Living in the suburbs meant we only shopped in our local stores which was a strip of about six businesses - the drug store, the shoe store, the 5 & Dime, a doctor, a dress shop, and the grocery store, with a gas station on the corner. Winn Dixie was our grocer. It was my job to lick and stick the S & H Green Stamps we received as a compliment to our purchases for gas and groceries - so many stamps for so much money spent. Sometimes there were special sales that provided double stamps for an item. Each book of 24 pages required 1200 points/stamps. It didn't take long to fill up a Saver Book and we enjoyed perusing the catalog to plan our next exchange.
All sorts of household products were available at the Redemption Center. Walking around the store with my parents, knowing we wouldn't have to spend money for items made the place seem magical. It was like a candy shop, trying to decide which 'price-less' item we would take home. We toted a paper bag of filled stamp books. The check out clerk was quite serious when it came time to exchange. She carefully examined each page to make sure it had the correct amount of stamps. If an item required a partial book, say 4 and 1/2 books, she counted the pages and aggressively ripped them out and returned the remaining 1/2 book. My mother was practical and usually exchanged stamps for towels, linens, an iron, or kitchen supplies. My father wanted unusual items that we wouldn't normally purchase and since he was the sole driver, he was always with us at the center. Mother drove a hard bargain and won most of the time.
I recall one stamp redemption store visit that occurred near Christmas. My parents told me and my brother to stay in the car (not so dangerous back then) while they shopped. As kids do, we had some disagreement and I went running into the store to find my parents and tattle. I saw my mother holding two baby dolls and she was quite upset that I had come into the store. Sure enough, on Christmas morning "Santa" brought me those twin baby dolls, the harder plastic type without real hair. That was the Christmas I knew my parents had been Santa all along, and I just never warmed up to those dolls.
 |  I didn't realize it until now that the dishes we used for years are #5 on this Green Stamp page, Homer Laughlin "Arcadia." Most of the whole set for 12 is still in my mother's cabinet, with only a few nicks and a little wear on the platinum edges. That would make the dishes about 55 years old! |
My grandparents lived in another town and often received a variety of stamps besides the Green. There were Plaid, Gold Bond, and Top Value Stamps. I don't think they had a large amount of any one of these, but their Homer Laughlin "Cavalier" china probably came from a stamp center, too. My grandmother gave us this pristine set as a wedding gift in 1980. We use it every year on special occasions and I just love it.
Believe it or not you can still redeem those old S & H Green stamps for Greenpoints, redeemable online for savings gift cards at many businesses such as Barnes & Noble, L.L. Bean, and Papa Johns. Just go to www.greenpoints.com and set up a free account. New Greenpoints are awarded for online purchases and at some grocery stores. No more 'lick and stick" required.
"In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of His grace." Ephesians 1:7
"In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of His grace." Ephesians 1:7
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