Some of you may find it difficult to believe I was raised by a dad who lived during the Depression, but it’s the truth. I was born when my dad was 52. He was born in 1924. You do the math.
Growing up with a father who had lived through the Depression and fought in World War II wasn’t something I really thought much about until I was older and realized not everyone had been brought up the way I was brought up. One of the biggest differences I noticed was that I was “naturally” frugal. The things people did to save money weren’t revolutionary to me because I lived it all through my growing up years.
As I was perusing Pinterest the other day, I ran across an article about Depression Era frugality. I clicked over and read through a rather ridiculous list of money-saving tips, some of which would not have applied back then. (Sometimes the internet is full of nonsense – there’s a Depression Era tip for ya…)
Having grown up with a dad who lived through those years FOR REAL made me realize I had a WAY better list of tips that came naturally to me but could actually help someone who didn’t have the benefit of living with a dad born in 1924. So, here goes…
#1 – Don’t use the lights if you don’t have to, and use the lights with the least amount of bulbs when you do.
We can talk all day long about energy-saving light bulbs, but it’s even cheaper if you just don’t use the lights. When it is daylight, use the natural light by opening up your windows. When you do use the lights, use lamps or the switch with the least amount of bulbs in use. As a kid, I don’t remember having the overhead lights on very much, and if you left a room (even if you were only stepping out for a moment), you better have turned the lights off. (You might think we used candles instead, but my dad only allowed candles in the winter because they give off heat. Yes, really.)
#2 – Utility bills are meant to be a challenge.
Every utility bill that came through my dad’s hands was looked over carefully and scrutinized. There was no mindless paying of bills. If he thought we could lower the bill, we would. The next month would be a challenge to economize beyond what we were already doing.
#3 – Fix it yourself, but have the sense to know when you can’t.
My dad was a farmer who bought older equipment and kept it running himself rather than buying new and hiring someone to keep it running. However, when it came to car repairs, my dad knew when it was time to take it to a shop and let someone else fix it. Being frugal can get expensive when you don’t know what you are doing.
#4 – Every financial decision starts with, “Do we really need it?”
And if we did indeed need it, then how could we go about getting the best deal. There were no impulse buys.
#5 – Live like you don’t have money, and act like you don’t care.
It wasn’t until I was applying for college that I realized we were upper-middle class. I had no idea my dad had managed to amass that kind of stock portfolio and annual income because we didn’t live like we had that kind of money. Yet, we also didn’t live like we didn’t have any money. We lived like it didn’t matter. We lived well below our means, and we weren’t trying to impress anyone (although, my dad did buy a bigger, nicer house when I was in elementary school that I’m pretty sure was sort of a “dream” home for him). We didn’t buy brand new fancy cars or machinery, we didn’t wear designer clothes, and it wasn’t a “woe is me” situation. It just was the way it was.
The people I know who are overly concerned about their financial welfare tend to be people who “feel” poor or grew up “feeling” poor. My guess would be their parents were not quiet about their financial woes, and more than likely tended toward “the-grass-is-always-greener-in-someone-else’s-pasture”. That attitude doesn’t do anyone any financial favors.
#6 – Kids don’t need stuff, they need you.
I remember how badly I wanted a Cabbage Patch doll. I begged my parents for one. They told me to save up and buy it myself. Ugh. Well, I DID! Actually, I saved up and before I got all the money together, I found a knock-off at a craft fair for cheaper, and bought it. And I was happy!
My dad didn’t gave in to whims. He wasn’t swayed by what “all the other kids” were doing. I would like to add that anywhere lots of kids are together for an ongoing amount of time (youth group, public school, corporate classes, etc), you will find a hotbed of covetousness. Kids do not like to be different, and some kids like to point out differences. It can make cracking down on finances quite difficult for parents.
My parents were always very matter-of-fact about what I could and could not have. If I was ever angry about it, I certainly got over it. My parents spent A LOT of time with me. In fact, I pretty much went everywhere with them. I didn’t need stuff because I had them.
#7 – Even splurges were never splurges.
