Frugality

[bunyip]

I often remember a cartoon I saw when I was in my teens and think I have seen it applied too many times.
Essentially the husband is looking at the finances and deciding that if he misses a payment on the tv and the fridge there will be enough for a deposit on a dishwasher.

 

[3930dave]

I often remember a cartoon I saw when I was in my teens and think I have seen it applied too many times.
Essentially the husband is looking at the finances and deciding that if he misses a payment on the tv and the fridge there will be enough for a deposit on a dishwasher.

Just remember...... those people are contributing to "Good Economic Numbers This Quarter".



Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I was thinking about mpg and cars... a lot of people drive 60 or more miles to work one way... plus we have some super commuters driving a 1000 miles a week.

Commuting 2500 miles a month in a 15 mpg vehicle vs a 45 mpg vehicle will impact the pocket book...

The super commuters all chose to move far away to own a new home... mostly trading a 1930-45 home of 1000 square feet minutes from work for a 3000 square feet home that is brand new or even larger... like SF Bay Area to Eldorado Hills... or a 110 mile commute one way. Don't see many pickups making the drive but do see a lot of Toyota Prius.

When I drove the 1967 Cadillac Fleetwood from Oakland to Olympia... I had to stop for gas 3 times and arrived with a quarter tank... when I drive the 325iT I stop for gas once and arrive with a half tank and the BMW tank is much smaller...

I know someone who does the calculus on that a little differently (esp. for his generation, he's about 20 years younger than I). Lives near where he works, so he prefers to drive older RWD Ford cars (Crown Vics etc). Does pretty much all his own wrenching - parts on those cars are mostly dirt-cheap, and much less to go wrong for electronics.

Not the first thing people will think of (esp. at Canadian gas prices), but just another example of somebody actively matching their skills with needs and finances.

Rgds, D.

 

[4570Man]

My grandpa was constantly complaining what something used to cost vs what it cost now. He never seems to remember that he was working for a few dollars a day too. Maybe there’s more expenses to be paid now but based only on a item cost to wage cost I think people are better off now.

 

[USAFpj]

prefers to drive older RWD Ford cars (Crown Vics etc). Does pretty much all his own wrenching

Dave- that young man is a smart guy as well.

In my line of work, I see approximately 200 students go through what we call a "driving package". On approved race tracks throughout the US, we sub contract professional race companies to teach our student how to drive important people in high threat overseas locations. The car of choice without equal? The Crown Vic. That car takes a beating, is fast, safe, and mechanically easy and cheap to take care of. Old cop cars with V8 Interceptor engines can be had for great deals on Craigslist.

I tell everyone how smart it would be to own one, but for now, my 98 Ram just won't quit...

 

[Diggin It]

I remember all the canning and freezing. But I have to wonder ...

With all the countless hours of preparing, planting, tending and harvesting, then more hours of preparing and cleaning the produce, standing over a hot stove cooking it all in large pots, then cleaning and heating the jars and lids and so on and so on and so on, was it really more economical than store buying as needed?

I know still today many, many rural families do exactly the same thing. 1/4 acre or larger gardens, doing that whole process. I just can't see the cost savings. Satisfaction over growing and storing your own for later use? Sure, no problem there.

 

[Molalla1]

I remember all the canning and freezing. But I have to wonder ...

With all the countless hours of preparing, planting, tending and harvesting, then more hours of preparing and cleaning the produce, standing over a hot stove cooking it all in large pots, then cleaning and heating the jars and lids and so on and so on and so on, was it really more economical than store buying as needed?

I know still today many, many rural families do exactly the same thing. 1/4 acre or larger gardens, doing that whole process. I just can't see the cost savings. Satisfaction over growing and storing your own for later use? Sure, no problem there.

Well, yes it was . . . parents had cheep labor us (free) and a lot was not available in stores back then.

 

[3930dave]

Dave- that young man is a smart guy as well.

In my line of work, I see approximately 200 students go through what we call a "driving package". On approved race tracks throughout the US, we sub contract professional race companies to teach our student how to drive important people in high threat overseas locations. The car of choice without equal? The Crown Vic. That car takes a beating, is fast, safe, and mechanically easy and cheap to take care of. Old cop cars with V8 Interceptor engines can be had for great deals on Craigslist.

I tell everyone how smart it would be to own one, but for now, my 98 Ram just won't quit...

Yep, that young guy is a bit of an outlier........ also one of the youngest George Carlin fans I've encountered.

A pro-wrench garage owner friend of mine had a customer who was commuting about 100 miles a day, round trip. Finally gave up on mini-vans, and bought a used C Vic - said mileage was about the same, but the big difference (over time) was that his repair bills dropped dramatically.

Police departments and other large agencies take a dim view of high-maintenance vehicles..... IMO that was part of what was baked into the Vic's DNA. Assigned close-quarters protection, nobody wants to be saying to a VIP - "Let me try CtrlAltDel on this screen; if that doesn't work, I'll pull over and disconnect the battery".

Sort of tied back to thread topic........ you can gain a lot by understanding what has already been developed and fully amortized. Leading to...... Reliability: Simplicity vs. Bling........ related, but probably a worth a whole separate thread right there....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Well, yes it was . . . parents had cheep labor us (free) and a lot was not available in stores back then.

Back far enough, money was really tight. 25 cents was a lot of money. No food-stamps, and credit cards were way over the time-horizon for general use, and definitely not allowed in grocery stores.

Today, some people still grow their own food for various reasons........ but looking backwards, a young kid, learning that you needed to work to eat was not a bad lesson.

Rgds, D.

 

[Molalla1]

Back far enough, money was really tight. 25 cents was a lot of money. No food-stamps, and credit cards were way over the time-horizon for general use, and definitely not allowed in grocery stores.

Today, some people still grow their own food for various reasons........ but looking backwards, a young kid, learning that you needed to work to eat was not a bad lesson.

Rgds, D.

Not at all Dave . . . and being very proud (my parents) would not take a hand out anyway, depression was too active in their minds always.