The Reason I am Frugal Today: A Little Background

[Momtwo]

I posted this in my journal and Amomof4 suggested I post it here:

I was raised by my grandparents and mother in what was considered an untraditional home in the 50's and early 60's. My father was not in the picture from the time I was 3. My mother moved in with my grandparents so that she could work and my grandmother could take care of me and my baby sister. My grandfather and mom both worked Mon-Fri. My mom also worked at the local movie theater on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday to make ends meet. Most of what my Mom made was paid to my grandmother for room,board and child care.

I never felt poor or deprived but I always knew there was not much money. We lived frugally on one floor of a two story home that my grandfather owned. He rented the other floor to relatives. We were fed well but there was never more than a weeks worth of food in the house. One portion of food was put on your plate and there were rarely seconds. A treat each week was 1 qt. of soda that we shared and once in a while we had chips. My mom and grandfather took the city bus to work. Neither owned a car until I was 14 and they purchased used cars for cash. We heated with the old coal stove. They washed clothing by hand and hung it outside all year round and this was in NY. I was raised wearing hand me down clothes. My first bicycle was given to me by a neighbor when I was 15 after her daughter had gotten a new one. We had few toys. Christmas gifts were usually 2 pieces of clothing that we needed and one toy. We always had stockings full of oranges and nuts!

On the other hand, my sister and I saw every movie imaginable 3-6 times a weekend because Mom had to take us to work with her on the weekends to give grandma a break! Mom and grandma saw that we went to a private Catholic High School because it was family tradition. They rented a camp on a beautiful Saratoga Lake every summer for about two months.


Yes they were frugal so that they could save for the things that they felt were important! Their luxuries for my sister and I were private High school and getting us out of the city for summers.

If either of them had lost their jobs, we would have been poor. I don't think they had much saved for a rainy day! I think that is why I have been such a saver all my life. I have always wanted to live frugally because of the way they raised me; however I wanted to always have plenty in the bank to fall back on so that my family would never live on the edge!

[Tree0164]

Mom Thank you for sharing, I don't always make it over to the journal area.

[rob62521]

I imagine your upbringing made you appreciate what you do have. My parents both grew up in the Depression and we didn't waste things at our house because they always lived in fear of another Depression. My coworkers make fun of me because I believe in reusing things and try not to waste things. My husband, on the other hand, was raised with frugal parents as well so he understands. I feel it has made me appreciate what I have and I'm not so tempted to buy something because I want it, not because I need it.

[Momtwo]

You know there are some experts that are saying we are headed for another depression with the dollar not worth much and the trade deficit.
It is a scary thought.

http://www.forbes.com/economy/2005/0...oomdollar.html

[itsmejan]

I found this to be both beautiful and enlightening. You stated they were frugal in order to have what they deemed important. It got meto thinking . What do I consider important? The answer will be different to every memeber of this group,but to me it means having money to buy the meds my husband needs on a regular basis without having to charge them. I think one thing I have noticed with my kids and their spouses is that the things they place the most importance on are material things ,and alot of them. Most of us should do a list of I want and I needs. Then they would be able to set a goal and prioritize their individual list. Thanks for sharing.....Jan in NC

[henrybemis]

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. Except for a mother, I had everything growig up; a housekeeper, horseback riding lessons, tennis lessons, any material thing I needed. My parents weren't rich, but we lived in a medium sized city where a dollar went very far. Why am I frugal? A few days ago I was sitting down and noticed with great satisfaction that I didn't want for anything materially, and that's a hard thing for a generation X thirtysomething to say. I have few clothes, but I have enough, I have a few items of furniture which is enough. The only things of inportance to me are the things I give through my writing, my purpose in life, my projects, my family and friends, my spouse and my future children, and of course my financial wellbeing. I woke up today thinking about my grandparents and about the hardwork they put in everyday on a their farm. They didn't need fancy gadgets or strange ideas of convenience to live a good life, they just needed some of the same things I listed, and for realizing this I'm proud.

[FrugalTexan75]

The reason I am frugal today is because of a financial nightmare I got myself into five years ago. It was a great big wake up call to me. I am also now frugal so that I can have financial freedom of choice. Because of my frugality, I now have a light at the end of the tunnel. I now have the choice to be able to change my career, and survive without using credit, for at least six months until I can really get it going. To me, frugality equals freedom.

Keeping It Frugal in Texas,
Laura

[amomof4]

My mom indirectly caused me to be frugal. We were very poor growing up, yet she was not in any way frugal. Every January we would get evicted from our house. I could definately see the advantage of owning your own house. It wasn't until I grew up & had my own family that I realized that she used the rent money to give us a really exorbitant Christmas.

I learned very early to be frugal so that I could buy the things I really wanted or needed. My girls have also learned that it is much better to buy a $2 skirt at the thrift store compared to a $15 skirt at walmart.

[seaar2000]

My income. Many of my friend tell me they don't know how I make it. Being very frugal and watching what I spend is how I do it. My mom was very frugal. Like I said before with seven kids. My dad would give her the check because he said she knew how to make a dollar stretch. Learned alot from her. I find it a challenge to see how much I can save. In fact, its like a hobby to me. I don't care how much money somebody makes, why blow it when you work so hard for it?