Waste Not Want Not
An Old Model of Thrift and Accountability
Well, no storms passed through my neighborhood last night, not even a drop of rain.
We’ve had a rough summer so far with one devastating storm after another. Last night, I buckled everything down because battering of the fortress was expected but awoke this morning to seventy-one degrees and sunshine.
Everything is thriving in my gardens.
Whew! Plus dinner is made and it’s only 7:30 in the morning. We’re still enjoying a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup prepared from the bones of a rotisserie chicken that we purchased at Costcos last week. Let me see, that means we’ve managed to scrounge together six meals from that little $6 purchase. Yes, this is how a pragmatist thinks, one tiny victory at a time.
Plus, I still operate from an old 1940s model of thrift and accountability.
My parents raised six kids on a single job. My mom never worked a day in her married life. Well, she never worked for money, that is. She managed the household and cooked three meals a day while carrying a child either in her arms or inside her body for more than twelve years. Hell, once each child could walk, she still scooped them up multiple times a day in order make hay while the sun shines.
So, I’m a genuine throwback to the days of thrift and stretching a dollar.
Not all my peers are like me. In fact, I’ve read that my generation, the Boomers, has an alarming number of people that have gone into retirement in debt.
My parents always carried as little debt as possible.
For some reason, I’ve always hated debt, waste, and unnecessary purchases, too. So, here I am, a remnant of a past that went out of style decades ago. I have a favorite coat that is twenty years old. I buy used cars. Eating out is a luxury not a common occurrence. When I skip the alcohol, my bill is so much lower than my friends. I pay attention to sales. Any purchase over $20 is carefully considered. I’d prefer to do without rather than experience buyer’s remorse.
I’m also pretty content with the little things in life. Being a pragmatist, I rarely expect to get 100% of what I want. If I get 70%, I celebrate.
We are who we are, I reckon. I’m the remnants of a past where people didn’t expect to live like a king and often paid cash for what they owned. Cash is king in my house. I hate credit cards. Sometimes, I worry that the US will eliminate cash dealings altogether.
Then what will I do?
I’m not going to think about that right now. Hey, the storm bypassed us last night. My garden is blooming, the bees are buzzing, and the birds are singing. I’ve got chicken soup to look forward to, and it’s delicious. I’ll eat a great tasting meal for pennies today. Pennies, I say!
Life is good.
Teresa is a retired educator, author, world traveler, and professional myth buster. You can find her books on Amazon.
