Teach the younger generation some tricks

[Cruzr Joe]

I am 66 years old and grew up poor, here are some of the things we did to survive when i was young and had a family. Chime in with yours.


1 - Bought used, or if i had any extra money bought recap tires for the family car.

2 - Brother-law worked at a garage and saved the used oil from customer cars so we could use it in out oil burning cars.

More to come


Cruzr Joe

 

[SPYD3R]

CUSKED

1. WE WOULD YELL AT THE RAIL YARD WORKERS WHO THREW COAL AT US... WE'D PICK IT UP TO BRING IT HOME TO HELP HEAT THE HOUSE...
2. WE WOULD GO FISHING TO GET FOOD, NOT FOR FUN...
3. WE WOULD GO DOOR-TO-DOOR COLLECTING OLD NEWS PAPERS AND RAGS TO SELL TO THE JUNK MAN...
4. WE WOULD SHOVEL SNOW FROM MORNING UNTIL DARK AND GIVE THE PROCEEDS TO MOM...
5. WE WOULD SIT ON A CORNER WITH A SHOE-SHINE BOX AND SHINE SHOES FOR 5 CENTS...

 

[Chupaca]

Don't go there...!!

We cut the tire grooves deeper to get more mileage then went to recaps.
Bored our cylinder to the max sleeved them and started over.
Used oatmeal to plug radiator leaks.
Put ground beef in the differencials to quiet them down.
Shined our cars by wiping them down with kerosene
To mention a few...:roflblack::roflblack:

 

[bruiser]

Yep. Grew up on the poor side too. Lived in the projects for many years. I went around to construction sites and collected waste copper and aluminum. Worked with my uncle and cousin collecting car generators and starters and breaking them down for the copper then selling it to scrap dealers. My dad and I would go around collecting newspapers and cardboard and selling it to the scrap dealer. Also collected soda bottles for the refund. Mom and Dad never owned a house so we moved around. I always worked doing something ever since I was old enough to push a reel mower to cut grass.

 

[DLewis]

We cut grass
Collected bottles for the deposits
Raked leaves
Gathered and shelled pecans and sold them

 

[Cruzr Joe]

As a young kid 7 - 8 years old i was embarrassed whenever me and my step dad went out and collected used newspapers to sell to the scrap dealer to make extra money. I am lucky enough to say that my children never had to do things like this. Are they lucky or did it teach me something that they may never learn???


Cruzr Joe

 

[Blue Star]

What we did

Dad bought a Mercedes Benz instead of the Rolls Royce, and took us on a 7-day cruise instead of the usual 14-day cruise. It was a really hard year, but we were fortunate that we did not have to let the house help go that year :yikes:





Okay I'll be honest. I delivered newspapers to give money to my Mom, and cut grass for my Dad. My allowance was 2 cents a week for a piece of gum.

Does anyone remember bread crumbs in the meat loaf to make the meat go further? (I still like it better that way)

 

[Cruzr Joe]

I remember the bread crumbs in the meat loaf, nobody ever told me it was to make the meat go further. I may be sorry i started this, it brings back a lot of sad times.


Cruzr Joe

 

[SNOOPY]

Have to admit I never did anything mentioned in this thread.

Had it good my whole life.

Always had more than enough.

Guess I'm just spoiled.





Only issue I think I've had is that I'm a compulsive liar, probably from being so poor growing up....


.

 

[Gordy]

we cut and split firewood and sold it for $5.00 for a wagon box load, about a cord and a half

 

[SNOOPY]

we cut and split firewood and sold it for $5.00 for a wagon box load, about a cord and a half

My wife use to do that w her dad, I make her do the yard work now....

 

[Yazz]

I may be sorry i started this, it brings back a lot of sad times.
Cruzr Joe

You do what you have to do to get by. It's probably harder on the parents than the children.

Growing up, there was a grocery store across the street. Me and my little sister used to go dumpster diving for expired food. One time we found the mother load of cheese. Mom put it in the freezer. Frozen cheese has a different texture...

 

[bmccaffrey]

good luck

Good luck with that!!!!!!

SPOILED!!!
No respect!!!!
Lazy!!!!!
No work ethics!!!!!

SHALL I CONTINUE:cheers:

 

[HIspyder]

I remember the bread crumbs in the meat loaf, nobody ever told me it was to make the meat go further. I may be sorry i started this, it brings back a lot of sad times.


Cruzr Joe

My wife's meatloaf is the best. Bread crumbs are just and ingredient in her recipe. I never thought it had to do with anything else.

 

[BajaRon]

We always had oatmeal in our meatloaf to make it go farther. It really swells up when it gets soaked.

We had 2 lemon trees in the backyard. Used to make a killing on lemonade. We picked the lemons (watch out for the THORNS!) and we thought the ice cubes and water were FREE! Our parent's never told us different.

We had everything we needed and I never considered ourselves poor.

 

[Cruzr Joe]

We always had oatmeal in our meatloaf to make it go farther. It really swells up when it gets soaked.

We had 2 lemon trees in the backyard. Used to make a killing on lemonade. We picked the lemons (watch out for the THORNS!) and we thought the ice cubes and water were FREE! Our parent's never told us different.

We had everything we needed and I never considered ourselves poor.

I grew up in Brooklyn New York in the 50s & 60s and don't remember my parents paying a water bill or garbage bill, we rented in what was commonly referred to as a cold water flat in a 6 story walk up with steam (radiator) heat from 6 A.M. till 10 P.M.. (that means you boiled water on the stove if you wanted hot water and we lived on the top floor so you walked up six flights of stairs to get to your apartment).

Cruzr Joe

 

[BajaRon]

Powdered milk... I still have a great aversion to powdered milk...

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Powdered milk... I still have a great aversion to powdered milk...

OHHH, I am sorry you mentioned that, i had put it out of my mind (along with the farina) years ago.

Cruzr Joe

 

[mudcruiserman]

Army surplus peanut butter (oil on top), Government cheese and day old bread.
Shined shoes up and down the bar strip. Still don't like fresh bread.

 

[garb55]

I did most of these things when I was growing up [had a divorced mom to help]
After I moved out on my own I still used these ways to make a dollar stretch
I had a good job but it just seemed right not to waste money
Had 4 kids and I built my own home from the ground up with no help
Did all my own car repairs and home repairs and taught my kids the same
I did spoil my kids but I also taught them not to waste money and how to stretch it [not rubber money:roflblack:]

I have to laugh now when I see them use my tricks

They all have good jobs but they are teaching their kids not to waste

Some things are worth passing on
You never know when things will turn bad and I think my kids will survive
Don