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Such a Deal

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79 comments on Such a Deal

  1. martini
    November 3, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    What kind of fertilizer does a tree like that take?

    Thumb up Thumb down +1

  2. Monstrosa
    November 3, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    can’t stop laughing — WHAT
    Brilliant!

    Thumb up Thumb down +8

  3. reqbat
    November 3, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    well that’s all sorts of horrific that is.

    Thumb up Thumb down +2

  4. Valerie
    November 3, 2009 at 5:53 pm

    Also in the shop: a dollar bill folded into a shirt, only $2.50!

    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29180486

    Thumb up Thumb down +1

  5. Eveline
    November 3, 2009 at 5:56 pm

    Is it legal to sell money? And shouldn’t this item come with some fine print how money doesn’t really grow on trees and that the seller does not claim that anything will grow from these ‘seeds’? They are selling it on Etsy after all….

    Thumb up Thumb down +2

  6. NinjaGato
    November 3, 2009 at 5:58 pm

    “Shipping is higher on these because pennies are heavy; the weight adds to the cost of shipping. If ordering several, check with me on shipping”

    25 PENNIES ARE NOT **THAT** HEAVY! moron

    Thumb up Thumb down +6

  7. NinjaGato
    November 3, 2009 at 6:01 pm
  8. moontreestudios
    November 3, 2009 at 6:06 pm

    #7: ROFL! “If you wish, you can order as many of these as you need.”

    The most moronic part of this is, by the time you cover the fees and shipping materials, never mind getting paid for whatever little time this takes to put together, they’re probably actually losing money.

    Thumb up Thumb down +3

  9. randomlygenerated
    November 3, 2009 at 6:06 pm

    I’m pretty sure you could find 25 pennies on the floor at Walmart FOR FREE.

    Also, I don’t think there’s anybody stupid enough to believe that pennies will grow a money tree. If that worked, would we be in a recession?

    Thumb up Thumb down +15

  10. lucyv
    November 3, 2009 at 6:07 pm

    Is it even legal to sell money like this?

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  11. crapgawker
    November 3, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    No. Dear God no. Check her “sold” items – there are TWO people who actually bought this item.

    http://www.etsy.com/shop_sold.php?user_id=6745767

    I must say though, the plastic canvas cross stitch items lend an air of elegance to the shop.

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  12. anti-flamitory
    November 3, 2009 at 6:16 pm

    @ #10 crapgawker, I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SAY THAT!!!

    *headdesk* what is the world coming to?!

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  13. everydaymama
    November 3, 2009 at 6:18 pm

    I am thinking selling US currency is illegal for one. Not to mention the “jewish” tag is just offensive.

    Sooooo, if I plant these and no tree grows can I sue her for misrepresentation? I mean she said a money tree would appear right?! But maybe they only grow on US soil… I’ll have to find some of these in CAD currency ;P

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  14. silky_byron
    November 3, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    So even if “safe, dark place” equals “piggy bank” (and not the murky depths of the seller’s ass), with a ponderous dose of “penny saved = penny earned” wisdom, how exactly are these supposed to form anything resembling a tree?

    Thumb up Thumb down +2

  15. Holly Weird
    November 3, 2009 at 6:29 pm

    Wouldn’t it be easier to go to the bank and get pennies there? You could get all 100 pennies for that same $1 and not have to wait for them to come in the mail!

    I like how it’s also tagged as “educational”. I guess if you’re dim enough to buy this you’ll eventually learn not to waste money on stupid crap.

    Thumb up Thumb down +11

  16. ihatecowls
    November 3, 2009 at 6:32 pm

    good god, why was this tagged “educational”??

    Thumb up Thumb down +6

  17. ihatecowls
    November 3, 2009 at 6:33 pm

    and its a blurry photo so im not really sure what im getting

    oh i know, a pile o crap

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  18. kahlua71
    November 3, 2009 at 6:41 pm

    I just googled the legality of it, and apparently it is legal. I kind of figured it would be, because otherwise, people selling coins at flea markets would be in heaps of trouble.
    That said…I can’t for the life of me figure out who would buy this….

    Thumb up Thumb down +1

  19. anti-flamitory
    November 3, 2009 at 6:42 pm

    but wait!!! it’s also a unique wedding favor!

    Thumb up Thumb down +1

  20. silky_byron
    November 3, 2009 at 6:42 pm

    I think “educational” refers to the Nice Little Message that if you save your pennies, eventually you end up with a buttload of pennies.

