Frugality Reality

In Clare Levison’s book, Frugal Isn’t Cheap, she recalls how her father instilled frugality in her from a very young age. “It’s the family way,” Clare states.

My Childhood Frugality Stories

Who in my past instilled frugality in me? The instillation of the act or virtue of being frugal might come from a family cultural lifestyle descending from hardworking grandparents. My earliest memories of how others were frugal are not any deep rooted events, memories, or even lectures but merely a way of living. Perhaps then if frugality is observed and not taught it might transform itself into an alternative lifestyle as an adult. My grandfather Henry, was a real stickler about proper etiquette and cleaning the food off your plate. My grandfather Julius simply worked hard and I recall visiting him to get shoes at his shoe store. He always seemed to look nice but seem to wear the same sort of things. My grandfather Henry also always looked nice but seemed to be wealthier. So who was frugal? I observed my grandmother Vogler with lots of beautiful laces and trims for her doll clothes business. In fact, she had a mini store of laces and trims in white plastic cases. My grandma Irene just took care of her nine children by cooking and talking to them. When she gave me a Christmas gift it was something small and practical like shampoo. Shampoos were actually considered a luxury back then. Until her death I received no more than $5.00 as a gift. Family gatherings were a big deal with nine children, spouses and grandchildren and were always Dutch style. Every family brought a contribution to the holiday gatherings. The meat was usually taken care of by my grandparents, I think.

My mother canned. My father fished, gardened and hunted for our food. Frugal was about living within your means, using your resources wisely and not having extravagant things. If it wasn’t homemade we didn’t have it. Shopping wasn’t something you did in the early and late 1960’s when I was a little girl. We were not a family to complain. I never saw anyone ever ask for money from anyone. Borrowing things also was never observed so I am thinking what was instilled is not frugality so much as it is if you didn’t have it or need it you learned to do without. I think that you s the behavior instilled in me, “learn and accept with joy to do without.”