When we were raising our kids we were really, really broke. Even though financially it is not as necessary as it once was, it is still wasteful to spend more than is needful for an item. Plus, as I've written before ---- I love the challenge!
Often, in one post or another I mention that our family motto was
Broke is a State of Pocketbook–
Poor is a State of Mind
We were usually okay with being broke, but we refused to be poor.
While we didn’t realize it at the time, great dividends resulted from our financial situation.
Necessity caused us to be creative in many aspects of our lives.
Since there was no money for repairmen or replacement, Dave had to try to fix many things. More often than not he was successful. When he wasn’t, the only thing lost was a little time. (And maybe a little pride, although that is just a guess.) By now, he is quite the handyman.
OUR KIDS LEARNED TO SHARE!
By far, the greatest dividend was that our kids learned to share. First it was crayons, and bikes and bedrooms. Later it was paper routes. When three were in college at the same time, they met weekly to exchange clothes, greatly expanding their individual meager wardrobes.
To this day they still share, usually across the miles–strength, support, and ideas. And still, occasionally, stuff!
Way back then, little did Dave realize when he was on an outing with just one of the kids and only had money for one can of soda pop to share, that a priceless bond was being created.
Creativity and thrift are not just for the financially challenged. It is caring; and resourcefulness in a time when disposables and wastefulness are a way of life.
Adapted from a Simply Gail column in Desert Saints Magazine
http://www.desertsaintsmagazine.com/magazine_articles/Oct2004/DSM%20October%2004.pdf
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