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.

 

[bunyip]

What we see too often is those who regard unemployment as a lifestyle complain that they can't afford to eat, their idea of eating is takeaway and not cooking for yourself anf if they do they want the best cuts.
As for kids as free labour, do some sociology research and you will find that was exactly what it was, more kids to tend the crops so you could live, I remember that from my uni days researching the industrial revolution, was common here and in britain so I imagine USA would be much the same.
I think the book i used most was a sociology of australia post industrial revolution by Giddens.

 

[Ken]

This forum reminded my of Crash 325 left us 5/11/18 He related that a friend .That went on a horse ride with only a dime in his pants pocket.
and after a year of travel .returned with the dime still in his pocket. Visited the different ranches for a meal.
Now was he Cheap or Frugal?

I knew a rancher that would not allow the county road Dept improve his ranch road. And explained to many ranchers went broke on improved roads..

I retired 24 years and no wage raises since ever though all expenses have increased. Sure cut back on amount of purchases but repaired or traded for less than desired items.
Now cleaning out the shop and no modern adults want to use anything but the tractor with all the un-needed gadgets . so loading used plows, rakes,bushhogs and taking to scrap yard
. engines transmissions already gone on that trip.

Gave a contractor load of Black Walnut and wood plainer. Never came to shop to even look at the offer.
Maybe duck tape a cell phone to side of wood plainer.
My Father lost his farm to the depression of 1928 and had to start over working for what ever type of paying work.
Now cannot hire anyone to do physical work. Next 10 years will tell the type of country we live in.
ken

 

[Molalla1]

This forum reminded my of Crash 325 left us 5/11/18 He related that a friend .That went on a horse ride with only a dime in his pants pocket.
and after a year of travel .returned with the dime still in his pocket. Visited the different ranches for a meal.
Now was he Cheap or Frugal?

I knew a rancher that would not allow the county road Dept improve his ranch road. And explained to many ranchers went broke on improved roads..

I retired 24 years and no wage raises since ever though all expenses have increased. Sure cut back on amount of purchases but repaired or traded for less than desired items.
Now cleaning out the shop and no modern adults want to use anything but the tractor with all the un-needed gadgets . so loading used plows, rakes,bushhogs and taking to scrap yard
. engines transmissions already gone on that trip.

Gave a contractor load of Black Walnut and wood plainer. Never came to shop to even look at the offer.
Maybe duck tape a cell phone to side of wood plainer.
My Father lost his farm to the depression of 1928 and had to start over working for what ever type of paying work.
Now cannot hire anyone to do physical work. Next 10 years will tell the type of country we live in.
ken

Ken, I hear you about Crash325, . . . and the rest.

 

[DerbyRunner]

I know a woman who saved the lint from the dryer. When she got enough lint she used it to stuff a new pillow. She and her husband lived through the Great Depression .. they made use of everything.

 

[kirkawilson]

Seniors who were raised in the shadow of the Great Depression (or other economic hardships), experience any interaction involving money with tension and even anger. Often, people raised in impoverished circumstances have spent a lifetime depriving themselves of luxuries and necessities in order to build a nest egg they hope will protect them from future catastrophes.

The focus of frugality shifts over time. As people age, they fixate more and more on the habit of deprivation rather than building security or the ultimate benefits of their sacrifice. Once a means to an end, saving money (or, more accurately, hoarding it) becomes a goal unto itself.

 

[dougtrr2]

My in-laws are very "frugal". The only way I can deal with it is to think of it as, their hobby is saving money and getting bargains. They came to visit us, a 4-5 hour drive. While we were visiting my father in law told me how they burned off the rough at his golf course and he and his friend collected a lot of golf balls. He was pretty proud of the fact that he got a five gallon bucket full of golf balls. But the kicker was, they had to leave early to go home because he a a coupon for a dozen free golf balls at the outlet mall.


Doug in SW IA

 

[reb]

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.

A good part of that garden is the quality of the output. Much, if not most, of the fruit and vegetables you get at the store are inferior to what you can grow yourself. I have never found store bought canned peaches which compare favorably with home processed. Some factory canned foods are equivalent, tho.

Guess that doesn't fall under frugality.

 

[teejk]

A good part of that garden is the quality of the output. Much, if not most, of the fruit and vegetables you get at the store are inferior to what you can grow yourself. I have never found store bought canned peaches which compare favorably with home processed. Some factory canned foods are equivalent, tho.

Guess that doesn't fall under frugality.

I've seen a big resurgence in home canning around here. Same for quilting. I don't think it's a "frugal" thing or even a quality thing. It's just a hobby. Friends of mine still plant potatoes and onions even though local potatoes can be found for $10 for 50lbs. Onions @99 cents for 3 lbs. Yet they still grow their own.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

We still do some canning. Nothing beats homegrown. Yes, i can get some of it cheaper, but usually that cheap stuff is aweful.

Was telling someone at work last week about doing canning, doing our own butchering, canning meats, etc.. I had to google a canner and show him what it was.

You'd be surprised how many don't cook a thing anymore. If they do use their kitchen, it's to heat already prepared foods.

 

[USAFpj]

The only way I can deal with it is to think of it as, their hobby is saving money and getting bargains

Doug- a part of why I started the thread has a little to do with what you said. Searching and finding bargains is one thing, but assuming that all retailers are out to gouge you isn't very healthy, and it can make someone bitter through time. In my rural area, I tend to find someone reliable for a fair price, and I like to build a relationship. Land graders, septic service, vehicle maintenance, electrician, and our local Napa.

My Dad is a bit different. He needed some spark plugs for his truck. On his way from work, he stopped at Advance Auto, Napa, and O'Reillys to check prices... on (4) spark plugs. Once he got the price, he then returned another day and bought them:duh: How much money do you think he saved vs. spent on (4) Champion spark plugs after all of that?