DISQUS

SavingDiva · 2 years ago

I also have mixed feelings about the investment/saving habits of my grandparents. I hope that I'm more independent than either of my grandmothers (and don't have to be supported). To be honest, I wouldn't claim that I actually learned anything from their finances...other than I never want to have to depend on a man for money (I learned this very young).

Kyle · 2 years ago

Excellent post, very interesting take.

t h rive · 2 years ago

The point about travel and learning monetary lessons from family is a good one. Very true.

I've always believed, through family lifestyle, that travel is one of the best ways to spend money. In fact when I fly east this Xmas it'll be the third time this year I've done so for family and friends. It's almost ridiculous - but it feels so right. (and serves me right for moving so far away!)

Other than travel I definitely spend, AND SAVE, much like my folks. I think they're clever.

plonkee · 2 years ago

I wonder what your grandparents thought about of their move. After all, what to you may have felt like a bad move might have been a great one to them.

bripblap · 2 years ago

That's actually a fair question, plonkee. I can't really speak to their mindset at the time, and my father has a better understanding than I do, but I know this: the condo community they lived in was well-populated when they arrived, and included many of their (elderly) relatives. As the years went by, many of them passed away, and the condo community went into decline, as well. My grandfather passed away and my grandmother (somewhat stubbornly, as maintenance fees/etc. mounted) stayed there until she had to move to a nursing home after falling and badly injuring herself.

So I guess at first they were happy. The weather was great, since they always hated even the relatively mild winters in the South. They were close to a ton of baseball, which was a gigantic passion of theirs. They were close to a lot of friends. They moved out of a house with a fairly big yard and all the maintenance that implies to a condo with community landscaping, etc.

But in the end they were pretty far removed from their friends in my father's hometown, where they lived most of their lives. They were far removed from their 5 grandchildren (although in all fairness 4 of us scattered across the US anyway). They were poorer since they traded a paid-off house for an expensive condo with heavy community fees. My dad and his brother did a lot to help, but my grandmother basically ran through all of her money long before she passed away.

But you're right - they may have considered the warm climate and the baseball and the friends they DID have for a few years worth the struggles afterwards. I'll never really know the answer to that, and to be honest, I hope I was wrong in my assessment in the post. I hope moving to Florida WAS a good move for them, when taken in total.

The Financial Blogger · 2 years ago

Hey Brip Blap,
I think it is a really good idea to look at your family ability or inability to save money. We could learn a lot about how to manage money and many other stuffs from our past. Unfortunately, humans in general do not look back often enough!

sfordinarygirl · 2 years ago

My grandparents were super frugal - reusing oil leftover and cooking it again for another meal. They'd eat the 99 cent special at BK or McDs. But aside from those not-so-great habits they loved to stay at home, read and tend to their garden. They've got a huge garden with apple, pear and persimmon trees. They also grew a ton of vegetables which really helped them cut down on the grocery bills when they retired.

I learned to love frugal and cheap activities such as reading at home or walking the neighborhood and introducing myself and meeting new people. But I did learn from their mistakes on scrimping on grocery shopping and lack of exercise. I try and walk everywhere and buy as much local produce as possible

Btw, I love your new layout! It's got a really professional look.

CraigK · 1 year ago

I agree it's nice to look back at family members views towards money and how they spend it, but it's completely different times. My grandparents were similar in yours with the move to Florida and traveling and they always are very positive and optimistic about money and spending it wisely. Times are different and much more complex now and also there are a lot more material items available that weren't for past generations. Those play major factors in spending of many people in today's world including myself. I know I try to save for expensive material items that in reality I have no real need for. But maybe my grandchildren will learn from my ways and act differently.

Craig
www.budgetpulse.com