I grew up in a middle-class household. Both of my parents worked full-time and they only had one child, but money was certainly not growing on trees in our backyard. My parents, especially my mother, were very cautious about spending money. We lived a modest life but never without our basic needs fulfilled, thanks be to God. We did not eat out very much, usually only for special occasions, and my mother did not buy junk food or convenience foods. She cooked meals from scratch. Most of my clothes were either made by my grandmother or bought at one of three places: thrift stores, factory outlet stores, or Wal-mart. Because my mother was so savvy at shopping this way, I often wore designer clothing purchased for very little.
Growing up, I had certain chores that I was expected to do without pay. These tasks were simply part of my household responsibilities. However, there were other chores at which I could earn money. These included cleaning the house for my mom and mowing both our lawn and my grandmother's lawn. I could spend my money however I wished. One summer, I decided I wanted, as part of my back-to-school clothing, a certain pair of designer jeans that cost $60. My mother told me that if I wanted those jeans, I would have to earn the money to buy them myself. When it came time to buy clothes for the new school year, it became painfully obvious to me that I had a choice. I could buy the designer jeans, which would take a large portion of my money for one item, or I could spend the same amount of money purchasing several less expensive items. If I chose the latter, I would have more clothing for my money. Ultimately, I chose that option. The experience was a powerful lesson to me on the value of a dollar and understanding that we trade something valuable for the money we make: time and effort. When I fully grasped that concept, I began to look at money differently. I made a rule for myself; I decided that I would not buy any clothing item unless it was less than $10 or on sale. I functioned quite successfully for many years with this self-imposed rule.
I temper the story above with a note to say that I do not believe automatically that more quantity is better. Certainly, one high-quality, timeless garment is better than three low-quality ones that will not last a season. My point is that one should be mindful of the expenditure of money.
Growing up, I had certain chores that I was expected to do without pay. These tasks were simply part of my household responsibilities. However, there were other chores at which I could earn money. These included cleaning the house for my mom and mowing both our lawn and my grandmother's lawn. I could spend my money however I wished. One summer, I decided I wanted, as part of my back-to-school clothing, a certain pair of designer jeans that cost $60. My mother told me that if I wanted those jeans, I would have to earn the money to buy them myself. When it came time to buy clothes for the new school year, it became painfully obvious to me that I had a choice. I could buy the designer jeans, which would take a large portion of my money for one item, or I could spend the same amount of money purchasing several less expensive items. If I chose the latter, I would have more clothing for my money. Ultimately, I chose that option. The experience was a powerful lesson to me on the value of a dollar and understanding that we trade something valuable for the money we make: time and effort. When I fully grasped that concept, I began to look at money differently. I made a rule for myself; I decided that I would not buy any clothing item unless it was less than $10 or on sale. I functioned quite successfully for many years with this self-imposed rule.
I temper the story above with a note to say that I do not believe automatically that more quantity is better. Certainly, one high-quality, timeless garment is better than three low-quality ones that will not last a season. My point is that one should be mindful of the expenditure of money.
