Dad was frugal not cheap

**Sheila Q** · 12-06-2006, 01:15 PM

Hi,

It is funny I have been feeling just awful on the way I handle my finances well last night my uncle and aunt sat upstairs and talked to me and my mom. Somehow along the way we got on the subject of my dad. My dad was VERY careful with his money. When he died we found money all over the house everytime we thought we were done either my brother or my dh would come out with another $1000 hidden somewhere. Not to mention he had 3 cds, money in the bank and he left in private accounts $4800 for each my brother and I. My dad also paid their house off in 15 years instead of 30. My dad had heart problems beginning when he was in his early 50s having a triple by-pass @53 and taking an early retirement. He was 41 when I was born so I was young. I was the only one out of both my parents and brother and sister to graduate high school dad said he would pay for me to go to college anywhere I chose hairdressing school I should have gone to a business school like he wanted. I had even toyed with going to school in Florida Dad would have taken care of everything. He bought our first cars paid our insurance.

Dad was a simple man. His father died when my dad was 15 he was the only boy in the family other than his uncle. Dad had no high school education. He was in the Marines and he loved cars. After the marines he got into fixing cars and worked his way up to foreman for the city of Providence maintanence garage.

My dad owned two homes. But dad was a frugal man. He would shop around and get 10 yes 10 prices for something. If he wanted a big ticket item he SAVED. He budgeted like a fiend and still though he had money in the bank put something away each month faithfully. We had a nice home however it was on a main street. Sure they could have bought a house off a main street but dad felt owning two houses was sufficient and he didn't believe in keeping up with the Jones. They had good running cars but never a new car. My uncle said it was because of my dad that him and my aunt were able to pay their house off early. They became frugal also and the money they saved they put on the principal of the house per my dads suggestion and were able to pay their house off in 20 yrs.

I can remember people thinking well I should say my mom and brother thinking my dad was ridiculous with his spending/saving habits yet for a simple man he had about 100k in savings not to mention his home which was paid for and all that equity. I intend to be like him. I want to make him proud.

Frugal is in my blood frugal is what I will become.

**Telephus44** · 12-06-2006, 02:02 PM

Sounds like you had an awesome role model!

**wanderlusting** · 12-06-2006, 02:05 PM

Wow, thanks for sharing your story. I hope someday I can be as disciplined with money as your father was.

**emily_hope** · 12-06-2006, 02:36 PM

Your father was a very wise man!

**frugalnana** · 12-06-2006, 02:42 PM

Your dad sounds like mine. Everything is paid for and my parents have money in the bank and pay cash for everything. Your father was very wise.

**banana** · 12-06-2006, 02:58 PM

Your dad was a very smart man and you are smart for following in his footsteps. You should be very proud.

**autumnlynn** · 12-06-2006, 03:09 PM

That was a great story. Your dad was an awesome man!

**Darlene** · 12-06-2006, 04:11 PM

What a lovely story, thanks bunches for sharing it.

**pecunierrant** · 12-06-2006, 04:46 PM

Your father was wise and way ahead of the game. What a great role model.

**lottaLove** · 12-06-2006, 05:18 PM

Your story is an inspiration for what so many of us are trying to achieve. Thank you for sharing.

**rebecca** · 12-06-2006, 08:14 PM

This inspires me to be like your dad.

**Valerie in WA** · 12-06-2006, 10:51 PM

What an awesome tribute to a wise man, obviously much loved.

**ironmaiden** · 12-07-2006, 10:14 AM

My parents and in-laws were born in the 1920's. They remember the Depression. My mother remembers standing in soup lines. My FIL grew up on a farm in Kansas in the dust bowl years. They knew what going without meant and what security really means - having money in the bank for that rainy day cause there always will be rainy day sooner or later and it's best to be prepared. People saved up for things - only a house or maybe a car was bought on credit. Nothing else. And the goal was to pay off that house as soon as possible. Ever heard of mortgage burning parties? What would the reaction be if someone in your neighborhood tried to have one now?

**FrugalMomof3** · 12-07-2006, 10:39 AM

He seems like an great role model, I wish my parents were frugal BUT I can say that we lived on next to nothing when we were kids, maybe that's why I have learned to be frugal so fast, lol

**pkellyc** · 12-07-2006, 11:47 AM

Sounds like a wonderful man. My dad made a ton of money and he spent a ton of money. Both my parents spent like there was no tomorrow. They were terrible role models and when they became ill I remember ripping my hair out trying to make sense of my mothers checking account. She had not balanced it in years, and not only did she not write down her deposits, she forgot to write down a few checks too! Needless to say it took a couple of trips to the bank to straighten it all out. In the end we just opened a whole new account and waited for the checks to come in to see what the balance really was. What a mess.