Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Dad would be appalled

BobJudy
Dad was born in 1908. He grew up on a farm and went through the depression. Enlisted in WW2 and was the old guy in his outfit. Got married and raised a family. Worked hard his whole life and had his own auto parts store for 20+ years. He was frugal probably because of the depression and struggling to get his business established. We never wanted for anything important but growing up we may not have had the latest and greatest stuff like some of our friends.

I am about to run into town to get Judy a new smart phone for Christmas. On a whim I just added up all the things I spend money on for entertainment. Shooting which I justify as a life style and not simply entertainment. Satellite T.V., internet, computers, phones, tablets, music and so on. If he was still alive today I can picture his reaction to the amount. I can picture his raised eyebrows and shaking his head in disbelief. My retirement and his don't look anything alike. Bob
0

Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • jimdeere
    My dad would react the same, Bob. He wouldn?t say a thing, just shake his head.
    0
  • Smitty500mag
    When I was growing up my dad would say "you kids are just just like hogs under an apple tree, you never look up to see where they're coming from"!
    0
  • Ditch-Runner
    my dad was the same . we never had much and he had way less ( as did mom ) when they were growing up
    one story that sticks with me I always loved to shoot and have firearms ( started buying when I was about 16 )
    any way I had dad out to my house with my brother and I were just shooting 22's but burning thru the ammo back when the 50 round and 35 round ruger 10/22 rifles took off and a brick of 22 was less than 10.00 .
    I handed him the rifle he fired about 3 maybe 4 rounds and that was it .
    I ask why of course he did not want to shoot . he said growing up a box of any type of ammo shotgun or 22 all had to be accounted for , as one shot spent had better have something to eat to replace it . the biggest part of there food source was hunting and of course gardening .
    he told me his dad would get 23 to 24 rabbits / squirrels out of a 25 round box of shotgun shells , but best he did was about 18 .. but even after all the years and even me telling him go ahead just plink away his instinct would not allow wasting bullets .
    0
  • droptop
    So I guess you got her a Kitchen Aid Mixer instead of the cell phone.
    0
  • Warbirds
    Your Dad would want a higher quality of life for you than what he had.

    Enjoy it!
    0
  • us55840
    My Dad, born in 1901, didn't believe in paying interest and there were only two things he ever financed.

    He was born/raised on a farm and oldest of 6 kids. Grandad had a stoke when dad was 14 so dad took over running the farm where he lived/worked and provided for all until he got married in 1938 or 39 when the next oldest boy took over the operation.

    The first thing he financed was a farm to live on and work shortly after he got married. The banker wanted him to only buy 1/2 section but he insisted the whole section with the buildings; house, 2 barns, machine shed, granary, hog barn, chicken house, and hog barn. The crops were good and with the war on the prices were quite good too. He paid the farm off in 3 years. Eventually he owned 1540 acres & rented another 960 acres and kept about 120 head of cattle. If he didn't have the cash to pay for something, he didn't buy it. Always said it was stupid to pay interest.

    The second thing he financed was a 1962 Ford Galaxie car. An uncle was the salesperson and convinced dad to finance it so he would have a credit rating. Dad filled out the papers and we drove home in the car. About 3 months later when in town to get parts, Dad parked in front of the bank to make the car payment. We went in & dad asked how much to pay off the car loan 'cause he wasn't paying any more interest - paid the car off and that was that. He had owned 5 other new cars and never financed any of them, any farm machinery, tractors, combines or other farm equipment/tools, etc.

    Dad would be appalled at home people buy everything on time and use plastic everywhere these days along with all the stuff they buy they don't really need. :shock:
    0
  • BobJudy
    droptop wrote:
    So I guess you got her a Kitchen Aid Mixer instead of the cell phone.

    Nope - Didn't want to strain santa carrying one of those heavy suckers down the chimney. :D

    Got her an IPhone. Forgot to add all the taxes and licensing fees to the total and now I bet dad is laughing at me as well as giving me "that" look. Bob
    0
  • droptop
    BobJudy wrote:
    droptop wrote:
    So I guess you got her a Kitchen Aid Mixer instead of the cell phone.

    Nope - Didn't want to strain santa carrying one of those heavy suckers down the chimney. :D

    Got her an IPhone. Forgot to add all the taxes and licensing fees to the total and now I bet dad is laughing at me as well as giving me "that" look. Bob
    Your Christmas will be merrier.
    0
  • Toolman286
    I'm starting to sound like my father. "If you're not in the room, turn off the light, etc."
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity