Things your parents did to save money

[singnring]

Spam and Powdered Milk.

YUCK and YUCK!!!

I will never do that to my family!!!

 

[here757]

lol this is cracking me up!!

my mom and dad worked opposite shifts so they rarely had to pay a babysitter.

my dad couldnt cook so he fed us hostess cakes for dinner.. ones that my mom got from the day old bread store..

we shared bathwater..

my mom rarely bought anything without a coupon! and she loved to bargain shop. we always had last years fashions

family vacations were usually a 18 hour road trip to grandmas LOL

 

[Vivianne]

I grew up in a NYC tenement bldg. Many times the furnace broke down and we didn't have any heat. We had to get dressed under blankets to keep warm during the winter.

There was an additional gas heater in the living room which my father avoided using except for rare occasions, at an additional cost. I was scared of it since he had to tilt it backwards to light it while he turned the gas simultaneously from underneath. I remember he overdid the gas and when the flame lit the heater...poof...a large fire lit from underneath and singed his face. He was okay but...he singed his mustache and eyebrows...I was scared but I did to myself when he showed me.

 

[ZuZugal]

If our jeans got to short but still fit on top mom would sew whatever material she had on the bottom so we weren't wearing high-waters. It was usually floral. And she always patched our jeans too.

I tell my mom today that people BUY there jeans in the store that way and PAY MORE FOR THEM! She cracks up when I tell her she was setting a fashion trend and didn't even know it!

We live close to St. Louis so once or twice a year we would go to a Cardinal game on "family day". Mom would pack a cooler w/drinks, snacks, sandwiches. Dad said the whole day would cost $20 and he saved long and hard for that. What does it cost a family of 5 today to go to a major league baseball game?? Way the heck too much.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

ONLY CHILD HERE, they wouldn't pay for more kids!

We lived in a small 2 bedroom ranch. It was so small the clothes washer was in the kitchen, the clothes dryer was in my bedroom, no room for another kid! When I was 8 the house was expanded to 2 floors (and the dryer moved to a new room) so my grandmom could move in, by then my parents didn't want to start all over with another baby!

 

[okeydokey]

I was told that I needed to start working at 12 and be out of the house at 18. True to word, they took keys at 18 and we had to have enough to live on-- like it or lump it.

Wow, that sounds so harsh. I guess you learned to be independent early on though.

 

[MrsPete]

Things my parents did that I don't do . . .

We didn't have air conditioning (and we live in the Deep South). That was miserable.

My parents heated ONLY the kitchen, dining room, and living room. They said bedrooms didn't need to be heated because you go in there and get under the covers (woe unto the child who left a bedroom door open). Every night and morning, they brought a kerosene heater into the bathroom to get it warm. That was worse than the air conditioning. No wonder we were all sick all winter every winter.

EVERY MONTH was a huge lecture on the cost of electricity. A single left-on light was reason enough to pull the whole family together for a good chewing-out.

My mom saved up bacon grease to be re-used.

My mom had a huge garden and canned loads of vegetables. I am not good at gardening, nor do I enjoy it. I do like to can, but I don't do it unless I can get vegetables free or almost free.

Every other year they'd get a cow, raise it, and have it butchered. The meat was MUCH better quality than anything in the grocery store today.

My mom sewed some clothes for us. I would do that, but it's not really economical today.

We're all short, and when we got a new dress (or nightgown) Mom'd make "grow strips" by making multiple horizontal pleats in it. Then when we grew, she could just pull out one grow strip, and the dress was suddenly longer.

Every fall we each got 2-3 pairs of jeans. By spring they'd be "high waters" and Mom'd cut them off into shorts. I don't remember handing-down clothes; we all wore them 'til they were rags, so handing down wasn't practical. Since they don't get much use around here, coats were handed down to younger siblings.

We each got one pair of tennis shoes at back-to-school time. We'd get a pair of flip-flops for the summer. Sometimes we had a pair of church shoes; other times we had to wear tennis shoes (pretty embarassing for us girls).

Like another poster, it was made very clear to us that we were expected to MOVE OUT right after high school (not at 18 because most of us were spring babies and turned 18 before graduation). OR we were to pay rent; not token-amount rent, but real rent.

 

[bluesaturn]

Kids are spoiled today and they have no respect for parents or themselves.

What a rude thing to say. You clearly have tons of respect for yourself and none for anyone else.