    I mean, I get the whole Hanukkah-gelt thing. But the cool part of Hanukkah gelt is that it’s chocolate. Wrapped in gold foil, yes, but chocolate. You can eat it. Money you can eat. That’s just cool. But this?? Where’s the thrill?

    Thumb up Thumb down +1

  21. lissonifan
    November 3, 2009 at 6:49 pm

    As a Jew, I can confirm that these really work! Every Hanukkah growing up my sisters and I would plant pennies in the yard and by spring time up would sprout these amazing money trees, with dollar bills for leaves. Of course, we had to water them with the blood of Christian babies. Seller should have probably mentioned that.

    Thumb up Thumb down +71

  22. Helen Killer
    November 3, 2009 at 6:51 pm

    Oh my God, that made me howl.

    Thumb up Thumb down +9

  23. chicaflamenca
    November 3, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    I just love how there is only one in stock. I mean, come on, this is going to be a huge seller once everyone reads #21 comment. I mean REALLY. Now I am waiting for the blood of Christian babies in a nice decoupaged bottle to go up for sale and baaaaaaabbbbbyyyyy….I’m gonna grow me a money tree. YEAH.

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  24. DucksNew
    November 3, 2009 at 7:44 pm

    Which weighs more, 25 pennies or a dollar bill? It costs $1.50 to ship the coins but $2.00 for the dollar bill shirt. But if you buy with another item the shirt is only 50 cents shipping but the pennies re 75 cents. I think she’s just posting random numbers

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  25. regretmenot
    November 3, 2009 at 7:46 pm

    Hmmmm…I think I’ll dig around in the couch and go get a garden spade if I really want to delude myself.

    Thumb up Thumb down +1

  26. aorta
    November 3, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    someone should put in an alchemy request for that blood. surely some copyright infringing Twilight fan (cough-DORK-cough) could conjure something up.

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  27. The Blue Kraken
    November 3, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Thumb up Thumb down -8

  28. Frankenkitty
    November 3, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    Oy Vey! I have an extra christian baby if anyones interested. Free shipping!

    Thumb up Thumb down +1

  29. Helen Killer
    November 3, 2009 at 8:04 pm

    @#27, I honestly don’t think she meant anything by it. If I got the idea that this was actual racism, I wouldn’t be amused.

    Thumb up Thumb down +3

  30. Jillian
    November 3, 2009 at 8:05 pm

    Oh. Wow. So many possible responses. Jewish??? Educational??? But one jumps to mind:

    How the hell are these handmade?? I thought Etsy was supposed to be for handmade goods. Did she mint the pennies herself?

    Thumb up Thumb down +5

  31. regretmenot
    November 3, 2009 at 8:09 pm

    Let’s see…she “hand”led the pennies and then “made” the bag they go in?

    Let’s mangle some rules why don’t we.

    Thumb up Thumb down +2

  32. kiru
    November 3, 2009 at 8:32 pm

    I believe it is legal to sell money, just go on e-bay you can buy all kinds of money. Having said that, I think what this person is selling should be illegal.

    25 pennies in a crappy plastic bag with a bland label slapped on it that she printed up in an even more bland Arial font on labels she probably stole from work after the boss went home.

    Why wouldn’t you buy that for $1 plus $1.50 shipping?

    I can’t believe she’s sold some of these. I weep for humanity.

    Thumb up Thumb down +1

  33. elephantandbutterfly
    November 3, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    This popped into my head:

    “Smart” by Shel Silverstein

    My dad gave me one dollar bill
    ‘Cause I’m his smartest son,
    And I swapped it for two shiny quarters
    ‘Cause two is more than one!
    And then I took the quarters
    And traded them to Lou
    For three dimes — I guess he don’t know
    That three is more than two!
    Just then, along came old blind Bates
    And just ’cause he can’t see
    He gave me four nickels for my three dimes,
    And four is more than three!

    Thumb up Thumb down +11

  34. The Blue Kraken
    November 3, 2009 at 9:10 pm

    i still somehow it’s offensive that all her money related items are all tagged “Jewish” as if jewish=money.
    oh yea.. i always always pick up pennies. even though the only person in my family whos jewish is my grama. im trying to grow her a money tree

    you know what .. perfect poem #33 just perfect

    Thumb up Thumb down -1

  35. DucksNew
    November 3, 2009 at 9:36 pm

    As far as the Jewish tag, in her description she states her money items (the “seeds” and shirts) would be “Great gift idea for Hanukkah Gelt”. I’m not Jewish but I grew up with a lot of Jewish friends. “Gelt” was basically what they called money they got as gifts (Google results call it a slang term for money). That said, $100 bill folded like a shirt = good gift. Bag o’ pennies or $1 bill shirt = bad gift.

