# Money, Debt, and Economy in The Diary

> Theme guide for The Diary by Samuel Pepys.

Financial concerns permeate the diary, from Pepys' personal expenses on furniture and gifts to the government's inability to pay sailors, reflecting the precarious economy of Restoration England.

## Where it surfaces

- [Particulars of the Life of Samuel Pepys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/particulars-of-the-life-of-samuel-pepys): Pepys's salary as Clerk of the Acts (£350 a year plus ancient fee), his additional income as deputy Clerk of the Privy Seal, and his role as treasurer for Tangier.
- [January 1659–60](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/january-1659-60): Pepys frequently notes his financial struggles, borrowing £10, worrying about debts, and the uncertainty of his office's salary.
- [February 1659–60](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/february-1659-60): Pepys handles financial transactions, collects £60, and notes his net worth of £40.
- [June 1660](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/june-1660): Pepys counts his growing wealth (near £100), receives gifts and payments, and notes the cost of offices and the promise of a month's pay for the fleet.
- [July 1660](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/july-1660): Pepys spends heavily on clothes, plate, and his patent, and borrows sheets from Mr. Howe, reflecting his constant financial juggling.
- [August 1660](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/august-1660): Pepys rejoices in receiving £40 from the Privy Seal, calculates expenses for his former house, and spends on a costly petticoat for his wife, underscoring his focus on personal finance.
- [November 1660](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/november-1660): Pepys handles large sums of money for Lord Sandwich, discusses bottomry loans, and makes personal financial decisions.
- [December 1660](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/december-1660): Pepys meticulously tracks his finances, seals his first £200, and considers investments, reflecting his economic prudence.
- [February 1660–61](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/february-1660-61): Pepys calculates his net worth at £350, secures a £60 bill from Lord Sandwich, and notes the cost of dinners and gifts.
- [July 1661](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/july-1661): Pepys manages his uncle's estate, deals with debts and surrenders, and discusses financial matters with family and lawyers.
- [August 1661](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/august-1661): Pepys deals with financial matters including his aunt's bond of £200, the cost of his aunt leaving the house (£10), and the expense of a coat borrowed for 6d.
- [October 1661](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/october-1661): Pepys borrows his first money on bond (£50) and discusses the King's finances and Parliament's potential scrutiny.
- [November 1661](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/november-1661): Pepys worries about his expenses, spends £6 on lace for his wife, and discusses legal debts with Tom Trice.
- [January 1661–62](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/january-1661-62): Pepys worries about his expenses, delays account reckoning, and discusses financial matters with cousin Thomas and Mrs. Norbury.
- [February 1661–62](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/february-1661-62): Pepys discusses annuity with his uncle, plans his wife's clothing budget, and notes corruption in payments.
- [May 1662](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1662): Pepys reviews Lord Sandwich's debts (over £7,000) and incoming funds, and pays his own debts.
- [June 1662](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/june-1662): Pepys manages crusados, borrows money, and balances his accounts, reflecting on his financial status.
- [November 1662](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/november-1662): Pepys worries about expenses, the cost of household goods, and hears of Audley's vast estate.
- [December 1662](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/december-1662): Pepys tracks his declining savings (£680 to £630), buys items, and discusses Exchequer assignments and goldsmiths' lending.
- [January 1662–63](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/january-1662-63): Pepys buys a table for 50 shillings, frets over a 25 shilling loss, and resolves to focus on getting money.
- [April 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/april-1663): Pepys examines his accounts, reaches £700 net worth, and discusses his father's spending.
- [May 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1663): Pepys arranges financial support for his father, tours the Mint to learn about coinage, and hears about counterfeiting schemes.
- [June 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/june-1663): Pepys discusses saving money with Elizabeth and deals with tar pricing disputes.
- [August 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/august-1663): Pepys lends Lord Sandwich more money, renews a bond for £700, and pays Ashwell's wages.
- [October 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/october-1663): Discussions of Cocke's commission reduction, salary increases, and the cost of timber contracts reflect financial concerns.
- [December 1663](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/december-1663): The trial over insurance fraud and the freight dispute underscore the financial risks and economic practices of the era.
- [January 1663–64](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/january-1663-64): Pepys meticulously accounts his estate, gains £50, and reaches a net worth of £858, while also discussing a robbery of £1,050 and £4,000 in jewels.
- [April 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/april-1664): Pepys is preoccupied with his own finances, particularly money held by Lord Sandwich, who is deep in debt, reflecting the economic anxieties of the period.
- [May 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1664): Pepys records his financial state (£908 creditor), receives £20 in gold from Captain Taylor, and is vexed by debts and payments due from Pigott and others.
- [June 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/june-1664): Pepys profits £26 from a ship charter, worries about Lord Sandwich's debt, and ends the month with £951.
