<P> Brownie points in modern usage are a hypothetical social currency, which can be acquired by doing good deeds or earning favor in the eyes of another, often one's superior . </P> <P> A popular etymology is an allusion to the merit badges or six points earned by Brownies (junior Girl Guides / Girl Scouts) for carrying out good deeds . Brownies were named after a kind of mythological elf that does helpful things around the house . </P> <P> A popular marketing practice employed by many stores in post-World War II US was the distribution of stamps with each purchase . The number of stamps given out varied with the amount of the purchase . These stamps were collected by customers and later redeemed for household gifts . The earliest of these stamps were brown in color and known as "brown stamps" or "brown points". The relationship between a purchase and the collection of these "brown points" equated with doing a good thing (supporting the local vendor) and getting a bonus (the valuable stamps). Purportedly, the collection of these "brownie points" eventually evolved into the modern usage . The term Browniepoints is still used as a marketing practice in business today by a New Zealand power company and also used by a gift service . </P>

Where did the term brownie points come from