Frugality

My grandmother, who was raised in an orphanage in Gnadenthau in the Volga area (Wiesenseite) patched bed sheets until the sheets were basically nothing BUT patches, all neatly stitched by hand. For a covering over the bedspread in her guestroom (to keep it dust free) she stitched together plastic bags from Wheaties Cereal (? from the 1950's).  She would never use the gifts given to her by her adult children, it was like she COULDN'T use anything new herself!  She saved all those gifts and later gave them back to the corresponding grandchildren.  For example, I received a very out-of-date but brand new toaster when I got my first apartment.  She also did many of the other frugal things.  She and my grandfather settled in Portland, Oregon and are buried there.

Sally Zitzer, Seattle, Washington

 

My mother saved everything, including grease from bacon with which she made soap, and string which was wound into a ball.

Lois Klaus -Portland, Oregon (family from Norka and Kolb)

 

My mother saved tea bags and used them again and again. She also used flour sacks for tea towels and used feed sacks to make play clothes and pajamas. Turkey bones were used to make soup the day after Thanksgiving.  She always saved gift wrapping paper and bows that could be used again.

Ruth Schultz (family from Norka)

 

All the contributions sound familiar. Here are a few more from my GR grandmother:

Buttons, zippers, trim etc. were removed from clothes that could no longer be worn, and kept for re-use.

New clothes came from old clothes also---overalls for her little boys came from Grandpa's and the older boys' worn work pants or overalls. A little winter coat for me was first my aunt's wool coat, etc.

Old blankets became the batting in quilts.

Crust ends (or heels) of Grandma's homemade bread, if not used otherwise, were dried in the oven, and became breakfast when dipped into strong hot tea mixed with milk, to which a bit of butter or a sprinkling of nutmeg was added. (Called "Kalmuka Tay")

Bonnie Anderson

Volga German Thrift 

A Volga German woman goes into the local newspaper office to see that the obituary for her recently deceased husband is written. The obit editor informs her that the fee for the obituary is 50 cents a word. The widow pauses, reflects and then says, "Well then, let it read 'Konrad Schlitthauermann died.'" Amused at the woman's thrift, the editor tells her that there is a seven-word minimum for all obituaries. Only a little flustered, the widow thinks things over and in a few seconds says, "In that case, let it read, 'Konrad Schlitthauermann died. 1993 pick-up for sale.'"