Did you have enough money growing up?
Did you have enough money growing up?
Mar 28, 2022
Even if we didn't, my Mom and Dad did a great job of making sure it wasn't something the kids needed to know or worry about. We always had a roof over our head, food on our table, a warm bed to sleep in, and clothes to wear. Though I wasn’t privy to my parents’ discussions of budget, it was clear that they were good at pinching pennies. When it came to grocery shopping, my Mom poured over the weekly advertisements, clipped coupons, and went to the stores that had the best deals. She planned simple, yet hearty meals that now I realize were frugal choices, like chili, porcupines in sauce (meatballs made with rice), mac n cheese, and stew. They’ve since become some of my favorites because they remind me of my childhood.
I went with my parents on home shopping trips, and when they finally purchased a home it took many months of repairs and cleanup to get it habitable. They saw a treasure in a house that had been abandoned for years and were willing to get dirty and do the hard work necessary to turn it into a home. We didn’t care that it was old; it held our memories and good times all the same.
Most of our vacations were simple - camping or trips to see family. We got to have custom-made clothing for the special events because my mother could sew beautifully. We shopped for our other clothes at outlets and bought on sale as much as possible. The one thing my parents refused to scrimp on was shoes for me once we realized I had foot problems. Though they were expensive, they made sure I was able to get a couple pair of the recommended shoes for my feet and it made a huge difference.
When it came to the extras, we all had to make choices about what was more important to us. But we had all we needed and a little extra for the here and there. And that was enough.
