You had a budget at a young age ? That is a major difference right there.
Sounds like you were wise beyond you years.
There are plenty of stories from back in the day of no floor coverings, sheets for curtains and so on. Thousands of those stories.
People got by. They did that because the era their parents grew up in was worse. E.g between the wars.
But, that doesn't mean we need to repeat it.
Did you share your budget ideas with your kids ? I'm wondering how that went ?
I think that is the greatest gift. Teaching young people how to budget. How to find ways to balance between the necessities and a little bit of luxury.
The ' bare foot investor ' books outlined this well. Sensible budgeting should be taught from early childhood imv.
I think the hardest part of this is being able to communicate the budgeting message in a way that young people will appreciate. The old " back in my day stories " just don't work.
Reminds me of this. An absolute classic.
