It's a Wonderfully Frugal Life
January 9th 2007 06:33
I watched, Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” this past Christmas. Thinking about it later, I was struck by one of George Bailey’s overlooked virtues. Everyone appreciates George’s selflessness, hard work, and courage.
But have you ever thought how George, in his wonderful life was the exemplary saver? In fact, without George’s savings, his life and it’s impact on others wouldn’t be so wonderful.
When we meet George as an adult, he’s preparing to take a trip to Europe prior to starting college. George Bailey’s college days were long before Student Loans or Pell Grants. No worries, George had the money in cash for both the trip and college already saved up. Of course, George had waited until he was 22 to go to college, but it was still an impressive feat. It must have required saving constantly from his job as an errand boy in Mr. Gower’s drug store through his job with his father’s Savings and Loan company. Living in his parents’ boarding house, he had the benefit of no expenses, which made savings a lot easier.
Of course, George’s father died and he had to take care of the Bailey Building and Loan, so he had the money on hand to send his little brother to college in his place with the plan that four years later, he’d go out. George’s saving allowed his brother, Harry to go to college.
Of course, it didn’t work out like he planned. Harry came home with a new bride whose father offered him a high paying job elsewhere. George continued to hold down the fort at the Bailey Building and Loan and married a local girl named Mary. After the ceremony, they were ready to go on a lavish honeymoon with $2,000 (a great sum in that day.) that they’d both saved.
On their way to their romantic getaway, they spotted a huge line of people outside the Building and Loan. They were locked out. George opened the door and let them in and found a crisis on his hands. The bank had taken all of the building and loan’s money due to Depression Era measures. Those with accounts in the building and loan were there for their money, and the evil Mr. Potter was offering 50 cents on the dollar to buy out people’s accounts at the Building and Loan, which would effectively give him the company.
The $2,000 allows George to loan money to his depositors until the bank reopens. He saves the building and loan because he had money to use for an emergency.
The lesson is clear, if you want to be able to give something to do good, you need to save something. How do you save? One part of the equation is by seeking out bargains and being frugal and that is what this little blog will help you do.
But have you ever thought how George, in his wonderful life was the exemplary saver? In fact, without George’s savings, his life and it’s impact on others wouldn’t be so wonderful.
When we meet George as an adult, he’s preparing to take a trip to Europe prior to starting college. George Bailey’s college days were long before Student Loans or Pell Grants. No worries, George had the money in cash for both the trip and college already saved up. Of course, George had waited until he was 22 to go to college, but it was still an impressive feat. It must have required saving constantly from his job as an errand boy in Mr. Gower’s drug store through his job with his father’s Savings and Loan company. Living in his parents’ boarding house, he had the benefit of no expenses, which made savings a lot easier.
Of course, George’s father died and he had to take care of the Bailey Building and Loan, so he had the money on hand to send his little brother to college in his place with the plan that four years later, he’d go out. George’s saving allowed his brother, Harry to go to college.
Of course, it didn’t work out like he planned. Harry came home with a new bride whose father offered him a high paying job elsewhere. George continued to hold down the fort at the Bailey Building and Loan and married a local girl named Mary. After the ceremony, they were ready to go on a lavish honeymoon with $2,000 (a great sum in that day.) that they’d both saved.
On their way to their romantic getaway, they spotted a huge line of people outside the Building and Loan. They were locked out. George opened the door and let them in and found a crisis on his hands. The bank had taken all of the building and loan’s money due to Depression Era measures. Those with accounts in the building and loan were there for their money, and the evil Mr. Potter was offering 50 cents on the dollar to buy out people’s accounts at the Building and Loan, which would effectively give him the company.
The $2,000 allows George to loan money to his depositors until the bank reopens. He saves the building and loan because he had money to use for an emergency.
The lesson is clear, if you want to be able to give something to do good, you need to save something. How do you save? One part of the equation is by seeking out bargains and being frugal and that is what this little blog will help you do.
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Comment by Theresa
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I really liked how you used one of my favorite movies to show how being frugal can be such a positive thing in our lives.
Not to say that I'm anything approaching perfect on this point, sigh, but I aspire....
Also very much liked your idea about planning ahead for the gifts that will really fit the person, in your other post.
Please keep these good ideas coming