My dad called me "frugal" today!

Coleroo · #1 (**permalink**) 01-25-2007, 07:40 PM

My dad made me feel so good tonight! We were eating dinner and somehow the topic got onto "tightwadedness". My mom laughed and said that Kevin and I had turned into "tightwads". My dad was like "no, she's not a tightwad..she's frugal. there's a difference - Lisa is frugal. She knows how to take a penny and stretch it so it will count". I just sat there beaming!!

Now, mind you, I am one of those (in a former past life..haha) who would happily blow a 100$ minimum wage first job paycheck in one hour at Goody's!

Dad use to pick on me all the time because of my freehanded spending "shopaholic" habits (i've been working - and blowing - money since i was 14). Im 24 now and have worked so hard the past 2 years to become a better money manager... and its been so hard for me to control my impulse to spend spend spend. But to have my dad recognize it like that and acknowledge it for the good that it is.. and the change I've made in my life ..was sooo special - i think I'll remember that moment forever.

Do any of you have moments in your life where someone paid you a cherished "financial compliment" and it made you feel like all the hard work was worthwhile?

JanH · #2 (**permalink**) 01-25-2007, 08:55 PM

It's awesome that he recognized the changes you had made and acknowledged them! When Hubby changed companies, we talked with his dad about using his financial advisor since we had a bunch of retirement stuff to move. His parents have really good financial instincts and habits and were able to retire early, so we figured he'd know a good one to use. I gave his dad (he was visiting) copies of all the data I had and he gave it to the advisor. On the phone, the guy said we were doing well so far. I about fell over. We got such a late start in retirement planning that I was surprised that he felt we were doing a good job so far. It felt really good. Of course, we haven't told him about our debt yet....

Being one of the only unfrugal people in my family, I am amending my dream.....I want to be debt free and for someone to call me frugal...

PRICEPLUS · #3 (**permalink**) 01-25-2007, 09:45 PM

Coleroo that sounds like a great moment! I have never been complimented for being frugal but it sure sounds nice. It must be extra special to have your Dad say it!

scfr · #4 (**permalink**) 01-25-2007, 10:20 PM

That's terrific, Coleroo. Congratulations on the very nice compliment!

tinapbeana · #5 (**permalink**) 01-26-2007, 04:55 AM

best fiscal compliment: when the only response the american express financial planner gave me was 'blink blink' when i told him my most recent year's return on my 401k...

i was raised by a very frugal family, so it's not that i necessarily get kudos for a job well done. i do, however, get to hear them wonder about some of my sister's financial choices when they're not the most frugal around...

LuxLiving · #6 (**permalink**) 01-26-2007, 05:20 AM

Harummmph -- "Paul, my son, you are VERY frugal! I am very proud of you my boy!!", said in my best Dad voice!!

My Mom calls and asks for financial help from me all the time - which is funny as we have a family member who is VERY high up at Merrill Lynch! That one just cracks me up. However, said ML'ers have an OVER-consume it all now lifestyle and we don't. I don't think I could live that lifestyle even if I had the fiscal resources to do so - it seems so wasteful to me when there are people/children here in our own city going hungry for them to be a couple w/no children living in a four bedroom, four bath house w/a three car garage. Just goofy! No sour grapes - they earned what they have, I just deplore how much of it appears to be wasted.

Like tinap - when the CFP recently gave me an unasked for "A++" after reviewing our financial plans I did feel - dare I say it - almost proudful. That feeling of pride is more about me educating myself than it is about the dollar amounts though. I just got angry enough that I determined I WOULD learn about this stuff if it killed me - if everyone else that was in those slick magazines could do it - then so could I. That kind of - "I did it by myself" pride. (of course I couldn't of done it w/o sites like this one and others on the web and other writers that have let a trail. So thanks everyone!)

And for everyone else who is just starting on this journey let me remind you that reading and studying about finances is great, but at some points you just have to jump in and DO IT even when you feel like you don't know everything yet - just don't bet the entire farm. There is lots that we are able to do nowdays on the computer that former generations never got the chance to participate in - such as e-trade, sharebuilder, on-line banking, etc.

Take small beginning steps and read, read, read and you'll get better at it as you go along. Investing is such a broad area that you could wait forever trying to know everything and never actually get to the doing. Get started and more knowledge will still flow in. SavingAdvice.com is a wonderful place to learn and grow.

Congrats Coleroo - warms the cockles of your heart, doesn't it?

trillium · #7 (**permalink**) 01-26-2007, 05:35 AM

All I can say is congrats! It is one thing to recognize the achievements yourself, but when your family members recognize it and in some cases turn to you for advice, THATS when you're truly on your way to your goal!

puppypal · #8 (**permalink**) 01-26-2007, 06:51 AM

I don't know how many of you deal with ex-wifes in your current marriage but those whom do will understand. My biggest day came when I was told buy hubby's ex that she wished she could budget the way I did. That if she could use one word to discribe me it would be thrifty. OMG!

Since of course she knows basically how much we bring in and sees what was own as far as a home cars etc. She also said and I quote, "I can't see how you can figure out all those things and can you help me budget better" That was the day I was glowing from ear to ear!

jodi · #9 (**permalink**) 01-26-2007, 07:19 AM

Congrats! That's great.

I get a lot of gentle teasing from hubby's family about how I cut corners so much, but then they also take the time to tell me that they think I'm doing great. It's nice to hear

fairy74 · #10 (**permalink**) 01-26-2007, 09:21 AM

Good for you, keep up the frugality!

creditcardfree · #11 (**permalink**) 01-26-2007, 09:48 AM

Congratulations! A well deserved compliment to all your hard work. You go girl!

T_I_N_A20 · #12 (**permalink**) 01-26-2007, 09:02 PM

I wonder if it exists the word frugal in my language... xD

Coleroo · #13 (**permalink**) 01-26-2007, 09:22 PM

Thanks everyone! I enjoyed reading yall's moments very much! ..and yes, it truly did warm the cockles of my heard.. :-P :-D

TinapBeana - i totally loved your response! Ive got the funniest picture now stuck in my head of some know it all bigwig guy behind a mahogony desk with his suit and tie on, holding his papers and then him going *blink blink* followed by shocked silence..hehe way to go!!

tinapbeana · #14 (**permalink**) 01-27-2007, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coleroo

TinapBeana - i totally loved your response! Ive got the funniest picture now stuck in my head of some know it all bigwig guy behind a mahogony desk with his suit and tie on, holding his papers and then him going *blink blink* followed by shocked silence..hehe way to go!!

hehehehe! when my family gets together and someone says something unbelieveable, eventually you hear someone else actually say "blink-blink" just to make sure the point gets across

marjorie · #15 (**permalink**) 01-29-2007, 03:14 PM

The biggest financial compliment I ever got was when I asked my brother to review my finances to be sure I could really afford my house. I was a divorced mom to kids 5 and 10. He looked over my recordkeeping and said I was saving a larger percentage of my income than he and his wife. They always made more, but they were both working and banking every dime she made. he he he