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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:
yorkshirebird2382 · 08/09/2017 20:53

I say this all the time but thinking about it I have no clue why I don't just say money?!

DontLetMeBeMisunderstood · 08/09/2017 22:12

It's not about age though, or at least not in some parts of the country - I'm north east England and my mother would still say pennies to me and I'm in my 40s ("here's some pennies for you to treat yourself"). It's widely used in Scotland - you can't really accuse a country that uses cunt as a term of endearment of being twee

TooSleepyToCare · 08/09/2017 22:18

What is "your messages"?

MrsHathaway · 08/09/2017 22:21

Messages sort of means errands or shopping.

"Getting the messages" specifically.

Yes, it doesn't make sense.

clumsyduck · 08/09/2017 22:27

Haha me too daisy

I think a pp hit the nail on the head I think the "pennies" thing I say because my mum used to say that to me , her nan to her back when she was small as back then things actually cost pennies

"Swipe your contactless payment card " may be more apt now 😆

wellymelly · 08/09/2017 22:42

Pennies is annoying but it is a single unit of money so I think it makes sense to use it for teaching very young children maths and counting money etc. Maybe we should be more tolerant of each other. Having said that I do cringe as My mum still refers to herself in the third person as grandma to my son, who is now 17!! I've tried dropping hints for years and suggesting subtly that she doesn't need to do it any more but she doesn't get it at all. !!!!

Admiralclingus · 09/09/2017 00:24

I say this but not to my daughter. If she asks for something I will say "No, I haven't got any money" for example.

However if my friends say shall we go to the pub, id reply "I'll have to see what the pennies are doing"

But I'm weird

SerfTerf · 09/09/2017 00:33

Erm. I think I use it with pre schoolers. But in a way meant to reinforce money as a concrete concept; "this one that says 2-0" is worth twenty pennies", "this costs thirty pennies". To help them relate random coins to actual amounts of a "thing" (pennies) not to be twee. Backed up by shop games at home with real coins and lots of coppers.

apostropheuse · 09/09/2017 00:39

I tend to just order my messages online. it gives me time to red up the kitchen before they arrive.

pinkstripeycat · 09/09/2017 07:35

When my dc were small my nan always used to say pennies instead of money and she called a dog a doggy or a woof woof and a cow a moo moo etc. She thought it was baby talk and children found it easier than learning the proper word. My mil used to call a £1 a golden nugget

daisychain01 · 09/09/2017 07:39

I'm OK with pennies, doggie etc.

What I absolutely hate is when a wife calls their husband Daddy OMG it's creepy.

FreshHorizons · 09/09/2017 07:39

I wouldn't use it myself but it doesn't bother me in the slightest- a figure of speech.

38cody · 09/09/2017 08:43

Nope - doesn't bother me at all.
10p is 10 penny's after all.
It's not a word I use in the context you describe but it's not insulting or demeaning and it has a historical basis so not a biggie for me.

Penny4UrThoughts · 09/09/2017 08:57

No, a 10p coin isn't ten pennies. It is ten pence. Ten pennies are ten 1p coins.

It is confusing admittedly, because penny is the term for the coin and also for the value of the coin. Pence is the plural for the value, pennies the plural for the coin itself.

DaisyMacDaisy · 09/09/2017 09:19

I always use pennies when talking about money with my kids. If mummy doesn't have enough pennies she can use her penny-card instead.

Goldfishshoals · 09/09/2017 09:34

I don't mind people using the word pennies in this way for small kids (or those who are developmentally similar etc).

But I do find it grating when adults use it as a 'cutesy' term for money. There's a few groups I go to where the organisers describe giving a donation as 'popping a few pennies in their pot'. I'm always so tempted to give the literally 2 pence. But I chicken out and give the few pounds 'suggested donation' instead.

I think they think asking for pennies sounds friendlier or less grabby then asking for money or for pounds, but we all know what they mean, so it's just annoying.

SerfTerf · 09/09/2017 10:01

No, a 10p coin isn't ten pennies. It is ten pence. Ten pennies are ten 1p coins.

Yesss

But a 10 pence piece is worth ten pennies. Which is worth explicitly mentioning to small children.

Penny4UrThoughts · 09/09/2017 11:14

Serf, maybe you didn't notice, but the person that I was replying to wasn't speaking to a child. She was saying it to us.

But thank you for letting me know that it's worth the same, I'd never have figured it out otherwise... Hmm

SerfTerf · 09/09/2017 11:25

YW Grin

OhTheRoses · 09/09/2017 11:44

Not nearly as annoying as "ta" it is a proper word. Pennies are the smallest denomination of our currency and each unit contains them. It is there for not incorrect.

It is incorrect for an hcp to call me mum. I am not their mother and if they wish to use that term it should be "are you Jane's mum and if the answer is yes, may I use your first name? Now that business I find far more annoying.

phlebasconsidered · 09/09/2017 12:05

Use it but explain that 100 pennies make up a pound. I teach year 2 and it never fails to amaze me how few children can identify all the coins.

RandomName9 · 09/09/2017 12:15

What an interesting post, I didn't realise people actually got annoyed about the use of words such as pennies! I am a southerner and I and my family have always used the word pennies for the children. A penny is the lowest denomination of money therefore 20p is made up of 20 pennies.. surely that is the easiest way to explain and make children aware of money. It isn't a made up word such as horsie!
When in a shop my youngest (5) asks for a toy & I say it's lots of money..I get asked how many pennies & explain how many, he then gets it. I used this with my oldest (12) and can guarantee you that he doesn't say thank you for my birthday pennies or how many pennies is this anymore. Children grow up and learn the correct terms does is matter when they are young.

Luttrell · 09/09/2017 12:42

I do not like babytalk. No pennies here (unless talking about actual pennies), no sweeties, no toffees unless it's actually toffee, no sheepies or doggie woggies... I talk to my kids like adults.

38cody · 09/09/2017 12:57

No, a 10p coin isn't ten pennies. It is ten pence. Ten pennies are ten 1p coins.

I never said a 10p coin was ten pennies.
I said 10p is 10 pennies - which it is, it's firm may be made up
If various denominations but it's value is 10 pennies.
So sod off you pedantic Pratt.

QuackDuckQuack · 09/09/2017 13:20

When in a shop my youngest (5) asks for a toy & I say it's lots of money..I get asked how many pennies & explain how many, he then gets it.

Does that mean when he asks for a toy for £11.99 you say 'that toy costs 1199 pennies?