Pocket Money

I have a theory that the current economic crisis, like all things to do with a Labour government, is here to teach us a lesson about something. I saw the following scene unfold on a train one morning. It isn’t very unusual or even noteworthy really, but it has made me think.

A girl gets something out of her pocket, and in doing so looses some spare change onto the floor of the train. She looks down briefly, but leaves it all there without a second glance or thought. An elderly man sitting across from her sees this happen and then practically gets down on his hands and knees to pick up each individual coin from the dirty wet floor. He passes it all on to the girl, who says thank you, but somewhat grudgingly because she’s got some dirty pennies, and puts it all back in her pocket. All that work for a sum total of about 8p.

I’m sure there’s lesson here somewhere. Older generations are more careful with money? More intolerant to litter? More helpful generally? Or possibly just nosier and more desperate for something to do on long train journeys?

Whichever it is, the current economic downturn is definitely a case of history repeating. No doubt this bloke has had to live through, and make do in a recession before now, and has probably felt its effects for many years of his life, or has at least gone without at one time or another.

The quality of life we have come to expect will probably become more and more of an unattainable target in the upcoming years. More care in spending and less readily available credit and mortgages will have a big effect, at least until some of the confidence is restored to the markets.

Had the girl not accepted the pocket change from the old man, or if he had just kept it for himself, he would have been 8p up by 8:30 in the morning, and from the looks of things, other people might soon need to take note of his attitude towards money.

Alastair Darling relaxing at home.