Comments on: Humble Beginnings

By: deepali

deepali — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:42:58 +0000

I got mixed messages too - my mom is a frugal saver, my dad is a gambling risk-taker.
But I’m going to break with the norm - I observed a lot, but didn’t really learn anything I can attribute to my parents specifically. I self-taught, through trial-and-error and observations of many, many people, events, and situations.

I created a budget when I was ready. I overspent because I wanted to. And I made a life plan on my own terms. None of this happened in isolation, but as a composite of 30 years of experience and observation and deductive reasoning.
The one thing my parents DID teach me (and early education reinforced) - why thinking is important.

deepalis last blog post..the downward slide

By: hank

hank — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:59:10 +0000

I can chime in on this one as well. I don’t remember ANY time my parents weren’t frugal. We’d have casserole casseroles, taped our shoes, ate boloney or hotdogs 3 or 4 times a week, and everyone had hand-me-downs. I’d like to say that I had a better financial upbringing, but I guess I’ve turned out alright financially without it, so maybe I really DIDN’T need it so much. I don’t know, but indeed humble nonetheless…

hanks last blog post..Debunking The 25 Most Outrageous Money Myths (part 3 of 4)

By: Prairie Chick

Prairie Chick — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:23:29 +0000

oh Emily, such great truth here. We learn from the good the great and the not so great, hey? So good to be concious and intentional. This post had a field of depth that just gave me serious pause to reflect on this today. Thanks so much for sharing.

Prairie Chicks last blog post..The Call of Fall

By: Alana @ Gray Matters

Alana @ Gray Matters — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 02:07:16 +0000

What a wonderful lesson to learn from your parents. I often get caught in the trap of buying for my kids because I can - I need to remember where I came from and how I am shaping my children’s relationship with money and stuff.

Alana @ Gray Matterss last blog post..Vanity Bench Makeover

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:57:30 +0000

@WriterDad, I agree with you about being aware of having to teach it. The scary part is that we ARE teaching our kids, whether we’re aware of it or not though. Even those parents not paying attention are teaching their kids through their actions. To teach *good* financial sense and foundation requires awareness though! I love that through understanding my need to teach my kids helps me learn along the way as well.

By: Writer Dad

Writer Dad — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:41:17 +0000

I don’t think background is as important as awareness. Too many parents aren’t aware that money is something you need to teach, but our children aren’t going to get it through osmosis. You’re thinking about it, that’s like steps one through thirty.

By: Sharon J

Sharon J — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:46:58 +0000

My mum’s still teaching me lessons about money. It’s only really thanks to her that I finally got my finances sorted out and started saving.

Sharon Js last blog post..When It Comes To Organic Food, I’m In A Bit Of A Quandary

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:23:09 +0000

Thanks for the comments!
@neimanmarxist - I got some of those conflicting messages too. My mom shops and my dad saves. I think there’s a decent lesson of that in and of itself that marriages can work with opposites like that if both parties are willing to cooperate and let each other have the things that are important to them. I like to think my dad saves a lot of money so that my mom can shop how she likes and they can still be comfortable. I think it’s cute

By: neimanmarxist

neimanmarxist — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:55:02 +0000

what great lessons. i got mixed messages from my parents: my dad’s was “you don’t need that to be happy! save your money.” My mom’s: “if you can’t decide what color you like the sweater best in, buy both!” after living both ways i’m glad we’ve settled happily on the former.

By: Denise

Denise — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:43:00 +0000

your answer is making me consider - what would my kids say about what we taught them?