Have you ever met a family that seems to not have much money, but never seems in need? Or a family that has so much money and never seems happy and satisfied? I’m not saying there aren’t people in need, but life is a series of choices. Choosing to be happy helps you to save money for the future emergencies that may arise.
Growing up my parents didn’t make much money and often we had to eat the same foods over and over. My mother cut coupons and on Fridays, she would go to the market to buy groceries. Early on when my family came to America, we were so poor that we had to collect food stamps. I was much younger, but I didn’t know anything until later in life.
I am happy to admit my mother is a Frugal Frieda. I admired her for the ability to raise my sister and me on an income of under $40,000 a year. These days, it’s very difficult to raise two kids on $40,000 a year.
I had hand me downs and at the junior prom, my mother made a dress for me out of something she bought at the thrift shop for $4 and it was the most beautiful dress at the prom. I still have that dress in one of my closets, as I no longer fit the dress. I keep it for the memory of my mother making me dresses, because we couldn’t afford clothes.
As I write this, I have come to miss my early child hood, when my family was very poor. We were poor, struggling and very happy. Life was much simpler then. Money makes life complicated and sometimes very miserable. When you don’t have anything, you make do with what you have and be blessed you have it. When you have everything, you become greedy and want more, more of everything.
So what is a Frieda and what is the significance? The Frugal Friedas are a fictional group based on the writings of Karen Paris, author of the Tightwad Detective; however, their ideas for saving money can help real life families.
