[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by irmanator

for those of you who are pretty frugal and investment savvy at a young age, what , inspired you? Did your parents do something to help?

My parents were frugal. I think that is the single biggest thing. We went to flea markets and auctions and yard sales and farmers markets. We went to thrift shops. We trash-picked. We didn't do it because we were poor or couldn't afford better. We just did it because it was fun and interesting and responsible. My father taught me, by example, about saving and investing and buying bonds and stocks. I went with him to the safe deposit box and loved counting the bonds and looking at the neat stock certificates. Later, I went with him to the broker and would check the business page every day to see how "our" stocks were doing.

I think kids learn best by example. If your kids see you spending willy-nilly, not being price conscious, not clipping coupons or shopping sales, buying everything new and full price, that's what they'll do. If, however, they see you being conscious of prices, comparing brands in the supermarket, using coupons, checking the sale ads each week, stocking up on non-perishables when there is a good sale, browsing Goodwill, pulling in the nice table that your neighbors put out at the curb, etc., and talking about saving and investing for the future, then they learn to do the same.