I've never been much of a shopper. I'd argue that I'm not cheap (I like to occasionally pick up the tab at dinner with friends; I buy organics; I like to travel), but I've never been big on hitting the mall or going shopping for fun. After reading an article in New York magazine, I'm wondering if my thrifty ways were learned or inherited...
The article argues that being careful with money might be inherited rather than learned. Although I've always assumed that my disinterest in shopping had a lot to do with my parents' example.
Either way, I think being thrifty is one of my greener habits. I like to buy secondhand. I like to come up with creative ways to use things I already have for new purposes. I don't often buy things I don't need.
Are you thrifty? Do you consider your thriftiness going hand-in-hand with your greeness? And do you think it's a learned thing or an inherited thing? I'm still thanking Mom and Dad for my lack of credit card debt!
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I admit that I am cheap. My dad thinks I'm very cheap but I always thought I got it from him. For as long as I can remember, the man has never gone shopping for clothes or for himself. He does like to spend $10 on cookies, though! Yes, cookies! So maybe I got it from both my parents. My brother and I are great with money and we've been working since we were in high school. My step-sister, not a blood relative, is terrible with money and we grew up in the same household. So maybe the genes have it.
view graciela's profile
good topic!
in my instance - thriftiness was definitely learned the hard way.
my parents have always been frugal and very careful with money. I, on the other hand, was absolutely horrendous until late twenties. now i am amping up the emergency fund, contributing to 401k and ira, investing, all with zero cc debt.
everything big purchase we make is secondary to the above. we are looking to replace our sofa, but like all the other need-to-be-replaced furnishings in the home, it will be bought only when we have the cash on hand to pay off the cc within the month. still use cc because i want the points.
view bitdot's profile
Being green doesn't mean being thrifty, though the two often do overlap. Often times being green means spending more on your local or organic produce!
As far as the genetics of thriftiness go, I'd not so much. Thriftiness is a learned habit, with a major emphasis on learning self control, a skill useful in all areas of life.
view casey w's profile