Frugaling (long u, hard g)

I'm finally "in". It is now "in" to be frugal. I have been frugal ( nice, politically correct way of saying cheap), my whole life. Ask my kids. They will say nothing in our house is ours. (Well, it is, but what they mean is we didn't purchase it). I agree most things are hand me downs (or ups from someone younger). I will be the first to admit I like a freebie. The computer cabinet that I am sitting at was our neighbor's. Our family couch, chair and ottoman belonged to a friend my daughter babysits for. Numerous items are from garage sales. Yes, your junk becomes my treasure.

I guess I was too influenced by my grandmother who had nothing growing up and lived through the depression. Her frugalness gene must have been passed down to me. Somehow it has managed to skip a generation with my children. The thought of garage saling (long a), or shopping at Goodwill has never entered their world.

So now with the economy, it has become fashionable to save money by bargain shopping. This has been my life for the past 30 years of familydom. My daughter quickly pointed out that even our beds are someone else's. Now before you get grossed out, they are all from very close friends- we KNOW the people that slept on the mattresses previously. And there are covers on each of them. Heck, we are all a few paychecks away from being homeless and then we could be sleeping in a tent. So I am thankful for all our friends and families that have shared their castoffs with us. It is all a matter of perspective.

I do draw the line on shoes- having major foot issues....nuff said about that. A lot of our furniture pieces are antiques from family members. These are priceless treasures that mean a lot. On one of our moves the mover took a look around as he was packing our beloved items and said he hated antiques and he wouldn't pay two cents for any of it. I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he really didn't realize that he was saying this to an antique lover who was paying him the big bucks. And this man was responsible for making sure that this "junk" made it cross country in one piece. But that's another story I am choosing to forget at the moment.

Well off to Beth Moore simulcast-should be fun! Who gets your hand me downs and what is your favorite recycled item in your house? Have a blessed weekend.