Many of us are eagerly waiting for our refund checks during tax time.
Also, many are worried about having to pay more to our government.
I remembered a time when families lived comfortably and were happy, with plenty of food and time for special treats like CMP, Cherry Coke, and Mister Softee.
I traveled back to the 1960s Plymouth and found myself in a bank on Main Street with a long line.
I asked a woman in line and found out that everyone was signing up for a Christmas Club.
Christmas Clubs were popular in the 1960s and 1970s, but are now less common. They are now more commonly offered through smaller local credit unions and community banks.
I found that the first Christmas Club was offered in 1909 by the Carlisle Trust Company in Pennsylvania.
I continued my research by adding the Encyclopedia Britannica to my tools.
Based on my research, the then-treasurer of the company, Merkel Landis, launched the club with roughly 350 members who contributed an average of $28 each.
The idea behind a Christmas Club account was to help consumers save for holiday spending by automating deposits throughout the year.
When the holidays came, people would cash in their Christmas Clubs to buy gifts for their family members.
Gifts could range from a new bike for Billy, a Barbie doll for Suzie, to sports equipment or Chuck Taylor Converse All Star sneakers.
In essence, Christmas Clubs often helped families during the holidays.
While waiting in line to open my Christmas Club account, I had the chance to speak with a few younger people about their plans after school.
Wally said he's going to get a paper route.
Joey is going to work on a farm down the flats.
Sandy plans to babysit.
Lem mentioned he got a job at Golden Quality.
I asked Lem if we could get a job at Golden Quality too and shared my love for Fudgesicles.
I ended up working at Golden Quality, packing boxes with Lem. We packed Nutty Buddys, ice cream sandwiches, and more, making sure they were placed in the boxes in reverse positions.
Packing the boxes was precise work, and we earned a high salary of $1.25 per hour. Looks like early retirement is on the horizon!
The situation was going well until I started sleeping in almost every day. I was always late for work, which caused delays in starting the conveyor belt. This meant the boxes weren't getting packed, delivery freezer trucks weren't getting on the road on time, and stores' shelves were waiting to be stocked.
Seemingly, all of that was crucial for businesses to be successful.
After many late arrivals, I was told I would be fired. I begged to keep my very good job, and I was told to go home and come back after lunch for a decision from the GQ High Court.
Upon arriving home, I received a letter from the school district appointing me as a playground instructor for the summer, with better pay, fun all day, and warm hands.
When I returned to GQ, I was informed that I could come back to my job on the line after much consideration. I thanked the man, then told him that I quit. The expression on his face is something I will never forget.
For two summers, I worked as a playground instructor and loved every minute of it. I still enjoyed Golden Quality ice cream, especially those CMPs.
Before returning to 2024 in the Way Back Machine, I opened my Christmas Club and even increased the weekly contribution.
I thought my parents would love their gifts this year.
Time to celebrate with a Cherry Coke, a Tastykake, and a Red's sub.
