Prairie Eco-Thrifter
FEBRUARY 23, 2012
Most financial literacy courses and parents in the know believe that teaching the difference between something you need and something you want is key in being able to control spending and thrive financially. Really, are you sure ? Why do we care about want vs. need? Absolutely not! My Grandmother was born in 1898. She lived on a farm.
Prairie Eco-Thrifter
OCTOBER 29, 2011
Galvanized pipe for plumbing is perfect. I did this once when I was younger and made a table for my parents. The metal on old pop-up toasters and toaster ovens can often be repurposed for small jewelry or craft projects if removed carefully with the sharp edges filed. Old tea cups and saucers become mini bird baths and bird feeders.
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Prairie Eco-Thrifter
DECEMBER 21, 2014
Indoor plumbing. As recently as my parents, folks used to have to haul and heat water for bathing and go outside to use the bathroom. We also have the luxury of having our food prepared for us. Bread, noodles, frozen dinners, pizzas, ice cream, boxed dinners, restaurant food and more await our microwaves for heating in under 3 minutes.
Prairie Eco-Thrifter
MAY 23, 2012
Parents of graduates have spent years guarding and protecting their child. Simply going away from civilization, away from indoor plumbing, central heat and air, paved roads and technology for a week will give them an exceptional taste of the past. Expand horizons through travel. Change their environment.
Prairie Eco-Thrifter
MAY 11, 2014
It wasn’t until I thought back to my own young adulthood that I realized how much I still struggled for a sense of independence back then, how much I still wanted to ‘do my own thing’ away from parents. In a few months will the world be any worse off if the plumbing gets fixed a week from the now or in two weeks?
Prairie Eco-Thrifter
MAY 12, 2016
My parent’s generation (the WWII gen) had homes with around 900 – 1000 square feet – typically with 2 bedrooms and a bath. Most homes were small, rural farmhouses and lacked many basic amenities, complete plumbing and central heating chief among them.” It had central heat, indoor plumbing, and an attic fan.
Prairie Eco-Thrifter
MAY 1, 2014
Today a poor person in America probably has access to electricity, telephones, food, indoor plumbing, central heat and public transportation. In my Grandparents time, none of the neighbors had electricity, indoor plumbing or central heat. Her homes had coal furnaces with radiator heating, electricity and indoor plumbing.
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