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<blockquote data-quote="Shari" data-source="post: 390392" data-attributes="member: 1848"><p>I'd bet my botoom dollar this is where a lot of it comes from. And honestly, I'm glad to know nd not just speculate.</p><p> </p><p>Growing up, Janet, my dad was a full time farmer, my parents were full time farmers. Row crops and livestock. My mom went back to work when I started school to make ends meet. Unfortunately, I was aware of money at a fiarlyyoung age, cause we didn't have any. Mom going back to work afforded us some stability with a regular income. When I was 8-10, they bought an old pop-up camper and we took a vacation. When I was about 12, we took another one. And we camped some in there, and had an old boat we'd take out on weekends. But things fell apart in the drought during the 80's and that ended. My brother went thru 3 years of college eating every supper at a happy hour. For the price of one beer, he could have all you can eat wings or whatever the place served, and he scouted the town and knew the menu. Cause money was that tight.</p><p> </p><p>My parents live in the farm house they bought 50 years ago. After all us kids left, they got rid of the turquoise and yellow shag carpet downstairs (its still on the stairs and all over the upstairs) and put down nice neutral shades. My dad got into restoring antique furniture he'd buy at auctions for a little bit of nothing, so most of the furniture is stuff he restored. Mom painted most of the panelled walls and the place looks nice now. Never mind the foundation is falling in and its just time till she will have to more (the house is huge. it is also ancient) But Two Brooms sat there for 3 days when my dad died, and took inventory. I wasn't the only one that felt that way. And for a year afterwards, she was almost giddy to go to mom's sale. She never asked how my mom was doing, or I. But every time we saw her for a year, she'd ask when the sale was.</p><p> </p><p>My mom leases the farm out now, and makes a stable income from that. It is the first time in 55 years she's had enough money that she knows she will get by (she made WELL UNDER poverty level income at her job even when she retired). Farming was a gamble, you just never know what the year would bring. I don't believe I grew up poor, but I grew up knowing that our next meal impacted how much money was left to buy next year's seed, so the next meal might be white rice and milk...and that was ok.</p><p> </p><p>The income she gets from the lease is STILL not upper middle class. No where near. Not even really middle middle class. But the farm is paid off now, and she can enjoy herself. Us kids don't want the money. We'd like the farm to stay in the family, but we've also told her if she wants to sell it, and travel the world, to go for it. She's earned the right. So far, that's not what she wants to do. </p><p> </p><p>Two Brooms paid for husband, his sister, and his nephew to go to college. I can't tell you the last time my parents bought me clothes, but they buy them for husband and his sis and the kids all the time. husband and his sis spent literally EVERY weekend growing up at their lot at the lake. WIth a boat. Now the Brooms have 3 boats and a mobile home on a permanent lot at the lake. She co-signed for nephew to buy a convertible when he had no job, and she ended up paying for it. When he totalled it, and she got the insurance check, she gave it to him! </p><p> </p><p>But yeah, my family is supposedly the ones tossing around money. In my goodwill clothes. I was just thinking the other day as I was trying to find somethign to wear to nephew's wedding, that my exBIL asked for a gift certificate to a clothing store one year for Christmas, and I thought I might like that, too. Looking around the store of new clothes was kinda fun, knowing I did have just a bit of money to spend to buy something. </p><p> </p><p>I know Two Brooms paid for the rehearsal dinner. And most likely sister in law's mother's dress for nephew's wedding. </p><p> </p><p>I still find it ironic that I am the one content to drive 20 year old cars in this picture, and am almost hell-bent on making sure they are cared for so we can keep driving them. I'm the one angry that husband won't manage things better because some day I want to buy a nicer home (this one is well over 120 years old, and not even insulated). husband plans to move to his folks' place when they die. My camper is 24 years old, but I fixed it up and keep it in good repair. Everything in it works. My truck is 16 years old. My son paid for his own truck and most of his own college. He buys his own clothes. Heck, its a rarity that I even buy his meals when we eat out. And SHE buys her 40 year old daughter GROCERIES! And pays her insurance and electric bill. </p><p> </p><p>And MY family is throwing around money???? Where? Cause I'd like to get some.