Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 31, 2012

Mom, I’m bored! Yet, I’m sure the kids still sing that age old summer chant ‘Mom, I’m bored!”. We would dig out Mom’s old dresses and broken jewelry and play dress up, often adding an impromptu play. Tent Play Back then, our Mom’s hung laundry on lines outside.

Activism 187

Activism Kids Flowers and Plants Backyard 187

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 20, 2014

He and Mom worked side by side on all of their projects. He tried riding in a glider and he traveled eagerly with Mom. He expected me to work side by side with he and Mom, fixing, learning and doing. Gender equality. Dad didn’t just preach that boys and girls were equal, he demonstrated it. He figured out land-lording.

Radios 162

Radios Real Estate Work Kids and Family 162

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 18, 2013

I asked my mom what I should take, and listened to her advice. My mom, wanting the best for her daughter’s future, told me to go to Business school. I wasn’t willing to think far enough ahead in my future to commit to taking my education farther than a four year degree. The way I did that?

College 237

College Psychology Education Graduation 237

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 21, 2011

Guest Post at Mom’s Plans. Today I have a guest post up at The Fire Finder on How Your Daily Activities Can Affect the Environment. Please check out this post as well as the other interesting reads The Fire Finder has to share. Related posts: Guest Post at Modern Tightwad. Guest Post at Live Real, Now.

Mom 100

Mom Activism Wellness 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 23, 2017

When my Mom died in 1996, her estate had to pay over $80,000 in estate taxes (which is around $126,000 in 2016 dollars). If you feel this way and are refusing a parental gift, help your Mom/Dad understand that your self-image/self-worth is tied up in proving yourself. Making your own way in the world gives a person confidence.

Money 124

Money Family Parenting Kids and Family 124

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 25, 2011

My mom wanted me to open a savings account as a safe place to stash my cash. Although my mom was a genius, she didn’t come up with this phrase herself. In total, I think I made $48 ( Figures in millions – obviously ). Much to her dismay, I took the 48 hard-earned dollars I accumulated and immediately traded them for a video game.

Video Games 199

Video Games Money Saving Saving Money 199

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MARCH 24, 2014

Growing up, I remember my mom always sending me out to the composting bin with a bucket full of (what I thought was) gross bits and pieces of food waste. I never understood why anybody would want to keep all of that stuff, or why my mom sent me to the very back corner of our large yard with it so frequently.

Compost 222

Compost Composting Home and Garden Plants 222

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 17, 2013

For the working moms out there, make sure to read Frugal Rules’ working from home–a mom’s perspective. 5 money-saving tips for building your next home from Call Me What You Want, Even Cheap is a great read for anyone considering construction of a new home.

Fridays 150

Fridays Student Motivation Debt 150

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 31, 2014

Perhaps you let the balance roll from month to month until it got so big you had to fess up to Mom and Dad before you learned to consequences of charging things. Perhaps you ended up paying ultra high interest rates and suffering through years of paying down debt before you learned to control and track your borrowing.

Debt 167

Debt College Student Money 167

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

I noticed the problem when I first became a stay-at-home mom after my two youngest children were born. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen a mom or a babysitter at a park who becomes so engrossed with what’s on her smartphone, she doesn’t even acknowledge the kids she has brought to the park.

Media 174

Media T-Mobile Kids and Family At&T 174

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 11, 2011

Someone who you can stay married to for over 40 years, like your mom and I have. You’ll never see your mom and I getting divorced, cutting every nickel in half. If I’m the better cook and mom is the better electrician then that’s the way it goes. What are your dad’s (or mom’s) favorite life lessons?

Work 133

Work Debt Credit Cards Finance 133

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 30, 2012

I recently found a letter my Dad had written to my Mom during World War II in which he was longing for his Mom’s fried squirrel for breakfast! Mom had a garden and raised corn, I made corn shuck dolls and played with them. Grandma had a milk cow and she let me churn the cream into butter.

Used 188

Used Flowers and Plants Student Hunts 188

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 22, 2011

Narrow Bridge Finance tells us how going green has saved him some green at Mom’s plans. Mom’s Plans tells how we can eat green at Narrow Bridge Finance. Please check out the different tips below on how you too can save money and be green: Nickel by Nickel tells us how they read green using ebooks over at Beating Broke.

