Financial Lessons Learned from Others

What types of financial lessons did you learn from your parents or other family members when you were growing up? 
What kind of financial lessons did you learn from your spouse/significant other or friends?
My parents believed, like many Americans, that borrowing money for cars, or a shopping trip to Walmart, was and is a perfectly normal thing to do when they run out of money. Both of them have thousands of dollars in credit card debt. 
My Mother has cable TV for which she pays almost $200 per month for, but she cannot find the money to pay her property taxes or buy food for herself.
My Mother and Father, who are now divorced, both managed to spend every cent they made while working and both retired with no retirement savings. Now they live on what they get from social security and my mother gets a very small pension. 

My ex-husband could spend our last nickle on a pack of cigarettes. It used to drive me nuts. Anytime I would budget or plan ahead for our paychecks he would be upset that I was "spending his money before he even earned it". 
My ex has a history of being financially irresponsible. He put brand new windows, to the tune of over $5,000, into the home that his Dad left for him and his brother. The house is now being sold on the auction block next month for back property taxes, which were only about $250 a year. 
These people definitely had their priorities out of order and are financially irresponsible, and I learned my financial lessons from these people. The only difference is that I learned to NOT do what they did. 
I do not carry credit card debt, I pay all of my bills on time and in full every month. I have both checking and savings accounts, I do not bounce checks, I have investment accounts, and I live frugally and save for the future. I could not imagine living any other way because I could not sleep at night if I were financially irresponsible. 
How about you?
Belinda ~ Living within our Means ~

Saturday at the Frugal Workshop

I'm so glad today is Saturday as I've worked all week and I'm looking forward to staying home today. My daughter has library volunteer duties, but she will be able to drive herself for the first time in four years.  :)

Update on the auto insurance: We did have to get my daughter a policy of her own since the car is in her name. It worked out to about $129 per month, so not too bad for a teenage driver. 

I have to brag on her for a minute. She decided to go to a couple of yard sales while I was working yesterday, so she packed her own lunch and drinks to take along with her, so she wouldn't spend any money on those things. 

Also, she is going to her prom at the end of the month and she decided, on her own, to use the dress she wore last year. She has also decided to use it for her graduation in May, so I will not be out any money for these items. I am definitely counting my blessings there as she is not materialistic. 

She knows the trouble that credit cards can cause when they are not used responsibly and she also knows about creating multiple income streams. She has had a wonderful example of this from one of her teachers. It is my hope and prayer that she continues to be financially savvy in the years to come because as we all know it will do her well. 

Today dinner will be Cheese Enchiladas, using my Homemade Enchilada Sauce,  Mexican Rice, and Pinto Beans all made from scratch. 

I hope you all have a great weekend. 

Thank you for reading,
Belinda ~ Living within my means in Southern Tennessee ~
Earn with Swagbucks