Wedding gift lists 1930s

[mazi]

Well we each left our family home, no student flats etc so had absolutely nothing except a fruit bowl my other half had won in
the Inter Church  Billiard matches.
Green glass a bit like uranium glass ,but not that.
I have it still.
Viktoria.

I know the feeling, 58 years ago we left the reception and back to the tiny flat we had paid a months rent on.

 Empty apart from an ancient cooker and a stone sink, we had a new mattress on a second hand bed and about £2 between us, but we survived, baked beans and sausage go a long way


Mike

[Viktoria]

This sounds a bit “twee”, but we had everything to work together for, the only way was forward, very gradually we got a modest home together.

Our luxury was a few shillings left at the end of the week before that week’s pay packet was opened on Friday to allot to mortgage ,insurance ,food, gas and electricity, rates ,coal etc. for the coming week’s expenses.
We physically held in our hands what there was.
You were really daft if you went beyond that .
We were a success, !- all paid and a little bit left over .
A very little bit I must add.

Viktoria.

[mazi]

We are hijacking this thread, but you will no doubt remember “the man from the pru”, in my case it was the man from the Pearl, who saw our engagement notice in the local rag, who persuaded me to take out a life insurance policy, later I was able to borrow for a mortgage on it, best thing I ever did, twenty five years later it was mine , and my £3000 pound semi was worth £50,000.


Mike

[louisa maud]

Good advice Mike.

I think we did have a modest list which I don't think was stuck to, didn't matter really, yes, the Pyrex bowls in all sizes, i am left with the largest which is a mixing bowl, 59 years old, wonder what will, happen to it eventually, that might be all that is left from our wedding gifts apart from a clock from my manager.

The problem I think nowadays is most of our children come from comfortable homes and wouldn't dream of lowering their standards, my home was comfortable but we had to share a loo for starters and no bathroom, so youngsters want it all right from the start and who can blame them.

LM

LM

.

[Stanwix England]

I think a big change for lots of couples these days, is that we tend to live together before marriage. I lived with my husband before marriage and we had all the kitchen stuff, household stuff we needed. Well, that I needed, as my husband doesn't cook. 

Also, these days, I think kitchen stuff just isn't as expensive relative to people's budgets? I can pick up new plates etc at the supermarket for not a lot of money. They are not fine china of course, but they are good enough for us. I not sure that sort of stuff was around as much, further back.

Most people I know getting married say no gifts, charity donations, or they ask for money towards a holiday or something.

We asked for for no gifts, but if people wanted to, they could donate to a charity we chose.

[Erato]

"not sure that sort of stuff was around as much, further back."

Well, there were plastic plates back then (1960s) and 'Melmac" plates.  We had Melmac.  I have a nice photo of my grandparents with their cheap dime store, China plates and teacups. 

[louisa maud]

Our list only went to people who asked what we wanted, one rather well off aunt gave us a teapot that had insulated lid, the sugar bowl and  milk jug didn't  match but we had to be grateful for whatever we were given,
Happy days

LM.

[Treetotal]

After we became engaged, our Christmas and Birthday gifts were all practical ones for our "Bottom Drawer" A toaster and a kettle are things I remember. OH was in the Navy and would bring home things for the house that we were buying.
Carol

[louisa maud]

Every week where I worked there would be a raffle,  can't tell you how many times I won but it all went into the bottom drawer, one item was a set of 6 babycham classes, kept them for years and not so long ago gave them to a charity shop, silly me, should have kept them.

LM