Swap 133

Swap Personal Finance Finance Debt 133

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 19, 2013

In his most recent mini-series, Matt Becker shares How to Start Investing From Scratch – Part 2 over at Mom and Dad Money. Check them out: Good Reads From The Blogosphere: Harry Campbell from The Four Hour Work Day wants to know why There’s no Loyalty in the Corporate World. Are you graduating this spring?

Fridays 167

Fridays Finance Personal Finance Renovation 167

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 8, 2012

Over 5% of American moms are struggling financially and have rinsed out and reused soiled diapers on their child, according to Huggies’ website. She blogs at Mom’s Plans where she shares her family’s progress getting out of debt and saving money. (Most small packages of diapers earn about 6 to 9 points.)

Giving 235

Giving Money Swagbucks Donation 235

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 8, 2014

Back in my teens and early twenties, Mom used to yell at me about not carrying enough cash. Limiting the Financial Damage of a Data Breach The Case for Credit: 5 Reasons To Own a Credit Card Money tips from Mom. She envisioned me running out of gasoline and not being able to get home. Money Tips'

Used 180

Used Credit Cards Gasoline Consumer 180

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

Mom taught fourth grade. When moms needed to keep baby safe and occupied while she did something else, into the play pen the kid went, with plenty of toys with which to play. In order to pass the class we had to make at least 45 wpm – on a manual (not an electric) typewriter. When typewriters became unneeded, so did white out.

Used 169

Used Typewriters Phones Irons 169

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 19, 2013

It never occurred to me to ask Mom or Mom-in-law to come watch my kids. Why are we spending more on our grandchildren? Expectations of our children. In my experience, my kids expect more of me for their kids than I expected of my parents for mine. We raised our children to expect more involvement.

Grandchildren 220

Grandchildren Grandkids Kids and Family Parenting 220

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 31, 2012

Her Dad died, and she continued to live with her Mom. Mom continued to support her she too died. While continuing to live a relatively frugal lifestyle, she continued to live off of Mom (through her inheritance). She was laid off from her job and didn’t look for another one. Use Up Existing Resources.

Friends And Family Sale 189

Friends And Family Sale Taxes Insurance Money 189

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 4, 2016

I trimmed grass around the house, I was on call to help Dad fix cars, paint the house or help Mom pick and can the plums and etc. I was not required to use it to buy things I needed, things that Mom and Dad would have otherwise bought. From that allowance, I saved up to buy my very first two wheeler bike.

Making 100

Making Budgeting Budget Kids and Family 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 4, 2013

When Mom and Dad passed, my Brother inherited the house and all their stuff – which they in turn had inherited from the prior generation. His Mom really, really urged him to take two broken mahogany end tables so he could fix them up. The free item starts a collecting binge. I think certain people have an inherited collecting gene.

Garage 200

Garage Lamps Garage Sale Free 200

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 13, 2012

A garden stepping stone for Mom, maybe?! How about helping them make a lasting gift for Mom? Moms always love anything their kids give them! It’s August, weeks from the start of school. Your kids have been to camp, done baseball and goofed off to their hearts content.

Giving 188

Giving Used Crafts Craft 188

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 19, 2012

To me that’s an important item – as Mom died with only 4 and Dad had all of his pulled due to gingivitis. Mom and her sister died from complications of hip surgery after falls broke their hip. Stay strong and fit” Going in for those tooth cleanings, xrays and checkups can help keep your teeth intact for life.

Food and Drink 188

Food and Drink Quiz United States Food and Wine 188

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

And if possible, two iPads so they can speak again (they can’t even say “I love you&# to their mom — these iPads allow them to get their voice back). Our goal is to raise $13,000 so we can get them a highly trained service dog.

Kids and Family 124

Kids and Family Swap Goals Gift Cards 124

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JUNE 3, 2012

From my mom I learned love, honesty, and kindness, and my father inspired me to work hard, and to be adaptive to any kind of situation. I learned patience and hardworking from my mom and sincerity and optimism from my dad. Here is what some have said about their parents/caregivers: I have been inspired by my parents.

