Can we ever change where we came from?

Marisco

AubreyMac wrote: »

I didn't see the OP as boasting, but just mentioning that we all have our own 'cheapskate' ways that's ingrained in us, hence the question of can this change.

Mentioning the wealth was a way of stating that she/he could easily buy new sheets but choose to fix what they had instead.

I have a friend that I consider wealthy but she is the most stingiest person I know, she wears rags that other people have thrown out. But then that's why she is rich because she doesn't spend on anything.

No neither did I, but I can see how the post would irritate the hell out of anyone really struggling to make ends meet. I think there is a big difference between being careful, and being miserly, especially if your getting on a bit, I just can't stand tightwads!! If you have money and are getting on, then you should enjoy it, as the old saying goes "there's no pockets in shrouds"!!

Mr_Toad

thorsoak wrote: »

Frankly Firgitude, I just read scorn and envy in your posts - you are fixated on the comments about wealth now, not about the things that they did to overcome poverty then, and how old habits die hard.

Ditto.

You overlook the fact that the OP ended up comfortably off by hard work and a desire to be able to have a worry free retirement.

It all depends on your definition of wealth. My definition is having enough money not to have to work. I have enough to pay the bills but not too much.

Most people don't have 'wealth' handed to them on a plate, they have to work and make sacrifices and those habits die hard. You don't get rich by giving your money to people trying to sell you stuff you can do without, they do.

A group of us were talking about this some weeks ago, I too took early retirement two years ago at 55 and am the envy of my hard working friends. I did it because I realised that I could. I had paid off the mortgage and had no other debts, no outstanding credit card payments, no loans, nothing. I was earning a really good salary and most of it was piling up in the bank, so, when they were looking for people to take voluntary redundancy and handing out two years salary and pension enhancements I took it.

It made me realise that to those around me I must seem well off and I am, but only because I'm happy to live well within my means. If I spent money like some of my friends I'd be in real trouble in no time at all.

It's amazing how far money goes when you don't have people dipping into your bank account every month taking £30 for a mobile contract, £50 for Sky, hundreds for a mortgage, credit card payments, hundreds for car payments, the list goes on.

All I see in your posts is resentment.

What I see in the OPs post is someone who had nothing and through hard work has built a nice life and finds herself puzzled by the fact despite having money and property she's mending sheets instead of binning them and buying new.

purpleshoes_2

Just because someone has been brought up in tough times doesn't mean they can't spend a pound or two on a new bedsheet.

Loads of people are frugal, there are loads of posters including myself who have signed up to a not buying it challenge on the old style boards.

However, if something really needed replaced, I'd replace it. I don't have much spare cash hence having to watch every penny, however if I had as much money as the op seems to I'd buy a new sheet and rag the old one at a recycling facility.

Why feel guilty for spending cash on a new bedsheet when you have it to spend and the old one is worn?

LandyAndy

I just saw the OP as an example of 'old habits die hard' and it needed the contrast between now and then to make sense.


*boast alert*:cool:


I am comfortably off now but still do money saving things that I have no 'need' to.

Marisco

LandyAndy wrote: »

I just saw the OP as an example of 'old habits die hard' and it needed the contrast between now and then to make sense.


*boast alert*:cool:


I am comfortably off now but still do money saving things that I have no 'need' to.

I think we all do LA, but would you actually darn sheets/socks, turn collars, always buy the cheapest everything etc? :eek: Those sort of things are just a step too far IMO, when there is no need for it. It's a very small step from being careful, to being a card carrying tightwad, you need to be constantly on your guard, otherwise you'll end up a right miser!

Errata

I wish I had some bedroom action that wore a hole in a sheet.

DUKE

Leather patches? :eek: I always associated them with rich people & longed to have them when I was young, seriously

CathA

We were never well off as kids, I always knew if we had shepherds pie for Sunday dinner, rather than a proper roast, it was a tight week for money so don't ask for anything. I always worry about money, even though we are both working and only have few outgoings. I think that how you were in childhood shapes you in future life, hence why when you get older and better off it's hard to change your outlook!
Even now, I will always cut toothpaste tubes to get the last out, moisturiser bottles are always standing on end when they're getting empty, as is sauce bottles. Clothes are graded on 'going out clothes', then 'tidy enough for round the house' clothes, down graded to 'decorating/gardening clothes', then down to 'dog bed' clothes. I've got a pair of shorts my mum made me when I was 14, still try them on once a year, just to prove they still fit!! I've got jumpers older than my eldest and she's 26, plenty of life left in them yet!!
Could I buy new clothes-yes. Do I need new clothes-no. Just me I guess.

Savvy_Sue

bouicca21 wrote: »

My mum used to know the price of everything on her shopping list in all the major supermarkets and would go from one to another accordingly.

:rotfl: Mine knew the price of everything on her shopping list in all the local supermarkets and used to send us from one to another accordingly ...

I don't remember Mum ever turning sheets, but we had turned sheets at school (boarding school). Not that comfortable.

I have NEVER been sufficiently desperate to darn socks, although I have darned other things and can do it very neatly.

Tomcatsmum

CathA wrote: »

We were never well off as kids, I always knew if we had shepherds pie for Sunday dinner, rather than a proper roast, it was a tight week for money so don't ask for anything. I always worry about money, even though we are both working and only have few outgoings. I think that how you were in childhood shapes you in future life, hence why when you get older and better off it's hard to change your outlook!
Even now, I will always cut toothpaste tubes to get the last out, moisturiser bottles are always standing on end when they're getting empty, as is sauce bottles. Clothes are graded on 'going out clothes', then 'tidy enough for round the house' clothes, down graded to 'decorating/gardening clothes', then down to 'dog bed' clothes. I've got a pair of shorts my mum made me when I was 14, still try them on once a year, just to prove they still fit!! I've got jumpers older than my eldest and she's 26, plenty of life left in them yet!!
Could I buy new clothes-yes. Do I need new clothes-no. Just me I guess.

This post made me laugh as I could have written it myself. At the moment in the kitchen and bathroom I have upside down bottles to squeeze the last drop out of detergents etc. My eldest is 17 and I have shoes older than him that are still fit for purpose. Having grown up poor it is very difficult to change my money pinching ways and to be honest I don't think I ever will. Incidentally both myself and dh work full time and have good jobs so dont really need to be frugal.