Expression USED In the past BY People from the countryside
Refer to something of cheap or low value. If something is surprisingly inexpensive, you could say "it's peanuts." Or if you're working for a very low wage, you could say "You're working for peanuts." Peanuts are a very cheap item in this context.
"It's going to cost $40 for all 5 of you to go." "That's $8 a person. You're talking peanuts at that point."