Piggy banks fly off shelves in freshly frugal U.S.

[Joanne98]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Recession-wary Americans embraced the virtues of thrift this Christmas, with stores reporting a clear rise in the popularity of piggy banks.

"We have been selling coin banks really well," said Laura Kellner at Kikkerland Design Inc. in New York City, whose stylish chrome pig is priced at $31.

U.S. savings levels have increased markedly in recent months as households adjust to a yearlong recession and the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

The downturn has shattered house prices and the value of retirement accounts which, in turn, has reinforced the necessity to systematically put funds aside for the future.

Retailers said this translated neatly into a gift that captured the spirit of the times.

"We definitely noticed a trend with the piggy banks," said Erin Mara at Homebody, a design store in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4BU44Q20081231

[Turbineguy]

1. I remember the McDonald's

piggy banks in the late 70's Inflation was running around 18% (although some said 26%). They were small red and yellow plastic garbage cans. I think the idea was to make people conscious about littering.

They did not last long. I suspect somebody from the Treasury must have had a quiet word with them.

[DJ13]

2. Were not frugal because we want to be

Were frugal because those jobs still available stopped paying worth a damn years ago, and the credit being offered in place of improving wages has dried up.

I love how the MSM tries to make the belt tightening of average Americans sound like its a noble idea of the people instead of the circumstances forced onto us by the corporate masters of our country.

[here_is_to_hope]

3. 31.00 for a piggy bank?

Eesh, whats wrong with the coffee can I use now?

[pipi_k]

4. No kidding!!!!

People need to save money, so they go and spend whatever on something special to put it in?

Doesn't seem all that smart to me.

I use a huge plastic jar that used to hold pretzel sticks. Recently upgraded from the giant plastic soda bottle that used to hold pre-made popcorn, bought in 2000.

:7