Tuppence a Day / myLot

South Africa

November 1, 2020 4:00am CST

"Tuppence a day" is a phrase from the song out of Mary Poppins "feed the birds" and is often ringing in my head when we visit our animal shelters and feeding the homeless in our region. My hubby loves to take bread crumbs or crusts along when we go on visits - always feeding the birds, which brings me to the phrase "tuppence a day". I fed the wild cats at the Bowling club this morning and they were so so so happy to get some scraps from the table that it brings me to tears - so many hardships out there! Taking LIFE, FOOD, Money, Health, prosperity, blessings for granted is something we do far too easily. Tuppence is apparently 2 pennies - maybe some of the British can assist me as I am not sure what 2 pennies are worth at the moment. But did you know that an average family in Malawi only need £100 a year to maintain a family of four in their rural areas? 240 pennies in a pound so that would mean that a Malawian family could survive on Tuppence a day . . . . . in 2020? Crazy you might say but in my country, we have many Malawian people working for a minimum wage because it is a fortune compared to what they earn in their own country. So every month money gets transferred back to Malawi so the children can attend a good school and even go to University. I have met many Malawians and they are kind, hardworking people whom we don't mind having in our region. Luckily many of them have stayed and survived the pandemic and are back to work. Such a diverse tip of Africa we live in, trying every day to stay in harmony with each other and the different cultures under the most difficult of times. How are you coping in your country and do you have Tuppence a Day to keep your livelihood going? tell me some stories!

7 people like this

8 responses

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382036)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Nov 20

It is sad when people have leave their home countries to find employment. Some put up with so much just to provide a better future for their families.

3 people like this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

26 Dec 20

sadly that is what happens in South Africa as everyone in Africa heads down to make a living in our country

1 person likes this

rebelann1949

@rebelann (117223)

• El Paso, Texas

2 Nov 20

We used to have something similar. Mexicans would seek green cards so they could work here and to them minimum wages were a fortune because in Mexico they use pesos and at one time a US dollar would provide around 50 pesos, that's changed of course but back then many of those Mexican families lived well if one of their family members had a job in the US.

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rebelann1949

@rebelann (117223)

• El Paso, Texas

2 Nov 20

You are right @Inlemay I knew other countries had it really hard but I didn't know about your country having a similar situation.

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

8 Nov 20

@rebelann Not my country but rather Malawi

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

2 Nov 20

thankyou for sharing a similar situation in your neck of the woods - sometimes we think its only in our area that hardships like these are noticed

1 person likes this

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Notlilie

@prinzcy (32299)

• Malaysia

1 Nov 20

First time heard of it. I normally would feed stray cats that I found. Most of the time, I would always have this small bag with cat food in it. Does this count?

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

2 Nov 20

that counts - feeding anything that does not have is just kindness always

1 person likes this

Anna

@LadyDuck (502429)

• Italy

1 Nov 20

About Tuppence is: Twopence ( (British pre-decimal coin) not two pennies. It was a coin worth one one-hundred-and-twentieth of a pound sterling. We have many foreign workers here, coming from different countries. At least they all get a decent salary here, but life is expensive, they cannot save a lot to bring back to their country.

2 people like this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

2 Nov 20

Life is not expensive in South Africa compared to the rest of the world as well as Malawi - These people buy food and furniture, bicycles, roof tiles or anything to send back to Malawi by transport trucks - that way its cheaper for them

2 people like this

Anna

@LadyDuck (502429)

• Italy

2 Nov 20

@Inlemay Life is expensive in all European countries after the Euro, there is no more a big difference as we had in the past. Switzerland can be more expensive for lodging, but it is more or less the same as The Netherlands, Austria and Germany.

2 people like this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

8 Nov 20

@LadyDuck that we noticed when we visited Geneva and Zurich - the Swiss Frank was then R15 to a Frank which is the same as the US dollar

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paigea

@paigea (36143)

• Canada

1 Nov 20

Amazing to think they can survive on so little, and thrive on minimum wage earned elsewhere. Sad, they have to leave their families to do it. I feel so fortunate every day. Nice to see you again!

2 people like this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

2 Nov 20

that is so - sad they are away but provide from afar

1 person likes this

Thelma

@thelme55 (79310)

• Germany

8 Nov 20

There are many Filipino nurses and other workers working in other countries to be able to support their families in the Philippines. A dollar or a Euro has more value than a Peso. The photo above reminds me of the birds flocking in the plaza of Amsterdam when I was there.

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

26 Dec 20

I love that Europe has many of these places where birds flock to nibble on some seed or bread. Some countries don't like it because the bird dropping has an acid that they say does damage to buildings etc.

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Thelma

@thelme55 (79310)

• Germany

26 Dec 20

@Inlemay We have flocking of birds too in our city park.

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