I can definitely relate to being frugal and consciously weighing the costs of my decisions.
I think if I were single, I'd still be pretty content living in a small apartment and have the bare minimum of stuff around me. When I do prioritize "splashing" on some stuff, it's always when I think there's a specific practical function to that cost. So I'd never e.g. pay extra for a computer because it has a flashy design or looks sleek - but I'd be comfortable spending more on it being faster,, having more storage, and other functional stuff I actually need out of it.
I'm not sure if this is the product of my Soviet upbringing. Like you, I grew up not really having to worry about surviving tomorrow. We were also a middle-class family. But I also watched some family members and people around me spend more than they could afford on things and it was often even somebody else's money that they borrowed or got. This probably instilled some form of appreciation for being content with stuff that does the job instead of overspending.
It's weird that we could be so far apart (and under two very different regimes), but have such a similar experience, at least insofar as having what we needed and seeing others around us misbehaving (or just making poor decisions, really).
Having kids changes everything, and it's certainly not the time for the same sort of frugality you might use if you're still a solo act. Same goes for furbabies, too - they have always been one of my main expenses! Of course, you get quite a bit back from that sort of investment, just like your example of faster speed or more memory (vs just arbitrary "looks cool bro").
Yeah for sure. Having kids (or animals you love, etc.) definitely changes the calculus quite a bit. Because now you're not just spending money on "The Thing" but more on the experience you and your loved ones can have with "The Thing," whether it's a vacation or a movie or a new game, etc.
So you're spending money on creating positive memories and sharing the wealth with others in a very real sense.
I also grew up in a frugal household and I, too, lacked for nothing. For instance, I never had the Atari consoles that my friends had. But that didn't matter because, well, my friends had Atari consoles!
Yes! When the Sega systems came out and my folks splurged on a Nintendo one year, there was much back-and-forth across the street for both of us.
This was the way with bigger GI Joe toys, too: one kid in every middle class 'hood would end up with the aircraft carrier, maybe, and the other kids would bring their toys over to add to the party. I guess we learned to be social by playing with other kids who had things we didn't, and we might be throwing out the baby w/the bathwater by letting today's kids have whatever they want.
I try not to waste money and this serves me well. I can always buy what I need. My parents grew up in the Depression and I am very grateful for everything they taught me. I LOVE your writing. Please keep posting photos of your adorable little Dinkle! ♥️
Thanks so much, Jan! I feel very connected to the generation that lived through the Depression. I think about those times quite a bit. I'm glad you are enjoying the writing an the Dink-Dink pics!
Do you have to kind of correct yourself every now and then? I find myself needing little reminders about my present lack of scarcity vis a vis certain things, like holes in socks and such. OTOH, I like holes.
Ha! And yes. I drive a very expensive car yet find myself breaking out my calculator at the grocery store to see which is cheaper this week: the six pack of soda or the 10 pack. All to save about 6 cents 🤣
My dad was depression kid and his parents store got flooded out in Pittsburgh. He lived on peanut butter and ramen to get through college on the GI bill. My mom was worse off in a sense - refugee from the nazis and while she was upper middle class in Austria they lost everything coming here. So for sure that got passed on to me but now that I’ve gone through the kids and the big job and they’re now both gone. I feel a little different. You can’t take it with you.
I can definitely relate to being frugal and consciously weighing the costs of my decisions.
I think if I were single, I'd still be pretty content living in a small apartment and have the bare minimum of stuff around me. When I do prioritize "splashing" on some stuff, it's always when I think there's a specific practical function to that cost. So I'd never e.g. pay extra for a computer because it has a flashy design or looks sleek - but I'd be comfortable spending more on it being faster,, having more storage, and other functional stuff I actually need out of it.
I'm not sure if this is the product of my Soviet upbringing. Like you, I grew up not really having to worry about surviving tomorrow. We were also a middle-class family. But I also watched some family members and people around me spend more than they could afford on things and it was often even somebody else's money that they borrowed or got. This probably instilled some form of appreciation for being content with stuff that does the job instead of overspending.
It's weird that we could be so far apart (and under two very different regimes), but have such a similar experience, at least insofar as having what we needed and seeing others around us misbehaving (or just making poor decisions, really).
Having kids changes everything, and it's certainly not the time for the same sort of frugality you might use if you're still a solo act. Same goes for furbabies, too - they have always been one of my main expenses! Of course, you get quite a bit back from that sort of investment, just like your example of faster speed or more memory (vs just arbitrary "looks cool bro").
Yeah for sure. Having kids (or animals you love, etc.) definitely changes the calculus quite a bit. Because now you're not just spending money on "The Thing" but more on the experience you and your loved ones can have with "The Thing," whether it's a vacation or a movie or a new game, etc.
So you're spending money on creating positive memories and sharing the wealth with others in a very real sense.
It might still count as time arbitrage if you are creating memories for the future.
Maybe all that time in the spank bank in middle school was not wasted after all.
I also grew up in a frugal household and I, too, lacked for nothing. For instance, I never had the Atari consoles that my friends had. But that didn't matter because, well, my friends had Atari consoles!
Yes! When the Sega systems came out and my folks splurged on a Nintendo one year, there was much back-and-forth across the street for both of us.
This was the way with bigger GI Joe toys, too: one kid in every middle class 'hood would end up with the aircraft carrier, maybe, and the other kids would bring their toys over to add to the party. I guess we learned to be social by playing with other kids who had things we didn't, and we might be throwing out the baby w/the bathwater by letting today's kids have whatever they want.
I try not to waste money and this serves me well. I can always buy what I need. My parents grew up in the Depression and I am very grateful for everything they taught me. I LOVE your writing. Please keep posting photos of your adorable little Dinkle! ♥️
Thanks so much, Jan! I feel very connected to the generation that lived through the Depression. I think about those times quite a bit. I'm glad you are enjoying the writing an the Dink-Dink pics!
I was raised in a very similar way and have the same feelings.
Do you have to kind of correct yourself every now and then? I find myself needing little reminders about my present lack of scarcity vis a vis certain things, like holes in socks and such. OTOH, I like holes.
Ha! And yes. I drive a very expensive car yet find myself breaking out my calculator at the grocery store to see which is cheaper this week: the six pack of soda or the 10 pack. All to save about 6 cents 🤣
My dad was depression kid and his parents store got flooded out in Pittsburgh. He lived on peanut butter and ramen to get through college on the GI bill. My mom was worse off in a sense - refugee from the nazis and while she was upper middle class in Austria they lost everything coming here. So for sure that got passed on to me but now that I’ve gone through the kids and the big job and they’re now both gone. I feel a little different. You can’t take it with you.
P.S. The punk picture of you is just great!!!