Friday, January 30, 2009

Green Stamps




If you remember S&H Green Stamps don't tell anyone! That will really give your age away. If you really and truly don't remember them, I'll fill you in a bit.

There were certain stores that would give you green stamps (literal green stamps) depending on your purchase amount determined how many green stamps you received. There were these booklets where you would lick and post the stamps. There was a catalog, incredible variety, of items you could choose to redeem your stamps for. This catalog had things like kitchen appliances, cookware, bicycles, clothing, large furniture, you could even save enough to purchase a car, vacations or insurance policies (I am not kidding).

When I was a kid I remember the green stamp books lying around the house. I'll bet there were 10 different stamp books in varying stages of capacity at our house. I doubt one book was ever completely filled. I never remember those stamps being redeemed. I do remember dreaming about what we were "saving" for.

As a very poor family, it seemed like the most likely way that I could obtain luxury items such as a curling iron or a jean jacket with shiny studs. That book of treasures was quite the escape for me. I felt closer and closer to reaching my goal everytime we would get new stamps at the store, I couldn't wait to lick each stamp and stick it in the booklet.

Those stamps and booklets disappeared when I was about 10 years old or so, not sure exactly when it happened. There is an online version of the green stamps, but it's just not the same.

You need something you can hold and look at, something tangible. It gives you hope. Bring back the stamps!

1 comment:

  1. I remember going to my grandparents house and they would save up all their green stamps for me to stick into the books. I was in heaven. And I remember when we got enough to buy stuff. Can't remember what we bought only that it was FREE!! I completely forgot all about those cigar boxes (another thing most people probably don't remember). Thanks for the memory.

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