Reminiscing - What I Remember and What I do!

 Hello all.  It is about to be a nasty weather day here.  I know many have already had nasty stuff going on.  It is very windy here, with a tornado watch until noon.  Storms have flown through as I type this.  Major wind gusts and lots of rain.  Skies are black!  It was72* when I got up at 6AM.  Now it is 63*.  Tomorrow morning will likely be 40* less than this morning!!!!!

I truly hope those in the affected areas are safe and stay safe.

Yesterday I watched a Vlog talking about things people used to do, that they no longer do.  I had to chuckle, as I still do them.  I live very much below my means (my choice).  I don't really care about stuff.  I do not have a fondness for travel, so I stay home a lot.  This is me - what you see and what I write is authentic.

Here we go.  Remember these are my memories, and I know not everyone grew up this way.  I was born in 1954 - the last of a family of 6 kids.  All were quite a bit older - so they and my folks truly remembered tough times.  I remember things being simple - but thought that was just how things were.  No one really had a ton of stuff (except a few).  I was happy.

• We grew a good part of our food and put it away for the winter months.  Dad also liked to fish, he wasn't a big hunter.  They did have chickens, rabbits and goats when the others were younger
• My parents had a budget, and they knew where every penny was to go.  Dad was the main bread winner - mom only had a part time job now and then.  She did sewing at home for others very often.  So, one income for the most part.
• Entertainment was pretty much free stuff.  No one shopped when they were 'bored'.  We play games, played outdoors, had homemade birthday dinners and cakes, picnics, etc.
• WHEN my parents bought something new - it was quality.  They knew it would last and not need to be replaced any time soon.  Today, everything seems to be throw away - you really need to do research to get quality.
• NO credit cards.  They didn't exist much back then.  My parents paid cash for everything.  No payday loan companies, no CC's, no shopping on a whim.  If you wanted something and didn't have enough funds - you used lay-away!  We always had a Christmas Club account for holiday spending. Mom would get a part time job sometimes, to have a little extra money for Christmas or to pay on something they were saving for.  She worked at Ayres (dept. store) downtown or worked at the bakery a couple blocks away - she would work the 4PM - midnight shift at the bakery and walk home!
• Along those same lines - they had no debt and didn't want any!  They did pay for the house on a contract ($4,800!).  If they needed a new appliance or bought a new car - they saved and paid cash.  When my parents went into business for themselves in the late 60's - they were given a line of credit, which they never used.  They paid for everything (with their little savings) to get started.  Times were lean, but they had a big goal.  I remember daddy trying to get a CC in the 70's, because they were taking a trip to Florida (a first) and wanted a little security.  He had a hard time getting it, because he always paid cash and really had no credit.
• Community was huge.  Neighbors looked out for each other - people babysat, watched out for other's kiddos, helped if someone needed something mechanical done, brought dinner when someone was really ill.........
• Fixed everything.  Shoes were repaired, clothes mended, fixed the car or the mower if it went out
• We had one car!  Mom never did learn to drive.  We would make trips downtown on the bus.  Otherwise, daddy took us when he wasn't working
• Mom cooked at home.  She pretty much made 3 meals a day every day.  Lunch was light, something simple.  We didn't go out to eat.  I remember the first-time having pizza (not homemade), was with a friend's family at a small restaurant.  It was exciting but I still remember thinking moms was better!  Maybe a couple times a summer we went to A&W for a frosty mug of root beer or stopped for an ice cream or malt at Linders - but those were treats.  I was in high school before I ever had anything from fast food.  I also remember we didn't buy pop; we had water, milk, tea or Kool-Aid.  One time a summer daddy would get a case of Nehi bottled drinks - they had to last all summer, and they were a very special treat!
• They saved back 'something' FIRST.  ALWAYS.  It may not have been a lot, but they saved.
• They spent less than they earned - just how it was.
• Took care of things themselves.  Yard work, mowing, gardens, shopping, cooking, cleaning - we never thought about hiring someone for those things
• Used the library.  You didn't have the opportunity to look things up on a computer for a school project - you went to the library and researched it
• We went to the grocery once a week - mom had a very strict budget she set for herself.  No stopping at a store whenever there was a 'desire' for something

These are just some of the main things I remember, and many/most I still do.  I absolutely hate debt.  With buying our small home and buying our first and only new vehicle - we paid them off as quickly as possible.  We both came into the marriage with some debt (stupid stuff) and paid it off and vowed to keep debt minimal from then on.  We concentrated on saving for a time in life that we kind of knew was inevitable (Glen being unable to work).  We neither one made a lot of money, we just managed what we had well.  That is still serving me well.

We had fun, just not expensive fun.  We had friends we did things with, we camped, had get togethers, wondered Indiana, just spent quality time together.  That was all that was truly important.

Do you still do any of the lifestyle that your parents did or that your grandparents did?

Do you have other memories, that bring a smile to your face?

Let us take a trip down memory lane!

Have a blessed day!