Comments on: Finding Your Way Home

By: LauraGrace

LauraGrace — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:52:00 +0000

This is a fantastic post — I’ve been feeling the same way. My parents had a huge garden, bought meat from a rancher once a year, made everything from scratch, and cut corners whenever possible. They were both raised by folks who had lived through the agonizing privations of the Depression, and they (thankfully) were diligent in passing along the skills they learned during those times to my parents, who in turn passed them down to me.

Unfortunately, it’s taken me almost eight years of living on my own to figure out how to apply those lessons! This recession is just the kick in the pants I needed to get going with frugality.

By: Cory

Cory — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:35:52 +0000

When I was in my late teens it was clear that my father was living in the past and squandering his time. He just didn’t get it. It was a rare event if I ever asked his advice.

It’s amazing how smart he has become in the 20 years since and I fear the day he passes away and I no longer have his wisdom to draw on the way I do now almost daily.

By: Courtney@BooksnBoys

Courtney@BooksnBoys — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:25:43 +0000

Great post Trent! It made me think of yesterday when I called my mom to go shopping with me – (“Shoppers is doing triple coupons, wanna go?”). It seems from your post and many of the comments that age/maturity also has a lot to do with being frugal or not.

By: Grant Baldwin

Grant Baldwin — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:22:46 +0000

Great post…

Good reminder of how my own actions with money affects my children, perhaps in an indirect way. We are pretty frugal and pay close attention to our finances, so I hope my daughters see the value of how their parents handle money.

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:16:43 +0000

I would also appreciate the tomato hints along with some other gardening tips. Last year we did a potted tomato plant and some peppers and herbs. Going to try to do more this year.

By: partgypsy

partgypsy — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:24:26 +0000

There are some things that I admire about my parents, but financial advice unfortunately is not one of them. For me it is going back to how my grandmother and grandparents lived to draw inspiration for living a quality life in a frugal manner.

By: CPA Kevin

CPA Kevin — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:07:45 +0000

Like gsb and Sara said above, I think it’s only natural for children to rebel and “try something different” than their parents are doing. I certainly did, but quickly realized that my free spending ways of my early 20s were not sustainable. Luckily, I had their example to fall back on.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:34:43 +0000

How about those gardening techniques? I would love to hear your father’s tips about the tomatoes! ….and any advice for other prolific crops!

By: getagrip

getagrip — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:43:51 +0000

Of course, all this assumes the habits our parents had while we grew up were frugal and were smart. Sometimes you do have to step away and find your own path.

By: Sara at On Simplicity

Sara at On Simplicity — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 06:03:05 +0000

I think we’ve all got to go through that phase where we break away before we can come back to the habits we grew up with. I’ve always had a healthy respect for my parents’ collective wisdom, but it’s nice to be able to put in action now that I’m an adult. (Adults still get to have fun, right?)

It’s also been interesting to find out ways in which I’m frugal like my parents and in other ways, like my grandparents. The differences are surprising and unexpected!

By: jan

jan — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:30:29 +0000

Very worthwhile post. Since I am addicted to reading, I find the public library the best bargain around. Besides the free books, newspapers and magazines, it is a great place to write and do quiet work. Ours even has a coffee shop (not free), but great ambiance.

My other trick is to allow myself only so much money (cash) a week. It has been an amazing experience. I think twice before buying an expensive latte or eating out. At the end of the week, if I have any left, I put it aside for something special.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 01:35:12 +0000

I hear ya, Trent. Despite my dad’s best efforts to teach me to avoid debt, I strayed from the path in my late twenties. I found out how smart he is, and have been a much more willing student in my early thirties.

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:41:30 +0000

How about a post written with your dad on those gardening tips for big production in the garden? We would love to hear some of his advice. Thanks.

By: Sue

Sue — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:34:55 +0000

What a neat post, Trent. Your parents must be proud of what you are doing with your life and feel good about what you gained from their example.

By: jana

jana — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:30:16 +0000

hehe, this is spot on. i do the same thing, ie talking about these things with my family more now (i give them advice on price comparisons on the internet, they give me cooking advice, etc.). i have not viewed it as a way of connecting to my roots but it is exactly it!

By: dougis

dougis — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:23:32 +0000

Great post Trent,
I can’t help but recall a conversation my father and I had many years ago (I was about 13 or 14 at the time and am in my early 40s now).

He said “Son, your mom and I are going to get progressively more stupid over the next few years, then suddenly one day down the line we will make one heck of a comeback”

I didn’t think much of it at the time, but in hindsight I can tell how prophetic he was.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:02:53 +0000

Please Please Please – tell us about the tomatos! We were just discussing that this morning – growing a vegetable garden. It’s something I need to learn.

By: STL Mom

STL Mom — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:41:49 +0000

As Mark Twain put it:
“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:19:27 +0000

One of the best things I’ve found for “getting back to my roots” is BBQ. I recommend it for anyone who loves cooking and relaxing. You’re basically taking some of the worst (and therefore cheapest) cuts of meat, and through time and patience, turning them into some of the best tasting stuff you can eat.

It takes me 12 hours to cook a brisket to perfection, but when I’m done, I’ve got enough food for days. Plus, it really brings you back to the “this is the way the pioneers had to do it” mentality. I even buy in bulk and cook up to 50 lbs. of meat at once, vacuum sealing it and freezing. When I cut open those bags in the winter, it tastes like it just came off the smoker.

By: Studenomics

Studenomics — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:04:32 +0000

It’s funny because 3 years ago I was in my first year of college with the mindset that you only live once so no point to save every penny. I used to eat out always and buy the newest gadgets. When someone told me about measures they took to save money I thought they were “cheap.” Now I am fairly frugal, I still travel and try to enjoy myself but I focus on saving money in any way I can. Now when someone tells me about foolishly spending money I just shake my head.

Also I wish my parents were as frugal as yours. My father is but my mother is not. She’s not a big spender either, she just isn’t good at saving money. I feel like the parent because I am always reminding her not to buy things that we don’t really need.