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Shari, post: 390392, member: 1848"] I'd bet my botoom dollar this is where a lot of it comes from. And honestly, I'm glad to know nd not just speculate. Growing up, Janet, my dad was a full time farmer, my parents were full time farmers. Row crops and livestock. My mom went back to work when I started school to make ends meet. Unfortunately, I was aware of money at a fiarlyyoung age, cause we didn't have any. Mom going back to work afforded us some stability with a regular income. When I was 8-10, they bought an old pop-up camper and we took a vacation. When I was about 12, we took another one. And we camped some in there, and had an old boat we'd take out on weekends. But things fell apart in the drought during the 80's and that ended. My brother went thru 3 years of college eating every supper at a happy hour. For the price of one beer, he could have all you can eat wings or whatever the place served, and he scouted the town and knew the menu. Cause money was that tight. My parents live in the farm house they bought 50 years ago. After all us kids left, they got rid of the turquoise and yellow shag carpet downstairs (its still on the stairs and all over the upstairs) and put down nice neutral shades. My dad got into restoring antique furniture he'd buy at auctions for a little bit of nothing, so most of the furniture is stuff he restored. Mom painted most of the panelled walls and the place looks nice now. Never mind the foundation is falling in and its just time till she will have to more (the house is huge. it is also ancient) But Two Brooms sat there for 3 days when my dad died, and took inventory. I wasn't the only one that felt that way. And for a year afterwards, she was almost giddy to go to mom's sale. She never asked how my mom was doing, or I. But every time we saw her for a year, she'd ask when the sale was. My mom leases the farm out now, and makes a stable income from that. It is the first time in 55 years she's had enough money that she knows she will get by (she made WELL UNDER poverty level income at her job even when she retired). Farming was a gamble, you just never know what the year would bring. I don't believe I grew up poor, but I grew up knowing that our next meal impacted how much money was left to buy next year's seed, so the next meal might be white rice and milk...and that was ok. The income she gets from the lease is STILL not upper middle class. No where near. Not even really middle middle class. But the farm is paid off now, and she can enjoy herself. Us kids don't want the money. We'd like the farm to stay in the family, but we've also told her if she wants to sell it, and travel the world, to go for it. She's earned the right. So far, that's not what she wants to do. Two Brooms paid for husband, his sister, and his nephew to go to college. I can't tell you the last time my parents bought me clothes, but they buy them for husband and his sis and the kids all the time. husband and his sis spent literally EVERY weekend growing up at their lot at the lake. WIth a boat. Now the Brooms have 3 boats and a mobile home on a permanent lot at the lake. She co-signed for nephew to buy a convertible when he had no job, and she ended up paying for it. When he totalled it, and she got the insurance check, she gave it to him! But yeah, my family is supposedly the ones tossing around money. In my goodwill clothes. I was just thinking the other day as I was trying to find somethign to wear to nephew's wedding, that my exBIL asked for a gift certificate to a clothing store one year for Christmas, and I thought I might like that, too. Looking around the store of new clothes was kinda fun, knowing I did have just a bit of money to spend to buy something. I know Two Brooms paid for the rehearsal dinner. And most likely sister in law's mother's dress for nephew's wedding. I still find it ironic that I am the one content to drive 20 year old cars in this picture, and am almost hell-bent on making sure they are cared for so we can keep driving them. I'm the one angry that husband won't manage things better because some day I want to buy a nicer home (this one is well over 120 years old, and not even insulated). husband plans to move to his folks' place when they die. My camper is 24 years old, but I fixed it up and keep it in good repair. Everything in it works. My truck is 16 years old. My son paid for his own truck and most of his own college. He buys his own clothes. Heck, its a rarity that I even buy his meals when we eat out. And SHE buys her 40 year old daughter GROCERIES! And pays her insurance and electric bill. And MY family is throwing around money???? Where? Cause I'd like to get some. [/QUOTE]
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