Old Habits

This past Saturday evening, I attended a stake conference meeting. The speakers talked about self-reliance and managing personal resources. One speaker gave a quote that his grandfather used frequently, “Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do, or do without.”

As a young girl that is exactly the way, we did things. Never did I get a new pair of shoes because I wanted them. If I didn’t need them, I didn’t get them. Money was tight and unless you needed something, you didn’t get it.

This was not a bad thing. It was the way life was. When I search the stores for gifts to buy, I can hardly believe how much some things cost. For instance, one of my favorite pastimes as a child during the long winter was playing with paper dolls. We didn’t spend the money for them, although they didn’t cost what they do now. We cut our own dolls and clothing out of the Sears Catalogue. I never lacked for something to do. We always made do with what we had.

My upbringing carried over into my own family. We passed clothing down from one child to another one. I notice my own children doing the same thing. They even pass clothing from one family to another one. I always shop for bargains or for sales. I never pay full price for anything. I see my own children also doing this.

With money being tight, I’ll bet some people are in for a rude awakening. Some children have always got everything their hearts desired. Our family has not. Old habits are hard to break, and it’s hard to give someone something they don’t need. I think many people will be going back to the old saying “Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do, or do without.”