@PedalHoppy@histodons a lot of this was from annuities. The navy needed a new ship, so the government would sell an annuity for 5% a year for life. Someone invests 20000 pounds, they get 1000/year.
These were generally paid quarterly and tradespeople were expected to extend credit (keep a tab) and paid each quarter with a bank draft.
So day-to-day the peerage didn’t handle money much.