    Thumb up Thumb down +3

  36. NinjaGato
    November 3, 2009 at 10:39 pm

    I don’t think she was trying to be offensive either. I think this is a case of someone having little knowledge on a subject and they think that they know everything. She probably read a very basic description about Gelt, thought she was brilliant and ran with it.

    Thumb up Thumb down +3

  37. NinjaGato
    November 3, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    Although thinking about the wedding favor tag, does that mean that I can pelt the bride and groom with pennies as they’re leaving the church? because there’s a few people that I’d love to pelt with pennies.

    Thumb up Thumb down +5

  38. Helen Killer
    November 3, 2009 at 10:43 pm

    Yes, but only if they’re Jews.

    Thumb up Thumb down +3

  39. sar-sar
    November 3, 2009 at 11:36 pm

    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Thumb up Thumb down -11

  40. aorta
    November 4, 2009 at 12:52 am

    folding a dollar bill is not the same as defacing money. to deface money would be to render it useless.

    Thumb up Thumb down +3

  41. NinjaGato
    November 4, 2009 at 1:10 am

    There’s a difference between racism and ignorance. Tagging something stupid like this as “jewish” shows ignorance. She never says anything hateful toward the jewish people, which would constitute racism.

    As far as the legality of selling and or defacing money. I’m sure Uncle Sam could give half a shit that 25 pennies and an origami dollar are being sold on Etsy. Bigger fish to fry.

    Thumb up Thumb down +5

  42. charmerci
    November 4, 2009 at 2:03 am

    To the people who think that selling money is illegal – have you ever heard of coin collecting? There are actual REAL stores – LEGAL businesses where you can buy old coins for more than the face value!!! OMG!

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    • sar-sar
      November 4, 2009 at 2:50 am

      Were that the case, then the mint mark and date of each of these "collectible" pennies would be included in the listing.
      This listing just constitutes selling current currency for over it's market value while not stating any tangible reason for the legitimacy of doing so.

      Thumb up Thumb down -2

  43. socharmed
    November 4, 2009 at 3:54 am

    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Thumb up Thumb down -4

  44. Kamikazie-go-in Straight To Hell
    November 4, 2009 at 4:07 am

    I’ve been successfully growing Money Trees from seeds for years. The trick is you have to first germinate them someplace warm, dark and well fertilized…so I’m reminding EvelynMayfield that before she ships these she should stick them up her ass.

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  45. MinnePurl
    November 4, 2009 at 5:30 am

    If you buy 40 bags of money tree seeds, you’d have enough money to buy her busy prayer book, which “spans the genders,” all the way from man to woman.

    or 10 shirt dollars.

    And STILL have two money tree seeds left over.

    What a savings.

    Thumb up Thumb down +1

  46. Moons in Leo
    November 4, 2009 at 5:31 am

    After reading what else she’s made/sold it appears to me she’s an old time Christian bigot. I appreciate that she’s selling this crap to people who need ‘spur of the moment’ gifts. Couldn’t you just dig around in your cushions for some spur of the moment change?

    Thumb up Thumb down -1

  47. lissonifan
    November 4, 2009 at 5:58 am

    because there’s a few people that I’d love to pelt with pennies.

    #37: all kidding aside (and I’m sorry if I took things to a different level with the whole blood libel joke), this unfortunately IS a thing in anti-semitic circles; my older sister had to transfer out of her high school because she was, in fact, pelted with pennies by the enlightened goyim in our midst. And $100 gifts for hanukkah? please! we’d be lucky to get a pair of tube socks or a $5 gift certificate to Friendly’s.

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  48. jeffreyrcarey
    November 4, 2009 at 5:59 am

    I might consider buying if the tree’s fruit were Euros.

    Thumb up Thumb down +2

  49. sharon needles
    November 4, 2009 at 6:10 am

    Planting pennies really works everybody! Santa told me so when I sat on his lap!

    Thumb up Thumb down +1

  50. moi
    November 4, 2009 at 6:25 am

    I thought for a moment that the Jewish tag was a little-uh-questionable.