Lest you think my family never bought anything new or never went out to eat or never took vacations, let me dispel that myth right now. However, even something that would be considered a “splurge” was not cause to throw all caution to the wind and spend like there was no tomorrow. Many of our vacations came about because my dad was on various boards and we went with him when he attended the conferences. Things we purchased new were done so after much research and finding of the best deal. (We did go out eat fairly regularly, but my mom was mortified by how little my dad tipped. You can be too frugal.)
#8 – Owe no man.
My dad was a farmer who managed to keep his head above water because he operated with very little debt. He wasn’t living from bank loan to bank loan like many other farmers. He didn’t buy new equipment because new would require him to go into debt. He managed his money well, and did not make foolish purchases. He lived out the Biblical admonition to “owe no man.” He didn’t like the feeling of being beholden to anyone…including a bank. If you never go into debt, you never have to get out of it.
I’ve also posted about how these things specifically affect my own family today and how we manage our finances with a MUCH larger family than I grew up in – you can read that post here. You can also take a look at my other Frugal Living posts here on Raising Arrows, and my Frugal Living board on Pinterest.
Follow Amy Roberts {Raising Arrows}’s board Frugal Living on Pinterest.
Kelly B says
Such wise advice in a time when most people are in some kind of debt and are working just to pay the bills due to their lifestyle (not just normal bills). We must be of the same generation in that I remember wanting a Cabbage Patch doll and having to wait and wait and wait. Eventually a few family members went in together for a doll for Christmas/birthday and it was treasured for MANY years and I know it’s still floating around my parents’ house.
Amy says
I never did own a “real” one, but I’m ok with that. Not sure what happened to mine.
Phyllis says
Both my parents were depression era kids and I learned those very same lessons. I never realized how much their growing up in the depression shaped my viewpoint on life.
Amy says
Growing up with parents old enough to be my grandparents in many ways made me older and wiser beyond my years. My parents had not only lived through tough economic times, but they were older and had more time to explain things to me.
Elise says
My husband and I are young with small children and try to live by these rules even though we really don’t live on a whole lot we never feel too tight because we make sure to live below our means. We are one student loan away from being debt free (we rent) and hope to only have a house payment as debt. I *would* say I struggle with #4. I like clothes… It never puts us in debt but when I’m walking through and see a cute shirt I need to learn to say “no!” because I sure do not need any more! Thanks for the encouragement. We think the competition with our utility bills is fun!
katie says
yep! good stuff!! reminds me of a post I did a while ago on how we paid off our mortgage on one income.
http://mrsscottlapierre.blogspot.com/2014/10/how-we-paid-off-our-mortgage-in-six.html
Julie says
I never got a Cabbage Patch doll either, but my happiest memories in relation to that are of ANY doll that I did receive! I remember being picky as not to the brand or whatever, but it absolutely had to have a vinyl body with no yarn hair because it had to feel like a “real” baby to me. How could I bathe a soft-bodied doll? haha I would dream of that baby all year long , along with other baby items like beds, bottles, and even little washcloths. Do you remember those pretend “milk” and “juice” bottles Amy?
