Ahhhh what a wonderful reflection of a time when things were simpler, people seemed nicer, hi-tech wasn't around to infuriate us and bills actually were paid on time!! Thank you for this.
Ed, fascinating! Growing up in the country, Seekonk, we didn't have any stores to pay utilities. Although my older brother would on occasion walk a mile to Rumford and catch a bus to the bank in East Providence to pay the mortgage. I remember the milkman, Cushman's and my mother paying cash. We also had the linen salesman that would sell his goods, and my mother would make partial payments, and he would mark it in his book. Ed, love nostalgia. Oh, by the way the desk your dad did all his work taking care of the bills give it a gentle tap anytime you walk buy.
nice article Ed! I have two more for you: 1. When I got gas for the car no money changed hands. at some unkown interval my father would stop by and pay the bill. a bill not signed or approved by anyone! Then, of course, I would hear about how much I was spending on gas! 2. If a check was written with an error, it would be retirned to the bank for a new onat no charge! checks cost money and were treared as such! Here's a bonus: on my paper route I had an elderly lady who was weeks behind. At first she said she was waiting for her check to arrive. Then she said, as soon as congress fixed social security (some change was pendeding) she'd pay me! Best to Diane, Steve Bucci
So sorry to respond so late. I loved your recollection. I think I told you that my father never asked for credit history or other documents. He kept a filing cabinet with people's names and balances due. As a kid, I would see people come in, hand a few dollars which my dad would mark in his 3" x 5" cards to record payments and new balances. That trust in people is gone today. I learned to only buy what I can afford. I have multiple credit cards (for various reasons), but I pride myself to pay all debts when due so that the banks/credit card companies don't make a dime on interest or fees. Things have been tight at times in my 79 years, but I've never lost a minute of sleep thinking where the money will come to pay my debts. I am one of the lucky ones to grow up in a family that valued people and fiscal prudence.
Bless you and your Dad, Larry. Yes, it's about trust, honesty and integrity. Thus, I don’t watch the news because there is so little of it. Add dis and misinformation, lies and lack of compassion and you will understand why I don't watch. Sorry to rant. I think You'll appreciate my next two pieces.
Hi Ed, Yes, I remember things in my family the same as yours, despite living in Texas. My mom would pay the milkman, breadman, and paperboy by cash every week. Dad had a checking account and utilities were paid by check. Lay away was a big way to buy larger purchases at department stores.
Dad was a traveling salesman and finally got a credit card in the the 1960s.
Despite the inconvenience of paying bills by cash, what we didn't know, we didn't miss.
Great story. I remember my mom going to the bank each and get “money orders” made out to each vendor. She would have a pin with a thread and keep all check receipts on it “just in case.”
HaHa. Yup, I forgot about the Green Stamps play. We had books and books of them.
Ahhhh what a wonderful reflection of a time when things were simpler, people seemed nicer, hi-tech wasn't around to infuriate us and bills actually were paid on time!! Thank you for this.
Thanks, Melina.
Simple it was. And likely much better
The good old days, now it’s electronic payments. I prefer the old wayg
Is it easier now? I'm not sure, Bob
Ed,
I remember tagging along with my Mom to Butterfields at the corner of Academy
Ave and Chalkstone to pay bills and going to Providence Water on Academy Ave
with her to pay the water bill. Speaking of you being a paperboy, I remember Dad leaving
money at the back door for the paperboy every Friday for the Providence Journal and the
Evening Bulletin!
Same thing, Tom. Yes Butterfield's is where my Dad paid his electric bills.
Loved those customers who never forgot me on the route.
Thanks
Seems my parents did the same thing at McCarthy’s Drug Store on the corner of
River Ave and Chalkstone Ave!
Yes, Butterfield's and McCarthy were destinations, Jim
Ed, fascinating! Growing up in the country, Seekonk, we didn't have any stores to pay utilities. Although my older brother would on occasion walk a mile to Rumford and catch a bus to the bank in East Providence to pay the mortgage. I remember the milkman, Cushman's and my mother paying cash. We also had the linen salesman that would sell his goods, and my mother would make partial payments, and he would mark it in his book. Ed, love nostalgia. Oh, by the way the desk your dad did all his work taking care of the bills give it a gentle tap anytime you walk buy.
Yes, and a clothes salesman who worked out of his trunk. I always wondered where he got his clothes.
My Dad at his desk was iconic. My brother has that desk.
In the family, in good hands.
nice article Ed! I have two more for you: 1. When I got gas for the car no money changed hands. at some unkown interval my father would stop by and pay the bill. a bill not signed or approved by anyone! Then, of course, I would hear about how much I was spending on gas! 2. If a check was written with an error, it would be retirned to the bank for a new onat no charge! checks cost money and were treared as such! Here's a bonus: on my paper route I had an elderly lady who was weeks behind. At first she said she was waiting for her check to arrive. Then she said, as soon as congress fixed social security (some change was pendeding) she'd pay me! Best to Diane, Steve Bucci
I love that, Steve. Dad knew how to keep tabs on you.
OMG, today a goofed check would cost you $25. Usury.
Paperboy note. I remember knocking on one door. No answer. And I heard them inside. They probably didn't have the fifty cents.
So sorry to respond so late. I loved your recollection. I think I told you that my father never asked for credit history or other documents. He kept a filing cabinet with people's names and balances due. As a kid, I would see people come in, hand a few dollars which my dad would mark in his 3" x 5" cards to record payments and new balances. That trust in people is gone today. I learned to only buy what I can afford. I have multiple credit cards (for various reasons), but I pride myself to pay all debts when due so that the banks/credit card companies don't make a dime on interest or fees. Things have been tight at times in my 79 years, but I've never lost a minute of sleep thinking where the money will come to pay my debts. I am one of the lucky ones to grow up in a family that valued people and fiscal prudence.
Bless you and your Dad, Larry. Yes, it's about trust, honesty and integrity. Thus, I don’t watch the news because there is so little of it. Add dis and misinformation, lies and lack of compassion and you will understand why I don't watch. Sorry to rant. I think You'll appreciate my next two pieces.
I remember…with cash….no checks, no credit cards.
Those with nothing used “ put it in the books”.
With WW2 and jobs were no problem, checks with payrolls were the item.
When my wife started work at Amica, she was paid twice a month, in cash, the money in an envelope.
Hi Ed, Yes, I remember things in my family the same as yours, despite living in Texas. My mom would pay the milkman, breadman, and paperboy by cash every week. Dad had a checking account and utilities were paid by check. Lay away was a big way to buy larger purchases at department stores.
Dad was a traveling salesman and finally got a credit card in the the 1960s.
Despite the inconvenience of paying bills by cash, what we didn't know, we didn't miss.
We still pay most of our bills by check.
JC YUILL
Yes, John, they never missed a payment. Honest, simple values.
Love this! Guess I'm still an Old Timer,paying in cash to get Green Stamps.
Great story. I remember my mom going to the bank each and get “money orders” made out to each vendor. She would have a pin with a thread and keep all check receipts on it “just in case.”
So many kept check receipts for years, Mike. Funny
She would discard at the end of each year.
Yes. That’s how my mother handle bills at People’s then Citizens Bank!
She never learned how to drive or write a check. And no problems!
And, of course Jim, never in debt.
Ed, not a bounced check, a mis written check. if my mother wrote the wrong amount or payee, she had to bring the check to the bank for a credit!
Ah, OK.