Child memories of money

[creditcardfree]

There is a discussion on another thread about how we learned about money that brought up some memories of how we handled money as a child.

I remember having a red metal safe, with a dial combination lock. There was a slot at the top to add coins or folded bills through. I think I received it as a gift.

I also remember saving up for a calculator that had a paper roll attached, so my sister and I could play store and hand out receipts!!

I loved money then and of course still do!

What are your money memories?

[Daylily]

I don't have a lot of memories involving 'money' as in cold hard cash. I do remember that my mom used to give me a dollar and that I'd walk to the store and buy four candy bars.

I also remember that we had enough money as a family that my mom didn't work and we had enough that our needs were covered but I also remember that we didn't have enough to fulfill all my childhood wants and that was a source of pain and sometimes embarassment for me.

In the end, I turned out okay though.

[cptacek]

Earliest memory would be that mom would give us a dollar to put in the collection plate.

When I got to 4-H, I had animals (sheep to sell and a horse to show and use all year) among other projects. That taught me responsibility, presentation skills, charity, leadership, and it also taught me how to budget my money, because when the sheep were sold that was all the money I had for the year (in grade school). For any of you parents out there, really, look into 4-H. It isn't all about farm stuff anymore. There are LOTS of different projects, and the leadership training is OUTSTANDING.

When I was 10 I started helping dad on the farm. He would make the first few rounds in the field with me and then let me go on the tractor. That taught me responsibility too...it also taught me how to sing really loudly, cause the tractor was so loud that in order to hear myself I really had to belt it out.

When I got to junior high / high school, I started helping the family "business" (really a side job) of shingling houses. That taught me to get my butt to school and get a good paying job so I didn't have to do manual labor for the rest of my life.

[SnoopyCool]

I remember losing $5 on the school bus in 5th grade (lunch money) and feeling horrible about it.

I remember that Dad gave me $ while we were at the cinema to go to the concession stand and I thought I had less than what he gave me so when the cashier gave me change, I demanded she keep it because she mistook what denomination I gave her. She gladly kept it, and then Dad went back to get the change.

I remember just counting my babysitting money over and over and over again one summer.

I remember one year Mom and Dad purchased savings bonds for us and Dad gave us the choice whether to cash it or keep it. I had to cash it and spend it right away. So sad...

I have about a million more memories, but these were the first ones that came to mind.

[momof1in150]

I remember putting money in the collection plate at church.

I remember not having a phone because my mother couldn't pay the bills.

I remember being teased because I didn't have the right clothes. The in thing was IZOD alligator shirts and I had a cheaper version.

[gamecock43]

I remember in high school I loaned my then best friend $350.00 (just about all the money I had) to pay for 2 speeding tickets she got in one day. about 2 weeks later I was still feeling the loss by rummaging for spare change to pay for a bag of chips that would suffice for lunch while on a work break, and she was on the phone telling me about a prom dress she just purchased for $180.00. I was so angry, I tried to control the anger but it ruined the friendship. My mom ended up calling her mom for the money and she sent me a check for the money, but it bounced (cost me $25 for a bounced check), and I never heard from her again. Meanwhile I borrowed a prom dress from an older friend.
To this day I will not loan anyone money. I learned my lesson, and I still get really mad remembering that I just gave away $350 like that.

[PrincessPerky]

I remember having a red metal safe, with a dial combination lock. There was a slot at the top to add coins or folded bills through. I think I received it as a gift.

I had that same bank!

[Scanner]

I remember my grandfather jingling change in his pocket when we were kids. He'd save it up and jingle it and my sister and I would come running and split it up. . .all about $2.35 of it.

Then we'd go down to the corner drugstore and buy a comic or something.

My grandmother gave us "Proof Sets" every year for Christmas too. . .I still have them. . .no idea what they are worth.

My father used to hound for silver coins throughout his change, happy to discover one.

All this could have been what started my "silver bug tendencies"

[cooliemae]

I remember starting up my "lawn mowing business" when I around 13. I had to walk everywhere because my folks worked late. I remember when I first saved $100 and reached my goal.

We went to Colorado every summer and there was this miniature golf course in Grand Lake (it's still there today) that I loved to play. I would save my money during the year so that I could have an afternoon of miniature golf and snacks. Along with the misc. 'tourists' purchases I loved to make as a kid.

[ScrimpAndSave]

4-H is an amazing program!

[stressedmama]

When I was in first grade I began receiving an allowance of $2 per week for doing chores around the house that included dusting (the whole house), making my bed, helping to clean up dinner at night, and unloading the dishwasher everyday.

[poundwise]

I remember that I would save change, then convert the change into bills at the drugstore. After arriving back home, I would use starch and an iron to make my bills, no matter how ragged, flat and crisp.

I also remember the first time I had $20. I put a $20 bill into an empty checkbook cover and kept it on the shelf on the headboard of my bed. I don't remember how I eventually spent it, but I kept it for a long time.

[sounderella]

I remember whenever my 2 sisters and I would go visit my grandmother. She would sit us down with her change purse, make us count it, and divide it equally among us.

I remember (I must've been 6) whenever I figured out how to make paper puppets (the kind you fold and the top of the mouth was your fingers and the bottom was your thumb) I made a whole bunch and sat at the top of our yard with my little table selling them for .25 each. My dad was my only customer and he bought 2.

I was 5 and I remember seeing a necklace I wanted at the $1.00 store. I had a bag of pennies. I can remember the clerk talking on the phone as she was counting my pennies say "what am I doing? Counting pennies. Yes...I can't believe this kid has come here with a bag of pennies" I was embarrassed but in retrospect I should've asked for a manager. Can you see that, a 5 year old discussing lack of respect for the customer to the manager. HA!

[creditcardfree]

I also remember as a young teen, having money stolen from me. I was out shopping for new school clothes with my mom. I had $60 cash in my purse. When I tried on clothes, I put the purse on a hook. I left the dressing room, left the purse on the hook. Realized less than 2 minutes later, returned and found the purse...but no money. I was devastated.

Hmmm....I wonder why I'm so careful with money now?

[nanamom]

I remember not having much. My Mom complained every week about the amount of money my Dad gave her for groceries and clothes. We were brought up to believe we were doing barely above poverty level. We each had an allowance. My Dad "hid" money in different accounts so I guess that is where my diversification came from. He saved for our college and each of us got educated without having to work. In fact we weren't allowed to work (girls that is) because he felt it looked bad if we did.