    But-when I went back & read that she has that they’d be a good gift for Hanukkah, it makes total, logical, non-racist sense. & if I were to make something (fabulous, not lame) item that would be good as a Hanukkah gift, I’d tag it Jewish as well.

    HK-you should have left that part of the description in there. It makes better copy to leave it out and question the tag, but not so good for people to accuse her of…

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  51. moi
    November 4, 2009 at 6:30 am

    Aw..it says it fit, but then it cuts off the last word anyway. Must remember that.

    Then end of that should say its not so good for people to accuse her of racism. That’s really unfair–no matter how lame the item is (which it is, indeed, lame), its irresponsible and possibly damaging to leave it looking as though the tag was totally done for stereotyping reasons. It would have been a good post just about the item itself. On the surface, the joke about the tag is fun, but its gone…

    Thumb up Thumb down +1

  52. Lennymud
    November 4, 2009 at 6:40 am

    Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?

    Specially since I have heard all pennies come from Heaven….

    I think this should have been tagged Arbor Day, though. Just my two cents.

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  53. Jea
    November 4, 2009 at 6:51 am

    This can’t be a Jewish thing. They wouldn’t exchange $1 for 25 pennies. That’s a really bad exchange rate.
    But someone’s buying it….http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=18760861

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  54. Me
    November 4, 2009 at 6:55 am

    Etsy fees = .24
    PayPay fees = .37
    Total profit (based on $1.00 sale) = .39

    Cost of materials was .25 for the pennies…

    Total profit is now .14

    Now the seller has fourteen cents to spend on the plastic baggie and the label for the baggie…

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  55. Kamikaze-go-in Straight To Hell
    November 4, 2009 at 6:55 am

    Right, wasn’t going here but, the image of the money grubbing Jew, born of the Catholic Church’s outlawing of usury and subsequent puppet mastery of Jewish moneylenders has been used to vilify Jews since the 16th century. Gelt, originally a gift of a small coin from teacher to student, reflects the miracle of the oil, not the desire to grow money (wiki usury & gelt). This item, no matter how gentle the seller’s intent, is inherently anti-Semitic. Ignorance is never an excuse.

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  56. Kamikaze-go-in Straight To Hell
    November 4, 2009 at 7:00 am

    Oh, and before you jump me for the puppet mastery comment, I’m R.C., I love my church AND I acknowledge it’s past transgressions, which include persecuting Jews.

    Thumb up Thumb down +1

  57. worldfamousfudgy
    November 4, 2009 at 7:01 am

    I agree with #53. Senseless. Especially if the seller is purchasing packing supplies, printing her own shipping labels (thus having to purchase paper and ink) and driving to the post office. That .14 will not cover it.

    True, the seller could gig you on shipping to make a profit, but for PENNIES (which can be found in bounteous supply in the bottom of any purse or under any couch cushion) I cannot imagine who would want to buy this.

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  58. heidrun
    November 4, 2009 at 8:08 am

    just to be even more of a nit-picker: there’s a difference between anti-semitism and racism. actually, i’m amazed that the jews here didn’t point that out.

    at first, i found the tag offensive. then i read something about hanukkah traditions which i do not know much about, and i got an idea where the seller got the idea. but if jews here feel offended by it (and obviously, several here do), it is offensive. it’s as easy as that.

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  59. Mominator
    November 4, 2009 at 8:17 am

    Somebody correct me if I’m wrong but I thought a money tree was part of the traditional Jewish wedding reception. I’ve been to a couple and they had a money tree where we pinned or clipped money to the branches as a gift to the bride and groom, a kind of starter fund for them. While the item itself is kind of stupid, I’m not sure it’s anti-Semitic.

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  60. Kamikaze-go-in Straight To Hell
    November 4, 2009 at 8:36 am

    Right, last comment, then I’m tagging out: heidrun, I agree the seller probably thought this was a cute
    Hanukkah gift, it’s her use of the “Jewish” tag that offend, not just Jews, me too. It’s an ignorant and thoughtless use of the tag, the worst kind of bigotry. And Mominator, many different cultures have a newlywed money tree tradition (or something similar), it’s not an inherently Jewish tradition, it originates in various ethnic sub-cultures that are historically impoverished. PEACE!

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  61. MLink1975
    November 4, 2009 at 9:00 am

    So after your paypal fees, sellers fees, etc. dont ya just make 25 cents?

