Living frugal, practical, saving money and raising healthy children

[DBNH22]

Maybe it's just me but it seems like our society becomes exponentially more shallow, materialistic, and immoral with the passing of each year. The cost of living for the middle class has increased more rapidly than salaries have. As the father of two young children I am trying my best to lead a frugal and practical lifestyle for my children. It's important for me that they grow up knowing that there are things far more important in life than video games, TV shows and shiny material possessions.

I'm interested in what others may be doing to save money, live a frugal and/or practical lifestyle and raise healthy well rounded children as well as what you think of our current day American society in general.

 

[Bobbin]

Kid-free household, here (never wanted kids, and was studiously careful in preventing unwanted conception!).

Make sure your kids learn and MASTER SKILLS (reading, writing,arithmetic) and they master those skills before the "educated" teachers pass them along to the next grade. I admire teachers, but too many are deficient in the basics; the nuts and bolts? those are the all important skills.

I know many teachers. I admire some, have grave concerns about several others, frankly (even though I like them on a personal level). Several "qualified" teachers I know would fail what I consider a very basic english grammar test.

SKILLS. Reading, writing, arithmetic. SKILLS!

 

[BrotherBart]

I know. The country can't last much longer. Kids just want to watch that dang television, talk on the phone and listen to the devil's rock and roll music., Long hair, short skirts and schools teaching that "new math" will be the downfall of us.

Oh wait...

 

[jatoxico]

Maybe it's just me but it seems like our society becomes exponentially more shallow, materialistic, and immoral with the passing of each year. The cost of living for the middle class has increased more rapidly than salaries have. As the father of two young children I am trying my best to lead a frugal and practical lifestyle for my children. It's important for me that they grow up knowing that there are things far more important in life than video games, TV shows and shiny material possessions.

I'm interested in what others may be doing to save money, live a frugal and/or practical lifestyle and raise healthy well rounded children as well as what you think of our current day American society in general.

Not quite what you're asking but one thing I found difficult to accept was when the housing market was going nuts there were a lot of people who were using their houses like ATM's while others lived within their means. After flipping their house for a larger one that they could only afford with a low rate but adjustable loan and/or refinancing to the hilt and using the money on vacations and cars, the chickens came home to roost and some of these folks started bawling about "predatory" lending. No doubt some folks were victims but many many knew what they were doing, they rolled the dice and lost.

So the banks who should've never made those loans to people who couldn't pay got bailed out and many folks who gambled did too, all on the tax payers dime. Meanwhile the people who didn't get caught up in living beyond their means got to pick up the tab. What does that say?

 

[hossthehermit]

Best skill they could master is Bobbin's .................. "studiously careful in preventing conception"

 

[Mrs. Krabappel]

I've made a nice list over there at the teacher roast thread

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Maybe it's just me but it seems like our society becomes exponentially more shallow, materialistic, and immoral with the passing of each year. The cost of living for the middle class has increased more rapidly than salaries have. As the father of two young children I am trying my best to lead a frugal and practical lifestyle for my children. It's important for me that they grow up knowing that there are things far more important in life than video games, TV shows and shiny material possessions.

I'm interested in what others may be doing to save money, live a frugal and/or practical lifestyle and raise healthy well rounded children as well as what you think of our current day American society in general.

Ours would be a rather long list but probably most would not find it to their liking. Although we do from time to time give ourselves a "treat" (like that new car we bought last summer) we still try out best to be frugal. One of the best things is being debt free. That should be a goal for everyone.

 

[begreen]

Frugality used to be a national virtue.

Get this book and read it with them.

http://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Life-Transforming-Relationship/dp/0143115766

 

[Highbeam]

Get a good job with good pay and it is much easier to live within your means. I am making that goal very important to my offspring.

 

[DBNH22]

Ours would be a rather long list but probably most would not find it to their liking. Although we do from time to time give ourselves a "treat" (like that new care we bought last summer) we still try out best to be frugal. One of the best things is being debt free. That should be a goal for everyone.

Well I'm interested in what's on your list. It's one of the reasons that I started this thread. There may be some things on it that may be beneficial to the rest of us.

Being debt free is great but this nation is predicated upon the notion that we cannot be happy without certain things and unfortunately many of these things are beyond attainment for the average person without incurring debt.

 

[mass_burner]

We need a new super-hero for kids, Cheapo-Man and all his exploits at saving money and sticking it to the man.

