Were you raised in a frugal home?

[Telephus44]

We were raised frugally, but not as much as other families. We didn't take vacations, they bought new cars but each one had to last at least 7 years, we had a garden and raised tons of veggies (some meals were all veggies from the garden), only went out to eat or had takeout on someone's birthday or other special occasion. But my parents didn't coupon/rebate, shop garage sales or stockpile sale foods. They both worked, so they didn't have a lot of extra time, and they chose to spend it with us rather than doing a lot of time-consuming frugal activities. My father is self-employed so they always saved something because you never know when he might have a bad year - so they never spent extravagantly and always made good money choices.

In some way I am more frugal than my parents (I comparison shop and use coupons, send for rebates, etc) but for the most part I am very similar to my parents frugal mindset. Having a new son, I have let some of the frugal things I do slide so that I can spend more time with him - so I understand their point of view.

[FarmerSue]

My mom and dad were very, very careful. There were meetings over the check book that we were all shooed out of the room for. We all had jobs as soon as probably 9 or 10 I think. I had a paper route for years and then I was a life guard. All three of us kids had jobs and nice bank accounts when we left home.
None of us had student loans, they paid for everything. A total of 12 year of university if you count all three of us going for four years each.
We never had cars at 16 or really fancy things. They bought and paid for their house in only a few years, fixing it up as they went.
My mom sewed a lot and I learned a lot from her. She always did a lot of home made gifts, even learned how to make chocolates. These days getting something homemade is such a treat, back then it was dull.
My mom bought my dads' clothes every other year on a trip to the city at a place called Marks and Spencers. Plaid shirts and cordoroy pants, socks and undearwear.....it was like a ritual.
They never really used coupons but they were always cut out and stuck in the spice rack. heehee.
They were really just kind of plain and ordinary I guess. When my dad died he left my mom VERY well off. She has more than she will ever need. I'm so proud of them. He was raised on his grandparents farm for a few years because my grandpa went away to WW2 and had to be hospitalized for a few years after for TB. There was NO money. My grandma and my dad hilled fields of potatos for their keep. He was only three. Can you imagine sending your three year old out to the field?

[kaykwilts]

My parents grew up in the depression. My dad was a hard worker but he worked at a job where he was underpaid. I remember that everyone else's dad made more money then mine did but we never went hungry. My mother was a stay at home mom and managed the financeds well. She shopped frugally and we always had a stockpile of food. I learned from her how to shop wisely for food and to watch the sales. We always drove older cars and drove them for years. Their small house was paid for and they paid for everything in cash. No credit cards were used.

[fernykins]

My parents survived the depression too. My parent were never very good with money......... We went from North Dakota to Cali to N. Dakota and back to Cali. My parent last house they brought. Back then my dad made a 1,65 hour. But with 7 kids. My mother made our clothes and cooked our food. They did put in a swimming pool in the back yard. The biggest they could get with out it being comerical. But then I can remember when gas was 19cents a gallon (showing my age lol)
Fern

[amyb15]

i was born in a very frugal family... never bought anything unless absolutely needed but it pays off later

[Siebrie]

My father worked in an administrative job until his retirement, my mum had a full time job as a social worker as soon as I and my sister went to secondary school. But after about a year she came home again, because I could not stand coming home to a dark cold house (I was 14). Looking back on it, I was a child you had to tell certain things to, to explain 'life'. So, if she had told me to make myself a pot of tea and turn on the lights, she might have gone on working. (does this sound slightly autistic to you?)

About frugality at home: my mother was the youngest of 3 daughters from a widowed mum, who had a fruit-and-veg-store. She had to help from a very early age, just like her sisters. My dad comes from a family with an average income.

So, at home, my mum would sew many of our clothes, cook from scratch, accept clothes from her nieces for us. We adored our cousins, they are only 4years older than us, so we gladly wore their old clothes; we thought they were very fashionable. My parents preferred going on holiday to anything else, so we have been all over Europe and eating sauerkraut-and-potato-mash and spaghetti for many weeks after. We went 'dining out' once a year at a fast food restaurant, we did not buy a car until I was 8, and we did not have colour television until I was 13. The downside is that I do not think they made good choices all the time: they taught us hardly any money skills, they would rather buy cheap things than good quality ones, and they do not have very good taste in buying clothes and furniture. I still have no idea how much money they have or ever made.

I am frugal now, because I have to be and have come to enjoy the sport. My sister has always resented being told 'no', so she is spending like crazy (thank God her husband has a very good income - but even they started budgeting as a result of her spending).

[Dancing Lotus]

No. I never thought that we lived frugal but my parent were wise with the money. I dont have $100 sneakers but I did always have a decent pair. I remember my mom would go without so that my brother and I could have.

I do wonder about my own kids. We are poor, it doesnt look like from the outside. I dont want them to hear about our finacial problems so lately we have decided not to talk about it anymore. But I do try to teach them frugal things.

[amyb15]

No. I never thought that we lived frugal but my parent were wise with the money. I dont have $100 sneakers but I did always have a decent pair. I remember my mom would go without so that my brother and I could have.

I do wonder about my own kids. We are poor, it doesnt look like from the outside. I dont want them to hear about our finacial problems so lately we have decided not to talk about it anymore. But I do try to teach them frugal things.

I would push the value of hard work and saving up money for smart investments... my family started poor but recently our investments are kicking in. The real estate market is a great place to save up for

[tervsforme]

eating sauerkraut-and-potato-mash and spaghetti for many weeks after.

I love sauerkraut, could you share the recipe for the sauerkraut and potato mash please!

Thanks!

[Siebrie]

For a family of four:

Boil one kilogram of skinned potatoes with a bit of salt.

In another pan, boil half a kilogramme of sauerkraut. (Or: whatever weight of sauerkraut you have, you need double the amount in potatoes).

Get rid of nearly all the water when both are done (you might want to catch it in a bowl).

Put potatoes and sauerkraut into one pan and mash. If it is too dry, add some of the water you saved in the bowl. Or add butter, or milk. This depends on how weight-minded you are.

For meat we like to fry diced bacon or boil a well-seasoned (smoked) sausage. You can boil the sausage in the pan with the sauerkraut.

If you want to, you can add diced pineapple, juniper berries (but do not eat them), white wine, grated cheddar cheese and anything you want to really. Have fun experimenting.

Enjoy your meal!