It’s been a long time since I confessed my morning person tendencies. Since my audience is expanding, and there are new readers out there (Thank You!), I figured I would give another peak into the quirks that make-up the real me.
I am … a saver.
Given a choice of saving or spending, saving wins most of the time. You know that stimulus package that put a extra $40 a month into our paychecks? Emergency fund. My new part time job salary? IRA and mortgage paydown.
Okay, “saver” is a bit generous. “Tightwad” is probably closer to what some of my friends would say. Personally I prefer “fiscally responsible”.
I remember I was a pre-teen when my mom showed me that Rice Krispie treats could be made with store brand “Crispy Rice” and still taste the same! Generics became my friend that day.
I must admit, though, that if I’m bringing items that others will see, I’ll pay for the name brand … and hope I can find a coupon for it! I’m a little ashamed to admit that. I wouldn’t mind if someone brought a generic product to serve me. I’d respect it actually. I guess I’m too afraid of being labeled “cheap”.
It has been 20 years since I saw Amy Dacyczyn of The Tightwad Gazette on Phil Donahue. She was preaching to the choir with me. Her newsletter (I was a subscriber) and books (I check them out of the library periodically) taught me to be more methodical about it.
I was trying to come up with examples of my fighting in the face of frugality, yet even my most spendthrift ways have had fiscally sound elements!
With the money I received from the sale of a house, I moved for England for two years, living primarily off savings. Mentally it was what I needed. It was the adventure of a lifetime and well worth every penny I spent. That statement is easy to say because before I left I mentally set aside 3 months of living expenses for when I returned home, plus enough to pay cash for a used car. It was scary watching my savings account drop and get closer to the “move home” balance, but I was never tempted to touch those funds.
Squirreling away money comes naturally to me. Squirrel!
Yes, I get teased for not having cable or for stoning my own ballroom gowns (with the help of friends!) to save 50% or not having gone out to lunch in the last 4 years. But all of that meant that a huge cut in pay didn’t result in losing my condo.
I don’t sit at home keeping warm by rubbing two pennies together! I still do things and buy things, I just have the money up front. How un-American!
What are your money memories from growing up? What are some of your frugal tips? I always could use new ones!
Grown Up, Now What? 
I love to save too. Un-American? Funny. Or sad – but true. I drape paper towels over appliances in the kitchen to let them dry so I can resuse them (if they’ve been gently worn) and i rinse out zip lock storage bags and drape them as well. I do it for frugality and for “green” reasons. Seems a waste to use them once. And I use cloth napkins – for two reasons – again for the green reasons – not to go through so many paper products – but also because they’re aesthetically pleasing – pretty, more substantial – and I have a thing for a pretty table setting. Makes me more mindful of what I’m about to eat. Love the squirrel image. Because I tuck my pajamas under my pillow in the morning – my daughter teases me about “burrowing and scurrying about,” like I hide my treasures underground.
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I hadn’t thought of reusing paper towels. That makes sense. I typically use old white washcloths for all of my cleaning around the house and just wash them in hot water afterwards.
Like you, I wash and reuse ziplock bags. I have noticed that the ones in the stores now aren’t as durable as the ones sold a few years ago.
I also use cloth napkins. They feel nice and look so pretty.
“Squirrel” was my favorite part of the movie “Up”, and so perfectly described my scattered brain. I love that to you it has a different connotation!
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Hi! Found your blog through AllthingsFadra and have really enjoyed your post today. I hate to admit that I’m not a saver, wish I was… We do a lot of baking to save on buying the packaged stuff. And when my daughters trousers get too short, we cut them and turn them into shorts 😉
Raquel
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Thank you so much for stopping by, Raquel.
Homemade cakes always taste better (and are less expensive!) than the packaged kind.
Cut offs were definitely a permanent feature of my childhood. I would grow in 3 – 6 inch spurts, which must have driven my mother crazy.
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