 

[begreen]

This nation was founded with frugality being a respected and patriotic principal. Just because recent leadership says spending is patriotic doesn't make it so. We stayed mostly debt free (only a mortgage) raising two kids and putting them through college by living within our means. That meant putting up with older furniture, in the early years buying at thrift stores, doing our own repairs, heating with wood, not eating out much and not buying prepared meals, growing our own food in summer, canning, etc.. As we got older our incomes improved and we bought a car first to establish credit, then paid it off early. Then we bought a house at a good price in a great neighborhood. When we sold the house it had appreciated about 300%. That allowed us to buy our current house. We worked toward paying off the mortgage 7 yrs. early by sticking to the same principals.

For sure, at times we were lucky, but we kept an eye out and took advantage of opportunities as they came up too. Debt isn't horrible but it should be used only when needed to leverage one's economic position and only at low interest rates.

 

[mass_burner]

Two things I notice, admittedly not a scientiifc sampling. Folks who are frugal or went through tough times in their formative years always want better for their kids, but it seems these kids are the ones who take everything for granted and cannot live frugally. Also, kids who whose formative years were those of prosperity, are more likely to live on more debt and comsumerism. I was shocked a little while back to hear that alot of kids out of college would rather return to living with their parents instead of getting out on their own cause they didn't want to interrupt thier standard of living, cable TV, big screens, phone plans, cars etc. At 18, I was gone and never looked back.

 

[begreen]

Although my parents went through the great depression, growing up in the 60s I never knew hard times or poverty. My dad owned his own successful mechanical contracting business. It seems to me that this is more a matter of critical thinking and common sense. Our kids are pretty frugal right now too, out of necessity. They are not making a whole lot of money.

 

[mass_burner]

It seems to me that this is more a matter of critical thinking and common sense.

I think of it like obesity, folks who overeat know its making them fat and unhealthy, but they do it anyway for whatever reason. Its not a lack of intellect or common sense. Its pretty simple, eat less, exercise. They just don't want to do it. Same with living within your means: want less, spend less. They just don't want to.

 

[DBNH22]

Two things I notice, admittedly not a scientiifc sampling. Folks who are frugal or went through tough times in their formative years always want better for their kids, but it seems these kids are the ones who take everything for granted and cannot live frugally. Also, kids who whose formative years were those of prosperity, are more likely to live on more debt and comsumerism. I was shocked a little while back to hear that alot of kids out of college would rather return to living with their parents instead of getting out on their own cause they didn't want to interrupt thier standard of living, cable TV, big screens, phone plans, cars etc. At 18, I was gone and never looked back.

We've infantilized our children. One sign of this is the recent healthcare law. Young adults now can remain on their parents health insurance until they are 26 years of age. Contrast with this with an individual who grew up in the early 20th century. By the age of twenty-six they would have long ago moved out of mom and dad's house. They'd most likely have a home of their own, be married and have children. Some may argue that it's a reflection of the financial realities of today which are much harsher than they were for previous generations of young adults. However this is not completely true. We're now coddling our children at very young ages. We've stopped keeping score in youth sports because we're afraid little Tommy's feelings might get hurt and he might not think he's "special" anymore. There are many othjer such examples of how we're sheltering our children from life.

We're engendering a very ugly sense of entitlement in our children. I often get criticized for criticizing others' parenting. "Who are you to judge?" But that's the new norm today with regard to parenting or anything else. All behaviors are equally acceptable and moral. Judgement, shame, those are just bad words used by intolerant people.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

We've infantilized our children. One sign of this is the recent healthcare law. Young adults now can remain on their parents health insurance until they are 26 years of age. Contrast with this with an individual who grew up in the early 20th century. By the age of twenty-six they would have long ago moved out of mom and dad's house. They'd most likely have a home of their own, be married and have children. Some may argue that it's a reflection of the financial realities of today which are much harsher than they were for previous generations of young adults. However this is not completely true. We're now coddling our children at very young ages. We've stopped keeping score in youth sports because we're afraid little Tommy's feelings might get hurt and he might not think he's "special" anymore. There are many othjer such examples of how we're sheltering our children from life.

We're engendering a very ugly sense of entitlement in our children. I often get criticized for criticizing others' parenting. "Who are you to judge?" But that's the new norm today with regard to parenting or anything else. All behaviors are equally acceptable and moral. Judgement, shame, those are just bad words used by intolerant people.

I agree with a lot of what you said, but in 1900, 26 was about mid life (no joke). times before that, kids went to work in factories before they were teens. Where do you draw that line?

I don't have kids, so I try not to criticize out of ignorance.

 

[Grisu]

One of the best things is being debt free. That should be a goal for everyone.

Being debt free is great but this nation is predicated upon the notion that we cannot be happy without certain things and unfortunately many of these things are beyond attainment for the average person without incurring debt.

Everyone being debt free means also everyone being savings free. Still something to aspire to?