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  62. Cori51
    November 4, 2009 at 9:12 am

    Helen, I loved the fact that you filed this under “Jews.” Hopefully with Hanukah coming up, we will have a lot of other fabulous things to file here- I have a lot of holiday shopping to do.

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  63. lissonifan
    November 4, 2009 at 9:28 am

    Oh dear lord. Money trees are not part of Jewish weddings. Jews will often plant trees in memory of dead relatives, but the money tree is not a Jew thing. Am I offended by the seller’s item? Not really, because I think it’s funny if unsurprising that people have many (even well-intentioned) misconceptions about my tribe. There is just so much wrong with this item that its alleged anti-semitism, passive or otherwise, pales in comparison. To wit: she is selling PENNIES IN A BAGGIE as a…

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  64. lissonifan
    November 4, 2009 at 9:29 am

    gift!

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  65. pauldodo
    November 4, 2009 at 9:42 am

    I dug up some old coins once- no tree…. maybe they were unfertilised coins?

    I’m sure there must be some out there.

    p
    x

    Thumb up Thumb down +1

  66. socharmed
    November 4, 2009 at 9:58 am

    FYI, there are no special Jew-gifts that we give/recieve for Chanukah. As one person pointed out, mostly you are happy to get a pair of socks, a gift card to Borders, a scarf, or other things that you need… dressed up as gifts. Maybe a bike when you’re a little kid. Regardless, none of these items have to be tagged “Jewish” for us to find them, ya know? Just sayin.

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  67. lissonifan
    November 4, 2009 at 10:25 am

    No offense to anyone here, but the conversation kind of reminds me of one of my favorite Seinfeld joke:

    Elaine: Kosher meal? I don’t want a kosher meal. I don’t even know what a kosher meal is.
    Passenger 1: I think it means when a Rabbi has inspected it, or something.
    Passenger 2: No, no. It all has to do with the way they kill the pig.

    Jews don’t give much thought to hanukkah–it’s not really a special holiday–though in my family we do actually have a traditional hanukkah ham!

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  68. razberries
    November 4, 2009 at 10:36 am

    all these comments were great as always…thanks for the highly entertaining afternoon read!
    pennies?! WTF, who is buying this shit????!!!! ‘hand crafted’ wouldn’t even be a term for a plastic baggie and an address label sticker that she put together- NO thought or craft went into this project. man does this piss me off-LOL

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  69. City_Gal
    November 4, 2009 at 11:28 am

    Lennymud @ 53 wins the thread!

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  70. krystyna81
    November 4, 2009 at 12:06 pm

    #65 just made me laugh.

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  71. ThisJustMakesMeSad
    November 4, 2009 at 9:44 pm

    Wait… 25 cents in a plastic bag, at the cost of $1.00 + $1.50 shipping..?!

    I’m no math genius, but I know that there are four 25 cent coins in one dollar, and I very likely have some extra ziplock sandwich bags in my kitchen cupboard. So, realistically I could NOT ONLY save myself $2.25, BUT I COULD ALSO package this myself rather than go through the hassle of placing an order and then waiting around for it to arrive in the mail. Now THAT’S what I call affordable gift giving!

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  72. Laurinha
    November 6, 2009 at 9:17 am

    This is truly hysterical! LMAOOO!!!

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  73. vangoghbabe
    November 6, 2009 at 9:19 am

    Can you get these seeds in a snack size bag?…I’m echo friendly

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  74. shana
    November 9, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    According to Etsy, this article does not exist. It doesn’t say it was sold….just that it doesn’t exist. Is this a hoax by Regretsy? And where is my previous post?

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    • Helen Killer
      November 9, 2009 at 8:08 pm

      If an item isn’t there, it means the seller removed it. She probably got complaints.

      Thumb up Thumb down 0

  75. mayefaire
    November 14, 2009 at 9:33 pm

    Funny, I got that at my bat mitzvah.

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  76. QueenQuill
    November 25, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    I just peed a little.

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  77. usedtobeasweetboy
    July 10, 2010 at 5:02 pm

    When I was a kid collecting coins a kind, grandfatherly gave me these words of wisdom: “Son, a penny is only worth a penny: until you find someone to give you two cents for it.” Or in this case “25 money tree seeds are only worth a quarter, until you find some dumb-ass to give you a dollar for them.”
    BTW, it is totally legal to buy/sell money, otherwise nerdy children like me would have been SOL with their dorky hobbies.

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