Thank you so much for answering all these questions. I grew up in a frugal family where I too was never dressed like the cool girls and I'm sure that it was part of the pie chart of why I was considered a big dork. (Seriously though, I was still playing with my dolls in eighth grade, so I can't completely blame the clothes!)
I am now the parent to two teenage boys who are similarly saddled with a uber-frugal mom. However, thrift stores are soooo much better than they used to be, which means they've been able to wear cool clothing without resorting to he dreaded mall. And they both love the thrill of the hunt for on-trend clothes, which I'm almost always happy to pay for.
Your experience wearing out of style high-water pants made me feel for you. That's hard.
Thanks again for answering all these questions. I know it makes me sound all fan-girl, but your mother's books changed my life. LOVE HER!
Mwah!
Katy Wolk-Stanley "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without"
Jamie, I remember when I first read your Mother's book. To say it changed my life would be an understatement. I decided to leave a long time "career" to stay home with my son who by that time was a young teen. I went back to work as he approached college age but decided to work towards early retirement. Just did that last summer. Could not have done this without the "Tightwad Gazette". I still use mine on a regular basis. Thanks for sharing your story and I am sure your Mom and Dad are quite proud.
I wanted socks that wouldn't fall down into my shoes when I walked. Because of that, I have spent more on socks for my own children (rather than the 6 pairs in one package kind with poor elastic that I had as a child) because it was so annoying to have my socks fall down all the time.
I also wanted my parents to get me what I wanted for Christmas and not just what they thought I wanted that was less expensive. I would have rather had one quality gift than a ton of little gifts that weren't at all what I wanted.
I work hard to listen to what my children say they want for Christmas and birthdays, and then I try to find it used or to make it.
Comments
Thank you so much for answering all these questions. I grew up in a frugal family where I too was never dressed like the cool girls and I'm sure that it was part of the pie chart of why I was considered a big dork. (Seriously though, I was still playing with my dolls in eighth grade, so I can't completely blame the clothes!)
I am now the parent to two teenage boys who are similarly saddled with a uber-frugal mom. However, thrift stores are soooo much better than they used to be, which means they've been able to wear cool clothing without resorting to he dreaded mall. And they both love the thrill of the hunt for on-trend clothes, which I'm almost always happy to pay for.
Your experience wearing out of style high-water pants made me feel for you. That's hard.
Thanks again for answering all these questions. I know it makes me sound all fan-girl, but your mother's books changed my life. LOVE HER!
Mwah!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without"
I also wanted my parents to get me what I wanted for Christmas and not just what they thought I wanted that was less expensive. I would have rather had one quality gift than a ton of little gifts that weren't at all what I wanted.
I work hard to listen to what my children say they want for Christmas and birthdays, and then I try to find it used or to make it.