John’s dad, nicknamed “El Cheapo,” is one of our money-management role models. He doesn’t live in misery or wear tattered shoes—he simply prioritizes what matters most to him. He saves for big, meaningful goals like a family-sized vehicle or a vacation home where the family can gather, and he opts out of things that carry less long-term value to him, such as upscale restaurant meals or an oversized, room-filling television. Of course, what matters is personal: if a flat-screen TV would bring you more joy than a minivan, then save for the TV. The key is intentional choices.
Tom literally squirreled money away for years to buy a car, researched extensively, purchased the right vehicle, and drove it until it amassed extraordinary mileage. That strategy yields a far lower cost per year or per mile than many people expect. True story: he still drives a fully functional 1998 Nissan Quest with over 300,000 miles on it, while his wife drives a new Honda Pilot. They saved up for the Pilot, but the Nissan still runs, so his attitude is simply, “Why not keep driving it until it dies?” In short, he knows what to save on and what to invest in, and he isn’t shy about redirecting funds toward things that bring him and his family lasting joy—a genuinely admirable approach.
We referenced both Tom and my father when we answered the question “How do you budget and afford so many DIY projects?” a few months back.
After reading that post, Tom sent an inspiring email we had to share. We’re always a little surprised and delighted when relatives tell us they read the blog, and his message felt worth passing along. Here are Tom Petersik’s wise words:
“Loved your frugal blog post! Funny thing: I was just ‘admiring’ that puffy painted tie from John yesterday. But onward to the main point: too often frugality is incorrectly viewed as ‘giving up,’ when the real point of frugality is ‘getting what you really, really want.’ Many times I think the main point of frugality isn’t in ‘not buying’; the main point of frugality—and perhaps life—is to recognize what brings you the greatest rewards and to pursue those things enthusiastically. When Kathy and I got married, buying our first home was a big stretch—$27,500—but we loved every minute of it. Buying our current home was an even bigger stretch, but it has been a great blessing. Both were frugal decisions. The point is, if you genuinely derive great pleasure from something, frugal behavior is to go for it—enthusiastically and whole hog. Who cares if you’re not going out to dinner if the money saved can afford the things you truly want? What you give up matters little compared with the pleasure of making better choices.” —Love, Tom/Dad
We wanted to share his words because they resonated with us and because many readers connected with that original money-management post. While we’re on the topic of valuable parental advice, have your parents or other family members passed down lessons that shaped how you manage money or make choices? We’d love to hear what traditions or practical wisdom are being passed along in your household—those stories often inspire others and highlight how simple choices add up to meaningful priorities.