- [August 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/august-1664): Pepys secures a £30 raise for Hater, keeps £10; Warren offers to share profits; Pepys buys a microscope for £5 10s.
- [September 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/september-1664): Pepys receives £105 from the Tangier contract, considers investing money at 6% interest, and deals with family debts and payments.
- [November 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/november-1664): Pepys receives an iron chest for his savings, discusses naval accounts to maximize parliamentary funds, and pursues the prize office for financial gain.
- [December 1664](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/december-1664): Pepys receives £117 from Alderman Viner on pretended freight, hopes for £50 more from the ship Union, and buys a looking glass for £5 5s.
- [January 1664–65](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/january-1664-65): Pepys meticulously reviews his accounts, gains £50 from a commodity, and worries about money hidden at home.
- [February 1664–65](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/february-1664-65): Pepys gains £100 per annum from a death, settles accounts with Mr. Moore, and quarrels with Elizabeth over 7s. missing from kitchen accounts.
- [April 1665](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/april-1665): Pepys meticulously tracks his monthly accounts, gains over £100, and reaches a net worth of £1,400, yet faces uncertainty about Tangier funds and lending money on Tallies.
- [May 1665](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1665): Constant struggle to secure funds for Tangier and the Navy; Povy's difficulty getting money, and Pepys's worry about laying out too much for silk suits.
- [June 1665](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/june-1665): Pepys manages tallies with Colvill and Viner, secures credit, and worries about Tangier payments; the cost of his new suit (£24) and bail expenses are noted.
- [July 1665](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/july-1665): Pepys calculates his savings, notes his wine stock, and discusses payments and bills of exchange.
- [August 1665](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/august-1665): Pepys meticulously settles his accounts, finding himself worth over £2,180, with £1,800 in cash at home, reflecting his financial prudence amid the plague.
- [October 1665](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/october-1665): Pepys calculates profits from services, manages Tangier accounts, and considers financial opportunities like the Surveyor General post.
- [December 1665](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/december-1665): Pepys celebrates his net worth exceeding £4,000, secured through prize goods and Gawden's payment, while discussing the kingdom's money supply.
- [January 1665–66](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/january-1665-66): Pepys manages financial matters including the cancellation of Lord Sandwich's bond, handling of prize goods, and the use of tallies.
- [February 1665–66](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/february-1665-66): Pepys settles accounts with Alderman Backewell and Sir Robert Viner, leaves £2,000 on call, and budgets £10 for new books.
- [March 1665–66](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/march-1665-66): Pepys borrows money on bond, receives £200 from the Houbland brothers, and deals with tallies in disorder; he also buys books and a silver salt.
- [April 1666](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/april-1666): Pepys lends £1,900 to Sir W. Warren, calculates his net worth at £5,000, and discusses Exchequer payments and interest.
- [May 1666](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1666): Pepys examines kitchen book errors, secures £10,000 for the Navy, and observes Downing's new Exchequer method.
- [August 1666](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/august-1666): Pepys records his net worth of £5,700, the highest ever, and handles Tangier accounts and bills of exchange.
- [September 1666](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/september-1666): Pepys worries about the cost of rebuilding, the financial losses from the fire, and potential profits from timber and privateering.
- [October 1666](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/october-1666): Pepys settles his personal accounts, borrows and lends money, and reflects on the national economic crisis as the Navy runs out of credit.
- [December 1666](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/december-1666): Coal prices at £3 3s per chaldron, tallies for Tangier, and merchant losses due to wine import restrictions.
- [March 1666–67](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/march-1666-67): The chapter emphasizes the Navy's financial distress, Pepys's payment of a legacy, and the economic pressures of war.
- [June 1667](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/june-1667): The chapter is dominated by financial panic: Pepys moves gold to the country, bankers refuse to pay, and the Navy cannot raise £200 to outfit ships.
- [December 1667](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/december-1667): Pepys settles his Tangier accounts, discusses the King's improved Treasury management, and considers lending £300 to Cousin Kate Joyce, highlighting the constant financial calculations in his life.
- [January 1667–68](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/january-1667-68): Discussions of cheap corn, farmers unable to pay rent, and Pepys's loss on the Maybolt.
- [February 1667–68](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/february-1667-68): Pepys worries about his £500 prize profit, pays the sixth £100 for his sister's settlement, and notes the financial strain on the Navy.
- [April 1668](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/april-1668): Pepys is troubled by not having accounted for seven or eight months; the kingdom is in an ill state through poverty.
- [May 1668](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/chapters/may-1668): Potential loan of £100 to Lady Sandwich, and the East India Company's financial dispute with Skinner.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/themes/money_debt_and_economy
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_diary_se/themes