I Grew Up With Frugal Parents, but They Never Skimped on These Items

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In a society where publicized fashion hauls are normalized on social media, and children swig out of $35 STANLEY water bottles, reflecting on frugal habits and best practices for saving money can be refreshing these days. I grew up in a lower middle class home in Philadelphia with whom I’d call “frugal parents” who certainly watched their cash, used coupons, and rarely took us out to eat. But, they paid for Catholic school, a family vacation, sports, and didn’t go into debt. (Yes, they shared many of the frugal habits Dave Ramsey swears by.) I appreciate the budgeting tips my parents passed down, especially being a parent now, I respect that they didn’t spend much on fashion or flashy toys, but every parent has to splurge once in awhile.

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That’s why I wanted to hear about other frugal parents, learning about the times that they let loose on the funds, splurging in ways that mattered to them.

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They spent up on quality tools

“Growing up with frugal parents who founded the company I took over, I witnessed firsthand the strategic yet selective approach to spending,” says Brain Kroeker, President at Little Rock Printing, based in Alberta, Canada. “My parents were diligent and practical, always maintaining a tight budget, but they believed deeply in investing in education and quality tools that would stand the test of time,” continued Brian.

“They splurged on quality tools, particularly in the realm of printing equipment. Even in the early days, when resources were scarce, they purchased the best printers we could afford. This wasn’t just an indulgence; it was a strategic decision to elevate the quality of the products while reducing long-term costs due to fewer breakdowns and maintenance issues. These experiences with my frugal parents shaped not only my personal values but also the foundational business practices at Little Rock Printing. We economize where possible but never compromise on the tools and training that ensure quality,” said Brian.

Many times, things are cheap for a reason. For Brain Kroeker, it seems his parents taught him a valuable lesson in commerce and business that not only do you have to spend money to make money, but also splurging on quality items can actually save or make you more money in the long run.

They splurged on education

“I grew up with very frugal parents who I found out much later in life were from old money,” says Brenda Christensen, Principal at Stellar Public Relations, Inc., in Cape Coral, Florida. “My mother’s side was Texas gas and land and my father’s side was rum and news publishing in the Caribbean and Chicago.” She continued, “They drove old cars that weren’t flashy, a Volkswagen Beetle and a Chrysler station wagon.” Brenda noted, “My dad would save soap slivers and make us turn off the lights when we’d leave a room. My mom made our clothes when we were very little and reused items, like foil and wrappers,” said Christensen.

They always spent lavishly when it involved education, including music lessons with high-quality instruments. “My parents paid for my entire college tuition, single dorm room (very expensive), and books, all from their checking account,” says Christensen. “When I graduated, my father told me he would [buy] a car and after that I was on my own as far as money was to be concerned.” Christensen went on to found an Inc. 500 tech company, had an exit of $100 million, and is now a self-made millionaire. “I haven’t seen a dime of my family’s money since graduation,” noted Christensen.

My parents spent on travel

“My father was focused on paying off the mortgage as fast as possible and having a tight grip on our budget,” said Sebastian Jania, Director at Ontario Property Buyers. “Both parents worked but my mother was eventually laid off from her quality control job. My father worked as an elevator designer in an elevator company. They didn’t see the value in buying the most expensive things for us when we were kids because we would outgrow them or lose interest in them over time. I didn’t get big, expensive birthday and Christmas gifts like my friends did.” They did splurge on family trips to Poland to visit family, he said. “Even though they were frugal they understood value and knew that cheap is not ideal but frugal works. This definitely did influence my money decisions as I continue to be very selective on what I buy but I’m also willing to pay more for quality knowing that it will last me much longer.” Remember, here are 4 things to consider before always buying the cheapest version.

Dental work for the family

“I grew up as one of six children in a single-income family with two parents,” said Jo Hayes, founder of EtiquetteExpert.Org, based in Queensland, Australia. “With such a large family, finances were relatively tight. But dental hygiene–amongst other things—was a top priority for our parents. This was before pediatric dental work was free, as is the case now, in Australia,” noted Jo Hayes.

They made sure the kids stayed on top of dental hygiene routines at home and regular dental checkups were non-negotiable, said Hayes. “This was a significant annual outlay for six children (plus mom and dad themselves), but worth it, for our healthy pearly whites, as adults,” she says. “We didn’t always have an abundance of the latest clothes, or eating out at restaurants (an ice cream cone at McDonalds was a treat), or overseas holidays, but we honestly felt like our childhood was the best,” said Hayes.

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