—to put it kindly, she actually referred to them as "cheapskates!" — she learned from an early age the importance of saving money and keeping extra funds in her pocket.
.
You can begin now.
Don't Break the Bank on Name-Brand Products
Sam said that her mom taught her to ignore flashy labels so as not to pay more for a product that is no better or even worse than a cheaper option.
I recall asking for Air Jordans when they were all the cool kids were wearing them," she stated. "My mom politely pointed out that the no-name sneakers from DSW would be just as good for me and would allow me to save up for more important things I wanted later on.
Skip Extended Warranties
Sam's dad advised against extra expenses like unnecessary warranties on expensive purchases.
She once mentioned: "He thought paying $100 upfront in case something broke later just didn't make financial sense. We took our chances without the warranties, and would you believe it, nothing broke down ahead of schedule anyway."
So why not give your local library a try and experience the benefits of leveraging a shared collection of knowledge and resources?
Reading was a big deal in Sam's family, but buying a ton of books wasn't in the budget.
“Mom sent me to our local library since paying full price for books made no sense when I can get them for free. Now, I only spend money on special books that I really, really love.”
Pack Your Lunch
Packing a lunch marked a tried-and-true habit of living on a tight budget.
“Dad wouldn't spend five bucks a day on school cafeteria meals," explained Sam. "Even though I'd see my friends enjoying their tasty foods – shout out to Uncrustables – I got along just fine with my dad's peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches."
Use Public Transit
Having nice cars wasn't a big deal in Sam's family when he was growing up.
My mom used to ride the bus all the time because she wanted to save some money," she said. "And my dad always fixed up old cars and drove them until they wouldn't run anymore.
Make Coffee at Home
Sam didn't develop a Starbucks habit at her parent's house.
She remembered that the big pots of homemade coffee we made for the family's morning started every day like this," she said. "Okay, it was Folgers dissolved in water, maybe a bit weak, but it gave us the caffeine we needed, and after all, is that really what counts?
Shop Secondhand First
Sam remembered how her family used to make shopping secondhand clothing a priority before considering buying anything new at regular retail prices.
My parents taught me to check Goodwill, Out of the Closet, and consignment shops to save huge amounts of money on unique and cool clothes and home items," she said. "Many items still have a lot of life left in them, if you're willing to look through lots of second-hand items to find hidden gems.
Learn Do-It-Yourself Fixes
My dad taught me how to do regular home repairs on my own, which meant we didn't have to pay for expensive handyman services," said Sam. "As time went on, I became pretty skilled at fixing drywall, replacing sink faucets and keeping appliances in good working order. It's a really valuable skill!
Grow Your Produce
Sam fondly recalls assisting with nurturing his family's backyard garden, which included vegetables and fruit trees.
We had a huge backyard, and my parents had us work in it," said Sam. "I may not have enjoyed it when I was a kid, but now I grow tomatoes, kale, melons, and other things in my own garden every year.
More From Hey NEWS
- Avoid a significant tax of 39% on realized long-term capital gains.
- 6 Hot Collectibles That Have Seen a Big Increase in Value
I Grew Up in a Frugal Family: 9 Things They Warned Me Never to Blow Money On