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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To dislike 'pennies' being used when paying for things with children?

186 replies

sparklediamonds · 07/09/2017 20:16

Does anyone hear this a lot or is it just me?

"Give the lady your pennies ... Mummy hasn't got any pennies ..."

Grr. Just say "money" FFS!

OP posts:
chickhonhoneybabe · 07/09/2017 21:00

UABU!

I use the word 'pennies' when referring to money, as sometimes it just easier to call it that to help my DD to understand monetary value.

I find it easier calling money 'pennies' as my DD has no concept about the value of money, and how much things cost and tends not to question the money that I give her if I call it 'pennies' or say that I don't have enough pennies to pay for x y or z.

If I say I don't have enough money, she'll ask me to use my bank card!

Pennies, saves a hell of a lot or arguments/bargaining!

Intothenestofvipers · 07/09/2017 21:01

God I despise when people say "pennies" it's so twee and just sounds fucking stupid. As you can tell it gives me the serious rage

VinoTime · 07/09/2017 21:01

It's definitely widely used in Scotland - not twee at all, it's just something a lot of us say. I use it all the time. Don't see the issue, personally Confused

I also go for 'messages', drive a 'motor' and don't bat an eye anytime I hear the phrase: 'ya daft cunt' - borderline term of endearment north of the border! Grin

MikeUniformMike · 07/09/2017 21:01

I thought we'd been using pence since 1971.

Threenme · 07/09/2017 21:03

Not u but a bit of a misery!

TheScottishPlay · 07/09/2017 21:06

I used to love getting my 'Saturday Penny' from my granny. Could do with it now!

gamerchick · 07/09/2017 21:07

Meh, I use pennies myself. As in 'I could cry when I think about how many pennies I've spent on driving lessons and I still suck' Grin

Maaaaannnyy pennies Angry

Must use it more often on here now Wink

choccyp1g · 07/09/2017 21:08

Well the old ones were "Pence" as well, as in tuppence, thruppence, sixpence....

It is interesting how people use "pennies" as an euphemism for "money."

QuackDuckQuack · 07/09/2017 21:09

I'm not too fussed about most kiddification of language, but I don't like 'pennies' because it doesn't teach the value of money. I think that children need to know what some things cost, otherwise they can be careless about things. So it's worth saying 'look after your coat because it cost £30 and I won't be spending that on a replacement' instead of 'I'm spending my pennies on this coat for you'. That way they can compare the value to things like their weekly pocket money or what's in their piggybank, rather than thinking the collection of copper coins you've got in a bowl would buy something meaningful as they are actually 'pennies'.

choccyp1g · 07/09/2017 21:10

Also funny how the "new pence" came to be known as "Ps", because the old pennies were written as 3d or 6d. rather than 3p or 6p

I believe the "d" was short for denarii, (Latin for pennies??)

Battyoldbat · 07/09/2017 21:12

Oh I'm with you OP! I can't stand 'pennies'. It's just so twee.
What's going for 'messages'?

idontwannaneedthem · 07/09/2017 21:13

'Sorry if something that I say to my own children annoys you'
DFOF

PyongyangKipperbang · 07/09/2017 21:13

We use it because it is useful as a teaching tool.

Look at the price of the kinder egg or whatever "How many pennies do you need for that (pounds are made up of pennies, remember)? Have you got enough? Count out the pennies you need...." etc.

They soon work out the correct language as they grow.

Hardly worth getting worked up about. Hmm

PyongyangKipperbang · 07/09/2017 21:15

Bay

Running errands. My Grandparents were Irish and my dad still says it.

TaggieRR · 07/09/2017 21:16

What does going for messages mean? I've never heard the phrase before.

Babyblues14 · 07/09/2017 21:17

My mum always says it to little kids so I guarantee I will use it when my baby comes too. I wouldn't carry on using it once they got older though. I've never said it to my teen dss

PyongyangKipperbang · 07/09/2017 21:18

SHould have been Batty

Toblernone · 07/09/2017 21:20

I like it, think it sounds nice in an antiquated way. 'How many pennies', 'we're watching the pennies' etc. It's logical too as a penny is the lowest money can be split into so any amount of money is effectively made up of pennies. IA evidently BU tho judging by the majority Grin

Tapandgo · 07/09/2017 21:22

Taggie - it means going shopping - grocery shopping

crazywriter · 07/09/2017 21:23

My CD (5) says 'monies' and that grated me for some unknown reason.

I hate all talking down to dcs. I also hate it when a parent says 'let Mummy do it.' No, it's 'let me do

Saying 'let mummy do it's is a reaching tool for younger children. They pick up the word 'mummy' and know they're to say it when talking to the mums. Effective when so little that they don't say many words. We use 'mummy and 'daddy' in our house to help DD2 (19m) to say the terms. Right now everyone is 'mama'.

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 07/09/2017 21:23

It's a usage I've only noticed recently.

I'd talk about coins for any usage of metal money. Pennies suggests coins of particularly low value.

steff13 · 07/09/2017 21:23

I was watching an American YouTuber today enthusing that a product was 'worth every penny'. Don't they use cents?

Yes, but a 1-cent coin is a penny. A 5-cent coin is a nickel, a 10-cent coin is a dime, and a 25-cent coin is a quarter.

Piggywaspushed · 07/09/2017 21:24

But pennies are a thing. It's the plural of penny??

This is not the same as saying doggy at all...

I must be missing something...

ASqueakingInTheShrubbery · 07/09/2017 21:24

It's up there with hubbies and holibobs. Yuck.

Crowdie · 07/09/2017 21:24

Going for the messages means going shopping (usually good shopping) in Scotland.

I couldn't care less if someone uses pennies.

It's not nearly as twee as referring to your "tummy" when you are an adult speaking to another adult... Hmm