My parents were not college grads,mom and dad busted their asses to provide for the family. Sent six kids to Catholic school for 12 grades, sent 4 to college. Dad was a accountant for an oil company,mom was an RN. They had the same house for 53 years and watched expenses. Mom died over 20 years ago
and recently, dad is starting to see his health fail.
When one of my sisters and I sat down with dad to go over what he had, we were surprised with the amount of money he and mom had saved. It's not a million, but I saw the results of his frugality. He apologized it wasn't more, but he said that mom and dad always thought their greatest wealth was in their children. Like dad said,
"A penny saved, is a penny earned.",
"If it is not a need, then it's a want.",
"why buy new?",
"will you still use it in a year?",
"it's never the money, it's the expense."
Thanks Mom and Dad