 

[js]

WOW, for those of you that had parents that said they had to be out by 18, what did you do to pay your rent? Are you still in that job or have you gone on to bigger/better things? Are you still working or SAHMs?
Did you end up with an education higher than HS and were you able to eventually purchase your own homes? I really don't mean this in any disrespectful way, I just cannot imagine having my mother do this to me or telling my kids to move out/pay rent when 18.
Did you feel different from your friends that your parents wanted you out of the house?
My family didn't have to cut corners when growing up and think it is great reading some of your posts about how frugle your parents were and then seeing the number of trips you all take at the bottom of your posts. That must make you smile, I think it is great!

 

[NC State]

What a rude thing to say. You clearly have tons of respect for yourself and none for anyone else.

I didn't mean to be rude...just something I have noticed with some kids.

 

[yoopermom]

Like another poster, it was made very clear to us that we were expected to MOVE OUT right after high school (not at 18 because most of us were spring babies and turned 18 before graduation). OR we were to pay rent; not token-amount rent, but real rent.

My DH was a teenager in the mid70s and still resents being put in a similar situation. His DF owned a construction company that was barely making any $$ during the Carter administration, so DH and his DB worked every hour that they weren't in school and all the time during the summers as "slave labor" (his words, not mine!). They were never allowed to join any afterschool activities, much less go to college, because the family needed their help in order to keep food on the table and not lose the family house. He lived at home until we were engaged, and his parents GREATLY resented his moving out and the loss of his physical labor. All those years he was "paid" a token amount (just barely enough for gas/insurance/a little going out $$).

So even though we had it tough at times in my home, at least it was never like that!

terri

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I do remember my daddy repairing things like the washing machine to a broken lamp.

I was never allowed to drive a car to school because daddy told me "that's why I pay taxes, you get on it and ride it" I never asked again because we never asked twice. That's because we respected our parents...

Kids are spoiled today and they have no respect for parents or themselves.

I beg to differ. I am reading this thread and realizing just how lucky we were growing up. While we certainly didn't have tons of money we never knew it. Our parents did the best they could and we didn't want for anything. "Kids today" is a broad statement. My children are very respectful and they have complete respect and pride in themselves. That is what you teach a child and having lots of things or nothing will not teach a child that. That is a parent's job.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I didn't mean to be rude...just something I have noticed with some kids.

I will agree with you here. I do see many young teens that take no pride in anything they do (like working etc.). I don't think that has anything to do with what they were given, rather in the manner in which they were raised.

 

[MrsPete]

My DH was a teenager in the mid70s and still resents being put in a similar situation. His DF owned a construction company that was barely making any $$ during the Carter administration, so DH and his DB worked every hour that they weren't in school and all the time during the summers as "slave labor" (his words, not mine!). They were never allowed to join any afterschool activities, much less go to college, because the family needed their help in order to keep food on the table and not lose the family house. He lived at home until we were engaged, and his parents GREATLY resented his moving out and the loss of his physical labor. All those years he was "paid" a token amount (just barely enough for gas/insurance/a little going out $$).

So even though we had it tough at times in my home, at least it was never like that!

terri

Yeah, though my details are different, I can relate to that attitude. I was the oldest of five, and I wasn't allowed to take part in after-school activities because I had to be home every day to supervise the younger kids. When my stepfather opened a business of his own, the boys were all required to work for similar "slave labor".

I'm very frugal . . . but I don't deny my children opportunties.

 

[bluesaturn]

I didn't mean to be rude...just something I have noticed with some kids.

This is true with some kids. Although I expect it has always been true with some kids, they just didn't make it as obvious in the past. I don't think obedience necessarily denotes respect.

Your first post made it sound like you were felt that all kids these days were disrespectful.

 

[MrsPete]

[/B]
I beg to differ. I am reading this thread and realizing just how lucky we were growing up. While we certainly didn't have tons of money we never knew it. Our parents did the best they could and we didn't want for anything. "Kids today" is a broad statement. My children are very respectful and they have complete respect and pride in themselves. That is what you teach a child and having lots of things or nothing will not teach a child that. That is a parent's job.

I'm a teacher and I work with kids through scouts. I don't think a child's "respect level" has so much to do with how much he's given as the attitude the family instills in him or her.

I'm thinking about one girl in my scout troop -- an only child of two parents who both make a good salary. She lives in a large beautiful home, she has more clothes than any kid should have (all name brand), she travels, she has hobbies, and when she turns 16 I'm sure she'll get a brand-new car. She appreciates 100% of it, she takes good care of her things, and she gives generously to those who have less. Off the top of my head, I can think of at least a dozen other families who've instilled similar values in thier children.

