March 24, 2024
Dear Family:
I’ve been looking forward to this week since January 1. Spring Vacation (in Oregon anyway)----because
I don’t teach piano during Spring Vacation.
I do enjoy teaching. I enjoy it
especially when they practice. But only
about 20% practice regularly so it can get grueling. Glennda and I have spent some time this week
contemplating if we should do something together or go somewhere because for
the first part of spring vacation Scott is doing his annual march madness
vacation in Vegas with his friend Ray. But we still haven’t decided.
However, during the process of discussing our options, we
got off a tangent and ended up commiserating about how cheap we are. We don’t mean to be, but it just is part of
us: 1) Glennda spent more time/money/anxiety trying to buy used ‘new to
her dining room chairs’ than it would have to buy new chairs. It ended up that she didn’t like them after
going to the trouble of finding the house where they were. She will probably donate them or sell
them. 2) She saves cardboard –
especially the ones under the TP at Costco – they are really good for art
projects with her grandchildren. 1) Suzanne,
I needed a new a project because I had finished my “easter table topper” so I
decided to make a new denim purse. I
loved the last one I made, but I decided to make one just a bit bigger. I used all fabric I had on hand and it only
cost me $1 to buy “D” rings. So good! 2)Then I was trying to go through fabric to
throw away fabric that I didn’t like, would never use, am tired of---then I ran
into some white terry cloth left over from making 2 little girls’ robes. Do you think I could throw that away – NO! I made 7 new wash clothes. Cheap!!
While we were telling each other our “I’m so cheap” stories
we laughed our heads off. It is
something we can’t seem to change. My
children have gently and lovingly made comments about how frugal I am. I’m not offended, it is just a fact of my life. Actually my patriarchal blessing states how I
will be a frugal housewife. (I got my
blessing when I was about 16).
I don’t know whether it is even worth the time to spend on
trying to decide WHY. It very well may
be because of financial conditions in our family as I was growing up. It is a fact that dad was raised on a farm
where extra money was non-existent. Mom
was raised by her grandparents in very financially tight circumstances. Maybe it is genetic. Maybe it is environmental. Who knows? I look at it this way; being frugal is better than being in debt, better than
having guilt because I’ve bought something I couldn’t afford.
And I also think it has benefited me and my family from the beginning of our family. I started out making clothes for Amy from outfits that Judy didn’t want anymore. I could even send photos. Amy thought it was cool, because she idolized Judy and she thought she was very special. Because I was raised on a farm (in my early years) I learned to cook from scratch. No Kraft mac and cheese, no store bought anything except the staples. Mom was a good cook; simple and meat and potatoes stuff – like farmers eat. So that’s what I did. Everything from scratch! After I learned to sew as a teenager I discovered that I loved sewing – it brought a huge feeling of accomplishment and I loved to see my children in clothes that I had made for them. I used to also make homemade gifts for baby showers – there were lots of baby showers when I was raising the kids. Then it turned into quilts.
Yes I do buy new fabric for most of the gifts that I give to my children and grandchildren and greats. Every time I buy batting and backing fabric that is new – for sure. But for some crazy reason I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction from using us scraps. (I’ve made several quilt tops from scraps; scraps from my old fabric and from Judy’s fabric.)
If Judy were here she would join in and tell Glennda and I
how cheap (thrifty; frugal) we are. She
honestly did try to help us. The only
thing I hope is that it doesn’t embarrass any of you. I enjoy buying things just everyone, but
trying to decide if I REALLY NEED it is another story.
I have watched with interest how people a few years ago got
all carried away with TINY HOMES.
Deciding what was only absolutely necessary became a nationwide
fad. It is okay for a while. I lived in an Airstream for about 6
months. Truthfully – I loved that
airstream. If I had my way I’d still
have it. It is kind of refreshing to not
have so much STUFF!
Well enough about frugality.
I love to see the blossoms on the trees, the daffodils and tulip’s
appearances, and little green buds showing up all over this spring. I have wintered over my geraniums from last
year (and the year before). We will see
how they fare. I was really temped to
plant them last week when it was70 degrees, but I remembered that lots of rain
comes in late March and April and to be patient. I remember my grandmother started new
geraniums from cuttings in mason jars of water in her south facing windows
during the winter in her house in Wellsville.
She had a really hard life, but every time I crochet on a hankie, or
look at my braided rugs or a picture that I bought that was a duplicate of one
in her house, I think of her and what a great influence she had on me. Sometime I will tell you about her life and
why she is my hero.
Frugality quotes:
“There is no dignity quite so
impressive, and no independence quite so important, as living within your
means.”
―
“Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words
in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from
understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that
happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of
not having things.” ― Elise Boulding
Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister and Aunt Suzanne
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