Money Management, 1951 style

**blitzen** · 08-13-2008, 03:31 PM

This past weekend, my grandpa died. My mom and aunt were at their house, going through pictures and stuff and my mom came across a ledger book from 1951-53. In it, my grandpa detailed every incoming penny and every outgoing penny. It was so interesting to sit and go through it, not only to see how much things cost (.20 for a pack of smokes!) but to see where they spent their money. They lived simply and although they borrowed money from their parents for a few big purchases, they paid them off quickly and were never in the red. My grandpa also kept a meticulous list of car maintenance and a list of the cars he owned from the fifties through the eighties. He calculated how long it would take him to get his degree, too if he worked 6 days a week and through vacation. It's such a neat little peek into their history. I wish I had a scanner to share a few pages of it, because I know you all would appreciate how thorough and simple it is!

**nodmicks** · 08-13-2008, 03:33 PM

Sounds neat!

**DJ1972** · 08-13-2008, 03:36 PM

My great granny did something similar. I thought she was kooky when I was a kid, but now I know how brilliant she really was. She had a closet full of spiral bound notebooks with every detail of her financial history in them. She could tell you what she spent on groceries in August of 1964, and even exactly what she bought. I wish I would have kept some of those notebooks.

**blitzen** · 08-13-2008, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by DJ1972

My great granny did something similar. I thought she was kooky when I was a kid, but now I know how brilliant she really was. She had a closet full of spiral bound notebooks with every detail of her financial history in them. She could tell you what she spent on groceries in August of 1964, and even exactly what she bought. I wish I would have kept some of those notebooks.

The nerd of History that I am thinks that is the coolest thing, ever! I'm hoping in the coming months that we'll find more of these notebooks.

An interesting thing in my grandpa's notebook is that it looks like they took on commuters to earn a little extra money. I'm guessing my grandpa would drive 2 or 3 other guys to work with him.

I think I know where I get my anal retentive need to write all these kinds of things down. Definitely genetic!

**Michelle** · 08-13-2008, 03:50 PM

Sounds really neat

I am so sorry for your loss

**chevy_chick95** · 08-13-2008, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by DJ1972

My great granny did something similar. I thought she was kooky when I was a kid, but now I know how brilliant she really was. She had a closet full of spiral bound notebooks with every detail of her financial history in them. She could tell you what she spent on groceries in August of 1964, and even exactly what she bought. I wish I would have kept some of those notebooks.

this is my grandma too!! i too, thought she was insane when i was younger but looking back i wish she would have given me a crash course in finances!

**Darlene** · 08-13-2008, 04:02 PM

I'm so sorry to hear about your Grandpa but glad you have your memories and cool things like that ledger to remember him & your grandma by.

**leezza** · 08-13-2008, 04:58 PM

Sorry about your grandpa......

What a nice piece of family history to have and share with the family.

Kind Regards,
leezza

**FrugalMomof3** · 08-13-2008, 05:01 PM

Sorry for the lose of your grandpa, hugs to you!

I would love to have found that book, goes to show you how even back in the days when money was hard to make that even with how much they made they made through tough times.

**jas** · 08-13-2008, 05:41 PM

Sorry to hear of the loss of your Grandpa.

My dad was the same way kept records of everything. I think some of it has rubbed off on me.

**rebecca** · 08-13-2008, 05:50 PM

When I went to an estate sale they had four journals two from 1910 and two from the late 1940's about what they spent and where they went for summer vacations. Two of the journal were from the mother and the other two were from the son. They also paid everything in cash. The son definetly liked his popcorn and hershey bars. It's really neat to see how the prices have risen since that time.

**blitzen** · 08-13-2008, 05:56 PM

Thanks for the condolences--he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about a year and a half ago, and was doing well until May of this year. The last 6 weeks or so he rapidly declined, but I'm glad that he's no longer in pain or suffering.

I plan to go visit with my grandma next week and I hope that we'll go through some boxes and see what we can find. I'm pretty sure that she is going to pass along all my grandpas genealogy work. He traced our family tree way back and it would be a treasure to have.

**Marie78** · 08-13-2008, 06:35 PM

I am sorry for your loss (hugs).

**missmanny** · 08-13-2008, 06:55 PM

I too am sorry for your loss, I'm interested to read about the notebooks though.

If you ever do get a scanner I would love to see a little bit of them