Growing Up with a Tightwad | brokeGIRLrich
Before I really knew what a tightwad was, I had my dad as a pretty good example. I had to laugh when he was spending the day at my newest home, an ancient RV, and helping me fix it up. On his way out the door, he gave me a book so covered in dirt and grime, I could barely read the title. He said he’d had it in his truck for years, but thought I would want to read it.
I wiped the muck off the cover and found my dad had passed on a copy of The Tightwad Gazette to me. I thought the writer would be pretty proud of how dog-eared and gross it was – and the fact that it was still being passed from person to person.
After wiping it down, I started reading it and along the way, I started to wonder what other “tightwad” skills my family has taught me over the years.
My Change Jar
I can’t believe how many people just walk by change on the ground or just pay no attention to the change they receive. Mine goes into a jar, and that goes right to the bank. I’m always surprised by how much winds up in it – it just seems like magic money.
A few years ago, I wrote a post about my plans to travel the world with my change jar. While it hasn’t exactly worked out that way, you can still amass a surprising amount of change over time.
Value
One lesson from my dad that has stuck for years is the ketchup lesson. Going grocery shopping with my mom versus my dad were two very different experiences. Grocery shopping with my mom was just a buy anything you want spree.
Grocery shopping with my dad was an endless lesson in cost comparison and making sure the lowest price was actually the lowest price considering the quantity of servings, etc. I generally hated it. I remember once though, pretty excited that I was sure I had gotten something right, I raced back to the grocery cart with the generic version of ketchup – definitely cheaper by volume. My dad sent me back to grab the Heinz. He said you can always taste a difference and it’s better to buy higher quality items sometimes.
To be honest- I’m not picky about my ketchup. But the moral of the lesson stuck.
Composting
My grandmother used to save everything compostable in a container under the sink and take it out into the backyard garden every day or two. Her garden was amazing and she wasted so much less than anyone I know.
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Love this! Its amazing looking back what our families teach us just by having it be ‘normal’. Love the story about the book, your dad has good taste!
Chris recently posted…Are Water Softeners Worth It?
OMG, my parents were the complete opposite. Spendthrifts who specialised in stupid decisions funded by someone else, like other family members. My grandmother was a champion thrift shopper, though. She also taught me that men’s and women’s items are priced differently, and to make sure that you’re not paying for that. I also have a distant ‘aunt’ who taught me how to stockpile – when there’s a good special on something you use regularly, buy 10. My parents didn’t teach me one damn thing.
Would you post some more about your circus job? Maybe some pics of your RV? That sounds like the weirdest and most wonderful job ever!
This post do remind me of when I was much younger. My grandmother taught me never to walk by a coin on the floor. Up to this very day, I never fail to pick up coins off the ground when I come across them.
Esthy recently posted…How to Get Ahead With Your Pension Pot
I always save up my change, and the grocery store provides endless opportunities to comparison shop (but yes there are some things I buy just on taste). My mother was the one with the “tightwad” skills and she taught me to always think about how long it takes to earn the money before I spend it.
Gary @ Super Saving Tips recently posted…Investing in Infrastructure Now Can Build Your Wealth
I wish my family had taught me *more* about being a tightwad when I was growing up. But nowadays, we teach our son our tightwad ways by recording every cent we spend, saving our change in a change jar, discussing every purchase before we make it, and buying used instead of new whenever possible.
Susanne @ The 76K Project recently posted…Hard Week; Budget Adjustments
As a Pittsburgher, I fully endorse your dad’s value evaluation of Heinz. You really can taste the difference, which makes it hard for me to consume ketchup when I travel outside the region. 😛
Femme Frugality recently posted…Gifts That Give Back
Mine believed in certain brands for electronics … but not so much for other things. One thing I remember was Mum bulking up muesli with lots of plain, budget brand oats to fill it out. (And a few more memories here… http://nzmuse.com/2017/02/asian-parents-taught-money/ )
NZ Muse recently posted…RaboDirect managed funds are no longer. What now?
I actually read this when you first posted and had to think about who was so frugal in my family. I think growing up in the depression made a difference in both of my parents lives. They watched what they spent at all times and then it was instilled in me. I’m glad they did it makes my life more calmer with less worries.
Vickie@Vickie’s Kitchen and Garden recently posted…Menu Plan for the Week of 10/8/17!