Thanks, Dad

My Dad was around during the great depression. He was just a kid, but I think the depression made a huge impact on him. Without mincing words, let me say he was extremely frugal. Nothing was wasted. Food that most families would throw out, we ate, barely noticing the funny taste.

We would drive about an hour into the country to get eggs from a farm. We also drove about an hour and a half north to Ripon, Wisconsin to get factory seconds from Ripin’ Good Cookies. Another farm had cheap apples. We’d buy them by the bushel and be eating apples, apple pie and apple upside down cake for months.

We never went to Disney World or anything like that for vacation. We went camping, again, because it was cost effective. Or, we visited relatives who somehow made their homes accommodate my father and anywhere from 6-10 kids, and sometimes my mom.

He never bought anything on credit, except the two different homes we grew up in. This meant driving around in old cars, something that I always felt embarrassed about as a kid. My father was also practical to a fault. He did not care how things looked, for instance the old cars.

If they would start to rust, he’d sand the spot, slap on the bondo, and then spray paint over with whatever color of paint he had on hand. That would stop the rust, and that’s what really mattered.

Growing up with frugal parents gave me the ability to appreciate
things. Everything was “dear” as my Canadian parents would say, meaning precious or costly. Nothing was taken for granted. I am so glad I grew up that way. It helped me understand delayed gratification. I actually have savings! I also learned how to alleviate boredom without spending
a lot. Believe me, if you have ever sat amongst 7 of your siblings in a Dodge Station wagon for hours of highway driving, you would come to love reading and “I spy” games. Thanks Dad!

—Roxy