Building 200

Building Kids and Family Parenting Journal 200

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 28, 2013

When it comes to paying off your mortgage early, Money Master Mom knows 3 not-so-easy steps to take when doing so. There were as always great reads out this week which I have highlighted below: Good Reads From The Blogosphere: If you’re looking to save some money, consider the DIY approach.

Fridays 170

Fridays Student Debt Credit Cards 170

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 13, 2015

Before you get ready to shove those kids of yours out of the nest, here are what I consider to be (based on my experience as a person, a Mom, and a Grandma) the most important things you (or someone) should teach them about personal finance. Nope, not even Mom and Dad will support you forever. No one owes you a living.

Personal Finance 100

Personal Finance Finance Debt Money 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 1, 2013

But if you make time to truly throw yourself into it, the rewards can be endless as Matt Becker from Mom and Dad Money writes in his post about why we should Budget With a Passion. If so, check out Bob’s post about 25 Frugal Wedding Ideas From Pinterest over at ChristianPF. Budgeting is hard work.

Home 160

Home Fridays Credit Cards Wedding 160

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

NOVEMBER 24, 2013

My mom has always been fit, and she has always been able to keep up with my energy level. Whether you are a parent, a grandparent, or work with kids, you know that they have a ton of energy and are not held back. When my nieces come over, I love being able to play tag with them in the yard or wrestle with my kid cousins. Appearance.

Fitness 192

Fitness Health Niece Activism 192

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 11, 2016

Years later, I asked my Mom why she hadn’t suggested another path for me, since there were no jobs. I was terribly shy as a child and young adult, coming into my own only after I became a Mom. I didn’t even realize that most jobs required a doctorate in Psychology to really use the knowledge in a career.

Psychology 100

Psychology Computers Kids and Family Son 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 21, 2013

I remember my mom and aunts telling her that she would have beautiful skin when she got older. She had a big, floppy movie star hat on and a long sleeved beach cover-up, not because it was cold, but because it was hot. The UV rays were intense in the summer and she (like myself and the rest of my Scottish family) had very fair skin.

Health and Beauty 199

Health and Beauty Sunglasses Beauty Aunt 199

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 17, 2014

The cat was mine alone; my mom got her as a mousing cat when we lived on a large, rural property on my final day of kindergarten and she chose me as her favourite human. We have always all been animal lovers and I grew up in an environment with animals aplenty. We had dogs, hamsters, cats, fish, turtles, birds, and even some iguanas.

Pets 167

Pets Cat Dog Activism 167

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

FEBRUARY 13, 2017

We leave the nest – move out of Mom and Dad’s well stocked home. Some get stuff from stores, the less financially favored head for thrift stores, garage sales, Mom’s house or the trash pickup routes. Starting the life independent. You get stuff. We rent a shelter (usually), and it is bare!

Cycle 113

Cycle Kids and Family Friends And Family Sale Garage Sale 113

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 3, 2013

Although Mom didn’t sew much (she did mend), she made sure I took Home Ec in high school. Money Saving Mom and Handmade Adelaide Baby both have tips on how to do that. In spite of that, history indicates that sweat shop seamstress positions had a ratio of 20 applicants per position. Clothing is cheap, sewing is not.

Sewing 201

Sewing Sewing Machines Machines Saving Money 201

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 7, 2014

My mom was over last weekend and made a cheesecake for my brother’s birthday. Instead of giving in, I’ll remind myself that I am stressed and push myself to do something that will relieve the stress other than binging on comfort food, such as going for a walk, or having a relaxing bath. Don’t Tempt Yourself.

Bath and Body Works 187

Bath and Body Works Documentary Healthy Choice Couch 187

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

APRIL 11, 2016

On Mom’s WWII era Lane cedar chest, I used a product called Howard’s Restore-a-Finish to cover the multitude of chips and scratches from the used furniture I wanted to keep. The toy ice cream table and chairs from my Mom’s childhood have an iron frame, which I stripped and spray painted.

Re-use 100

Re-use Used Furniture Furniture Recycle 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 14, 2013

My mom made the mistake of telling me what I was eating when I was chowing down on my turkey sandwich and it was game over after that. I became a vegetarian at three years old.

Making 212

Making Documentary Health At&T 212