil.
My biggest shock was: Walmart does not take ApplePay!
that used to annoy me for exactly the reason you outline.
I then realised that it was a fair thing to do: show the price of the product that the store could sell it for and then add the state sales tax: transparency about who is taking what chunk of your money.
So, show both?
I have half a memory that it's something to do with having different tax rates between states. I can't remember now.
oh the card system is wild! It’s like a weird 1970s/2010s mashup.
Me at a US gas station:
"Do you have an alternative method of payment, sir?"
"Uh... no?"
uncomfortable pause
banjo music starts playing in the background
So, show both?
I have half a memory that it’s something to do with having different tax rates between states. I can’t remember now.
Me at a US gas station:
“Do you have an alternative method of payment, sir?”
“Uh… no?”
uncomfortable pause
banjo music starts playing in the background
Show both - that would be great there and here.
Yes, different sales tax in different states. 0% in Delaware.
🤣🤣🤣 you managed to offer something of value instead then?
Show both – that would be great there and here.
Yes, different sales tax in different states. 0% in Delaware.
It would be great there - because you do get that local variation but nationwide retailing and advertising/ marketing is what pushes for the price of good to be stated as X plus tax as X will be the nationally advertised price. Here theres not much point in showing both as you can't avoid paying it (even people who are VAT registered still have to pay the VAT at the til) and its not really like you can decide to pop into the next county to get a better price.
It is a regressive tax- that successive tax cutting tory governments somehow keep managing to increase. Thatcher cut taxes by increasing it from 8% to 15% and then again to the mathematically infuriating 17.5%. Labour reduced it on things like fuel then cut it to 15%.... then Cameron announces tax cuts and put it to 20%
At least the mental arithmetic is easier with 20%, hated doing vat returns and invoicing when it was 17.5
I think its fair to say we can expect VAT to go up to 40% in early November 🙂 Although it would prob actually 37.163% just to make my life awkward.
you managed to offer something of value instead then?
Honestly, I was thinking "wild west stand-off." But your interpretation is funnier.
