This frugal family saves their pennies! via Shutterstock
After reading a post on Wise Bread, I was inspired to share some tell-tale signs that you were raised by frugal parents. Both my sister and I have caught ourselves doing, saying, and behaving a certain way because of our parents’ penny pinching teachings. Below are some things that apply to us. See how it compares to you!
- You scoff at the “best by” or “use by” dates on products. Remember I mentioned my family save money on eggs by buying them a couple days before their best by date?
- You were told stories that made your household sound wealthy, by comparison: “When I was a kid, we didn’t have a computer.”
- You had to ask for a doggy bag even though you didn’t have a dog.
- You reheat your coffee for days (or have it cold) till it’s all gone. Mom knows best, right? Right.
- You’ve heard the phrase, “A little mold won’t hurt you. Just cut it off and eat it.” And you do.
- You were forced to shop at thrift stores before it was cool. Now you brag about it. Guilty!
- You head straight for the sales inserts in the Sunday paper.
- You’ve washed foil, paper napkins, plastic wrap and baggies to use them a second or even third time.
- You remember smuggling homemade snacks into matinees and still do.
- You’ll pounce on a penny when you see one on the street.
- Your family holds a contest to guess how much money is in the change jar. Winner keeps the change!
- You ignore the suggested use or recommended quantity directions on most products.
- You save rubber bands and twist-ties. No need for fancy clips to keep bags sealed.
- You can sew a button, darn a sock, or repair a seam. Props if you know how to use a sewing machine.
- You believe that vinegar, baking soda, and lemon are the only household cleaning products anyone really needs.
- You know how to change the oil in your car and your father forced you to spend Saturday mornings helping him change the brakes of his car because it would come in handy when you grew up.
- You picked up cans before going green was trendy.
- You have a secret stash of used, neatly rolled gift wrap from previous holidays and birthdays.
- You cut open toothpaste tubes to get at the last bit of product.
- Most of your furniture was acquired through dumpster-diving, a yard sale, thrift store, or by having your father make it. Yup, he’s handy like that!
- You carry a water bottle everywhere you go to avoid paying $2 for water.
Wait. I’m I the only one who does this? Can’t be. Let me know how you know you were raised by frugal folks in the comments.
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Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
Always pay your credit cards bills on time-IN FULL………if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it! Don’t waste money on on interest fees!
Always head for the sale racks in stores-never pay full price for clothes
@Kathie These are great! Thanks for sharing.
Put a little water in your “empty” shampoo and conditioner bottle to get several more applications. Turn your moisterizer bottles up-side-down to get the last bits.
air-popped popcorn, cheaper & healthier for you!
@fran Till this day we still add water to shampoo, conditioner, laundry and dish detergent. HA! Glad to know we are not the only ones.
Cut open any plastic bottle/container that I can, ketchup, lip gloss etc. Have to admit I’ve hand washed swim diapers (not poopy ones!). Definitely use less laundry detergent than recommended. A washing machine repairman recently told me that most machines can use less detergent and you can use a dryer sheet (like Bounce) two to three times and it’s still effective – actually our pediatrician said he uses his about 4-5 times for sensitive skin issues and it sill works.
Always turn off the lights when you leave a room. Electricity is expensive! We never learned to repair a car’s brakes, but we did have show we could change a tire and unlock the gears (of our ’50 Chevy wagon) before we were allowed to drive it by ourselves! And on it goes. I instilled those same things in my kids, although it didn’t take as well with them as it did with me.
I know that I was raised frugally-duct tape fixed everything! Living frugally has always made sense and I have passed that down to my children. As years passed my parents could afford nicer things but did not splurge often and paid cash for everything. My mom now pays for experiences with family to make memories and not over filled closets.
These were great. Have done a few as a kid and passed on a few as a parent. Here’s another…head to the crushed cans and sliced open boxes, for a discount, at the grocery store.
My Mom shopped on double green stamp day & then used her green stamps to buy birthday gifts!
My Dad said we had to iron at least 3 things or we could turn on the iron!
AND, my Mom tried to bake 3 things at a time too–such as meat loaf, baked potatoes & the dessert!
These are actually funny and brought back some memories! Sunday mornings became a game of who could find the better coupons, my brother or I.
http://www.havedeals.com/blog/
Leftovers were eaten for lunch, dinner or incorporated into another dish. Food was not thrown out.
I pretty much do every single thing you listed. I actually make several hundred dollars a year by recycling and I always carry a 4 oz water bottle in my purse. And I never shop without using lots of coupons!
I don’t reuse gift wrap but we sure do pass around those gift bags! And the tissue paper inside them!
Sometimes I catch myself saying things like “$30 for a pair of jeans?! That’s way too expensive!” lol. After getting used to garage sale and thrift store prices,anything else seems crazy.
I do pretty much everything on the list, but more because I follow the 3 R’s(reduce reuse recycle) than because I’m frugal.
I used to be so embarrassed when I was younger and my Mom would scour the sale racks and take us to garage sales/the salvation army/thrift stores. “Buying other peoples used junk?? People will think we’re poor!” But those are pretty much the only places I shop as an adult.:)
This is my family!! My mom used to bring a plactic baggies in her purse and bring home our leftovers when we didn’t finish our food when we were out to eat at the mall food court. I also heard a lot, “you can eat when we get home” since we almost never ate out. My frugal mom actually inspired a post series on my blog that I just started. Looks like we both had frugal families 🙂
Our dog food was leftovers when we cleaned out the frig.
If we go out to dinner, lunch or breakfast, a coupon usually accompanies the visit. Also you can buy a gift card at a grocery store where you will get points off on gas to pay for your meal. I cut my fabric softener sheets in half.