Then I know other kids who've been given just as much, and they think they're entitled to more, more, more. I know kids who have nothing and think people should give them more, more, more.

I think it's not JUST about what the kids are given. It's about HOW it's given. It's about how the family interacts. It's about whether kids are taught to take care of their things. It's about whether kids are required to work for things. It's about whether kids are required to wait a bit, or whether their desires are instantly gratified. It's about whether kids are taught to be respectful in non-materialistic situations. It's a whole spectrum of behaviors that come together to form an attitude of entitlement or an attitude of gratitude.

 

[patsal]

WOW, for those of you that had parents that said they had to be out by 18, what did you do to pay your rent? Are you still in that job or have you gone on to bigger/better things? Are you still working or SAHMs?
Did you end up with an education higher than HS and were you able to eventually purchase your own homes? I really don't mean this in any disrespectful way, I just cannot imagine having my mother do this to me or telling my kids to move out/pay rent when 18.
Did you feel different from your friends that your parents wanted you out of the house?
My family didn't have to cut corners when growing up and think it is great reading some of your posts about how frugle your parents were and then seeing the number of trips you all take at the bottom of your posts. That must make you smile, I think it is great!

While I wasn't told to be out at 18--I was Feb. baby I was told that after high school I had to go to college or have a full time job. If I went to college I would not have to pay rent while I lived at home for the summer, if I got a full time job I had to pay rent. I opted for college and paid my own way. After graduation I moved back home for a year, paid rent while I worked full time then got married--we eloped as no one was going to fork out money for us to get married and we had first year entry level jobs that didn't pay that well. We moved about 4 hours away and I had a tough time finding a job so DH worked to support us while I planned to go back to school. Found out I was pregnant two days after I got my fellowship--baby due in Sept. so I couldnt' accept and substiute taught until the baby came, then I stayed at home for 6 months before doing a part itme Tupperware thing for four years that made us enough money to keep things going. We rented for three years bought our first house and lived there for 4 years before moving back closer to "home". Now we have our second home, two very good paying jobs and have been very blessed because we are willing to work very hard.
There is nothing wrong with expecting kids to be self reliant.

 

[Judy in Texas]

I also agree that so many kids have no respect for their parents. They expect to have the latest gagets, clothes, cars, etc while having done nothing to earn any of it. ...but it is their parents who have taught them this and their parents before them... Each succeeding generation wants a better life; but, at what cost?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I'm a teacher and I work with kids through scouts. I don't think a child's "respect level" has so much to do with how much he's given as the attitude the family instills in him or her.

I'm thinking about one girl in my scout troop -- an only child of two parents who both make a good salary. She lives in a large beautiful home, she has more clothes than any kid should have (all name brand), she travels, she has hobbies, and when she turns 16 I'm sure she'll get a brand-new car. She appreciates 100% of it, she takes good care of her things, and she gives generously to those who have less. Off the top of my head, I can think of at least a dozen other families who've instilled similar values in thier children.

Then I know other kids who've been given just as much, and they think they're entitled to more, more, more. I know kids who have nothing and think people should give them more, more, more.

I think it's not JUST about what the kids are given. It's about HOW it's given. It's about how the family interacts. It's about whether kids are taught to take care of their things. It's about whether kids are required to work for things. It's about whether kids are required to wait a bit, or whether their desires are instantly gratified. It's about whether kids are taught to be respectful in non-materialistic situations. It's a whole spectrum of behaviors that come together to form an attitude of entitlement or an attitude of gratitude.

Exactly.

 

[Planogirl]

WOW, for those of you that had parents that said they had to be out by 18, what did you do to pay your rent? Are you still in that job or have you gone on to bigger/better things? Are you still working or SAHMs?
Did you end up with an education higher than HS and were you able to eventually purchase your own homes? I really don't mean this in any disrespectful way, I just cannot imagine having my mother do this to me or telling my kids to move out/pay rent when 18.
Did you feel different from your friends that your parents wanted you out of the house?
My family didn't have to cut corners when growing up and think it is great reading some of your posts about how frugle your parents were and then seeing the number of trips you all take at the bottom of your posts. That must make you smile, I think it is great!

I left by choice at 18 but I don't think that my mother minded. To say that we didn't get along would be the understatement of the year. This was back in the dark ages when I think more kids moved out at an earlier age. I think that it's harder now.

Let's see...I had a decent job and two roommates. I did finish college with my Dad's help for tuition but otherwise I was self-supporting. I had a close relationship with my father but we both had problems with my mother so he got it.

Most of my friends left home around that time too. I guess that we were just a rebellious bunch.