My dad is frugal and doesn't even know it.

**pammy** · 10-17-2005, 06:23 AM

Time for reflection. I've been thinking about my parents and how different they are. Looking at them with my new frame of mind I've discovered a few cool things. Dad's always been frugal.

My dad is one of those kinds of people that can spot things on the side of the road of value half a mile away. All my life we've pulled over for some great finds. My dad can take 2 broke down donated lawnmowers and make one great machine with plenty of parts, or airconditioners, or automobiles, or just anything. He's always been able to fix a wide variety of things, jack of all trades. He's been able to go into the kitchen that looks bare, throw things together, weird things, and create a wonderful meal. He regularly goes to the dump and brings things home. Winter before last he found me two black leather high dollar coats, someone threw them away. Some of their furniture came from there. For Valentine's Day he took a long piece of rusty barb wire he found at the dump and spent days twisting and molding until he came up with (many cuts later) a big barbed wire heart for my mom (and yes, he did get lock jaw, poor fella). It now hangs on the living room wall with pride. And believe it or not, he is building a Roadster from scratch. The metal walls is made out of a tossed washing machine. It's all coming from bits and pieces he either has already or things he finds. He likes to stay busy, has many projects and can make something from nothing.

In constrast, my mom is a spendthrift. It's nothing to blow $50 playing bingo once or twice a week. She eats out often with her sister (my dad doesn't like to go, preferring to eat at home). If she wants it, she buys it, bills be danged. She buys high dollar convenience food. She also buys many fattening snack cakes and treats and wonders why she can't lose weight. She spends at least $200 on medication a month for her blood pressure, because she is over weight. She likes to sit around doing nothing. She controls the finances and they have no savings.

Looking back, I've always been a daddy's girl. Most of my childhood pictures can find me hanging on his leg. I hope some of his ways has rubbed off on me.

**Darlene** · 10-17-2005, 07:59 AM

Aww, that is such a neat story. You are such a lucky lady to have a dad like that.

Hope your Mom see's the light someday.

**QuilterMom** · 10-17-2005, 08:04 AM

**PrairieRose** · 10-17-2005, 03:29 PM

Your Dad sounds like a very handy guy to have around. I have to admit, I like to go to the dump "shopping" too

**jlxian** · 10-17-2005, 05:09 PM

Pammy, your dad sounds a lot like mine. Old washing machines (and refrigerators) seemed to propagate in our basement --- he was forever using them for some project or other! A great "raw material" apparently. And like your dad, he could spot something valuable on the side of the road. Even now when I see a bolt or a piece of lumber on the side of the road I have pangs of guilt for not stopping to pick it up! Ah, wonderful memories.....