[Gay State Conservative]

My Dad.a child of the Depression,taught me to always live below your means.He taught me this lesson by example,not with lectures.My Dad was clearly "upper middle class" for all of *my* life but he and my Mom clearly struggled in the early years of their marriage.My Dad,for the last 40 years of his life,wore Timex watches (the $15 variety) despite having been able to afford something *much* more expensive.He always drove Oldsmobiles despite his ability to afford something *noticeably* more expensive.He always wore expensive suits because his job required it but otherwise...no expensive clothes,jewelry or anything else.

I'm a lot like my Dad.I've always lived well below my means and,as a result,could easily handle emergency dental work,roof repair or car breakdown.

[mylife]

God bless us cheap bastards.
No one ever got rich writing a lot of checks.

[Yaelle]

I had that example too from my parents. In fact, a lot of people at my schools would be decked out in expensive latest fashions but not us, so I thought we were poor! My mom had to explain to me sometimes that those families spent everything they made on those fancy cars and clothes. She’d whisper that dad earned 10x what their fathers earned.

They never had a brand new car until in their 70s. They had zero luxuries except a few pieces of art that gave mom pleasure, and some really nice trips that they really enjoyed. They did buy properties, two vacation homes that they get a lot out of. And have proven better investment than the market.

[roadcat]

I've always lived well below my means and,as a result,could easily handle emergency dental work,roof repair or car breakdown.

Congrats, you're doing it right. We do the same. We could afford new cars every year, but drive 20-year-old ordinary cars. Same goes for property and possessions. We do all our own remodel and fix-it repairs. My debt-ridden sisters say that if they had my money, they'd drive Jaguars and wear expensive jewelry. Which is why they're poor and in debt. We passed these concepts to our own now-grown children, which they apply for their young families. Live below your means, and do-it-yourself (and hide what you do have). Also avoid fancy vacations, a waste of money. Plenty of cheap places to visit and enjoy.