My Dad was born in 1939 and very frugal as well..he was an electrician so every question began and ended with, “Did you turn the light off?” LOL I loved him so much but lost him at age 12 due to an tragic electrical/generator accident. He was very loving, patient,calm, funny, sincere, and the best hugger :)) Oh, and he paid for everything with cash..he was a salesman on the side and would visit with farmers for hours, relating to them the latest specs on his Winpower generators. He came from a farming family of (9) children, so he knew all about farming woes, thrills, and frugality. Mom said he only owned one credit card, a Sinclair one, which he used for gasoline only when we took our two-week long summer vacations. I remember that dinosaur logo on vacations. He would pay it all off when we returned home, in cash. We had NO debt. Work he couldn’t do, he hired out, and had the cash to pay for it. He fixed what he knew how to, mostly electrical stuff, but knew someone with a good deal/price to do what he could not, such as car/mechanics or painting. He documented everything and you know what, I grew up similar to what you described, where we made due without the designer stuff, had everything we needed, but did not make lavish purchases. I remember going out to eat after church and that was definitely a “splurge.” Dad would order barely nothing for himself…maybe just a corn-on-the-cob, because he would tell Mom he would finish what us “picky” kids would leave on our plates. (haha) No need to waste food, he would say. He would “nurse” our green Pontiac station wagon along, as long as it was running well, it was fine. We didn’t do fancy, but did everything that we wanted. Mom was a homemaker, and sewed our outfits for Easter, Christmas, school etc. Loved that!! Plus, she sewed EVERYTHING else, and still does today and loves it! I used to think we were “poor” sometimes because instead of living in a fancy-schmancy sub-division, we lived out in the country..with 70 acres..(haha)..and a new house Dad had built the year I was born, in 1971. We were “country” kids, went blackberry picking and tree-climbing and gravel-road bike riding. Well..I could go on and on Amy but just had to share because as you described your Daddy, it reminded me fondly of mine 🙂 Yes, that is exactly what we did. “WE LIVED LIKE MONEY DIDN’T MATTER.” (but in a good way)
Blessings to you~Thank you for sharing today!!
Your friend,
Julie in MO
Alma Mater says
I did the math. I’m a year older than you. 🙂
I love the insight, especially the part about kids creating an atmosphere of covetousness around each other. If we see it this way, we will be much less inclined to fall into the trap of mistaking their wants for needs. It hasn’t come up for us too much, as we homeschool, and our eldest is only 8. But I really appreciate the perspective.
Also, if they see that we don’t indulge every impulse, but make reasoned, frugal choices for ourselves, they will be much less inclined to argue and pout when the answer is “no” to them.
Mary says
Sounds like my upbringing was a lot like yours. My dad was born in 1917, and was a farmer,my mom was born in 1922. They had me late in life. They have changed their address and are now with The Lord. I was taught that as soon as you buy your car you start saving for your next one. Rinse out ALL containers, your shampoo, soup cans, frozen juice cans, everything. You will be surprised how much is still in there. Envelopes can be used to write notes or color on. I could go on, but you get the idea. I’m thankful for everything they taught me.
Rebecca says
My parents were not depression era, we were raised in the recession of the 70s and our grandparents were depression era. I think we had done and at least heard everything I’ve read here. Lights off when you leave the room, rinse out all bottles, no food waste on plates, no debt, cash only. use up, wear it out or do with out. It’s becoming generational because one of my daughters is married and she is pretty frugal and strict with their money, using what they’ve got, frugal with utilites, etc.
Rebecca says
ps, did you change your format?
Amy says
Yes 🙂 It’s been a long time coming, and it’s going to take some continued tweaking. I’ll make a formal announcement eventually, but one thing of note that I just love is that the butterfly is an E in honor of my little Emily. 🙂
Sandy says
My father was born in 1930 so his early years were the depression years. Now every time I’m with him, I get him talking about how they lived, how they grew their food and raised animals, how the economized, how they used what they had, all about rations and my grandmother’s thriftiness. I love hearing his stories.
Phyllis Sather says
I grew up with parents from the depression too. Don’t forget to wipe off your aluminum foil and wash out your ziploc bags so you can reuse them!
Katie says
Amy –
Thanks for this! My Grandpa would have been 97 this year – he lived life to the fullest. Growing up in the Depression meant you must be very careful with what you have – they never would have considered spending $5+ for a cup of coffee etc. He didn’t have a ton of money but you wouldn’t have know it by how he generously gave / lived. There is so much more to life than money! Oh how I miss him!!!! Heaven will be so WONDERFUL!!!!!
Reggie says
You’re describing MY daddy! HA! I was behind a man at Sam’s Club once who was purchasing a big screen TV. When it came time to pay, he pulled out this massive wad of 100 dollar bills and paid in full in cash. I made the remark that my own daddy was the only other person I knew who would do something like that. He replied, “I figure if I don’t have the money on me, I don’t need to be buying it.” Amen to that!