Cheapo-Man and all his exploits at saving money and sticking it to the man.

And who is carrying the debt for the saved money?

 

[Adios Pantalones]

 

[Badfish740]

We've infantilized our children... We're now coddling our children at very young ages. We've stopped keeping score in youth sports because we're afraid little Tommy's feelings might get hurt and he might not think he's "special" anymore. There are many othjer such examples of how we're sheltering our children from life.

We're engendering a very ugly sense of entitlement in our children. I often get criticized for criticizing others' parenting. "Who are you to judge?" But that's the new norm today with regard to parenting or anything else. All behaviors are equally acceptable and moral. Judgement, shame, those are just bad words used by intolerant people.

As my dad would say, "Are you French? What's with all this "we" stuff?" I'm 32 years old. I wasn't coddled, I never played a hockey or baseball game that didn't have a winner and a loser, and I bought my first home at age 27 and became a father for the first time at 30. I worked my way through high school and college, paid for it on my own, bought my first car myself, paid for my gas, insurance, etc... My children will be expected to do the same. Society doesn't raise your kids, you do-take responsibility for your own children and don't worry about what others do with theirs.

I also feel compelled to add that I didn't get to where I am solely on my own. I was helped along the way by parents, friends, family, a good school system, a strong community, great teachers, a publicly funded community college, government grants and subsidized loans. The OP launched right into the healthcare law as a reason why "we" are giving our kids a sense of entitlement. Despite all of the "handouts" I received which helped get me where I am today I have a strong work ethic. I attribute this mostly to my parents. You can sit around and bellyache about the country going to hell in a handbasket all you want. It won't change anything. What you can do is keep your head down, work hard, and worry about yourself.

 

[mass_burner]

Of course we're all speaking anecdotally here, nothing fits across the board.

Also, alot has to do with the economic circumstances of the times you grew up in. For example, Badfish740 finished high school and went onto college in one of the best economic times in American history. Had it been a different time, there would have been no job to get while in high school/college and home interest rates may have priced him out of the market. Not to imply that Badfish740 wouldn't have prospered anyway, just sayin that some folks get stronger head winds than others and you need to factor that in. Like someone said, its not how high you are, its how far you've climbed to get there that shows chararcter.

 

[BrotherBart]

Maybe it's just me...

It is.

 

[DBNH22]

As my dad would say, "Are you French? What's with all this "we" stuff?" I'm 32 years old. I wasn't coddled, I never played a hockey or baseball game that didn't have a winner and a loser, and I bought my first home at age 27 and became a father for the first time at 30. I worked my way through high school and college, paid for it on my own, bought my first car myself, paid for my gas, insurance, etc... My children will be expected to do the same. Society doesn't raise your kids, you do-take responsibility for your own children and don't worry about what others do with theirs.

I also feel compelled to add that I didn't get to where I am solely on my own. I was helped along the way by parents, friends, family, a good school system, a strong community, great teachers, a publicly funded community college, government grants and subsidized loans. The OP launched right into the healthcare law as a reason why "we" are giving our kids a sense of entitlement. Despite all of the "handouts" I received which helped get me where I am today I have a strong work ethic. I attribute this mostly to my parents. You can sit around and bellyache about the country going to hell in a handbasket all you want. It won't change anything. What you can do is keep your head down, work hard, and worry about yourself.

oui, oui

I was speaking in general terms regarding what I see to be societal trends.


Working hard, keeping my head down and worrying about myself would work just fine if I and my loved ones live in a vacuum but unfortunately we don't. We must share the world with everyone else. The actions of others and the things which they advocate for as societal rules and norms more often than not can and do directly impact the lives of myself and children with regard to our safety, freedom and potential for happiness. I'm fine with minding my own business and letting others do whatever the hell they want until their ignorance, apathy, or arrogance somehow has a negative bearing on my life.

 

[DBNH22]

Everyone being debt free means also everyone being savings free. Still something to aspire to?



And who is carrying the debt for the saved money?

That's a theoretical. In the real world in which we live obviously not everyone is going to be debt free at the same time, but the answer, regarding one's personal life, is an emphatic yes! Having less debt is one way of reducing the control that others have over you.

But the other point I was trying to get at is that people will often unnecessarily go into debt for the pursuit of materials things which ultimately do not add to their utility of life or their happiness. No one is immune to this. I know that I'm not.

 

[DBNH22]

I agree with a lot of what you said, but in 1900, 26 was about mid life (no joke). times before that, kids went to work in factories before they were teens. Where do you draw that line?

I don't have kids, so I try not to criticize out of ignorance.

Being a parent certainly does give you a different perspective but I wouldn't say that not having kids completely negates any thoughts you might have on the matter.