Grandma says: “You get what you pay for.”
Since I have adopted the habit of devoting one blog a week to the wisdom of Grandma Fannie I have became more aware of how much of my life is directed by her wisdom.
For example, on more than one occasion I have elected to “save money” by purchasing something at a price which seemed a terrific bargain. More times that I care to admit, I quickly discovered that my bargain purchase was designed to last until I got it home and then, as if it was part of a James Bond movie, go into automatic destruct mode. As soon as that happens, I hear Grandma Fannie saying, “You get what you pay for.”
Grandma Fannie could stretch a penny further than most people could stretch hundreds of dollars. As an adult, I think about the fact that although Grandma Fannie canned a lot of food, there were still supplies that had to be purchased including the jars, lids, pressure cooker, and some of the ingredients (i. e. vinegar for pickles). She also purchased, flour, sugar and I think Crisco or lard although some lard may have been pork or beef fat. Additionally, she had to purchase baby chickens, seeds and at times a new cow or pig. Yet, no matter how many people came to visit she had food to feed them. If anyone left her home hungry it was not because there was a scarcity of food. There was also furniture, fountain pens, a piano, stationary, books, gas for the car to visit sick friends and relatives, and many other items that she and Grandpa Ed must have purchased. I do know that in later years Grandpa got a small railroad pension and they both, got a small social security check. I also know that Grandma Fannie sold extra eggs and cream although there was always fresh cream and an endless supply of eggs still left at her house.
I often ask myself, “Was Jesus or some magician at work here turning one loaf of bread into many or turning a one dollar bill into a hundred?” I do know that the money was managed by Grandma Fannie. More than once I heard her remind Grandpa Ed that he has failed to repay a nickel he has “borrowed”.
I am tempted, now that I am in my 7th decade, to suggest that “There must have been more money than I thought or they just do not make things like they used to”. While those things could be true, I also then recall Grandma Fannie saying, “You get what you pay for.” Somehow Grandma Fannie seemed to know without the internet, the value of quality, whether it was purchasing a cream separator, a car, shoes, a purse. a piece of furniture or ingredients for cooking/canning. Much of what she bought would, for the most part, last much longer than her life span.
I am also aware that in those days one did not expect to purchase everything on credit. One bought one item at a time when one had saved the money. One might put something on lay-a-way, but one did not bring the item home until it was paid for in full.
As was the case with many of her wise reminders, this saying of hers also seemed to apply to non-material possessions. She seemed to think or believe that if one wanted a healthy relationship, a beautiful flower garden, a well written letter, good spiritual habits, or an inviting church one invested a lot a lot time and energy to insure a quality outcome. Obviously, she knew that one could not control another person, but she made sure she made a significant investment. When another person was unable to hold up their end of the relationship she quit investing energy – other than prayers of course. She and Grandpa got divorced for a time and only remarried when she decided that this was a good investment. Later she would claim that she remarried partly because she did not want him to grow older and be alone. In fact he died well before she did. She did nurse him after cancer came to visit and eventually claim his life.
When I returned to Wheeling to live with only a couple of pieces of furniture I again knew that Grandma Fannie would suggest that I purchase good quality used furniture rather than inexpensive new furniture which would not wear well. I know that every time I ignore Grandma’s Fannie’s wisdom she takes up residence and gives me the same sort of lecture she used to deliver when giving my siblings and I a quarter. I was convinced that there was some disparity between the worth of the quarter and the length of the lecture, but then Grandma Fannie was not one to pass up on opportunity to “teach”.
It seems to this simple mind that as individuals, communities and as a nation we would do well to heed Grandma Fannie’s advice. Perhaps it is just the perspective of an aging man, but it does seem to me that we are a nation which is often focused on short term gratification and long term disaster. Perhaps focusing on quality would give us better results in all areas of our life. This might entail practicing patience and doing without at times but perhaps the results would be better long term. Certainly, Grandma Fannie would say, “You get what you pay for.”
Thanks Grandma Fannie.
Written August 21, 2017
Since I have adopted the habit of devoting one blog a week to the wisdom of Grandma Fannie I have became more aware of how much of my life is directed by her wisdom.
For example, on more than one occasion I have elected to “save money” by purchasing something at a price which seemed a terrific bargain. More times that I care to admit, I quickly discovered that my bargain purchase was designed to last until I got it home and then, as if it was part of a James Bond movie, go into automatic destruct mode. As soon as that happens, I hear Grandma Fannie saying, “You get what you pay for.”
Grandma Fannie could stretch a penny further than most people could stretch hundreds of dollars. As an adult, I think about the fact that although Grandma Fannie canned a lot of food, there were still supplies that had to be purchased including the jars, lids, pressure cooker, and some of the ingredients (i. e. vinegar for pickles). She also purchased, flour, sugar and I think Crisco or lard although some lard may have been pork or beef fat. Additionally, she had to purchase baby chickens, seeds and at times a new cow or pig. Yet, no matter how many people came to visit she had food to feed them. If anyone left her home hungry it was not because there was a scarcity of food. There was also furniture, fountain pens, a piano, stationary, books, gas for the car to visit sick friends and relatives, and many other items that she and Grandpa Ed must have purchased. I do know that in later years Grandpa got a small railroad pension and they both, got a small social security check. I also know that Grandma Fannie sold extra eggs and cream although there was always fresh cream and an endless supply of eggs still left at her house.
I often ask myself, “Was Jesus or some magician at work here turning one loaf of bread into many or turning a one dollar bill into a hundred?” I do know that the money was managed by Grandma Fannie. More than once I heard her remind Grandpa Ed that he has failed to repay a nickel he has “borrowed”.
I am tempted, now that I am in my 7th decade, to suggest that “There must have been more money than I thought or they just do not make things like they used to”. While those things could be true, I also then recall Grandma Fannie saying, “You get what you pay for.” Somehow Grandma Fannie seemed to know without the internet, the value of quality, whether it was purchasing a cream separator, a car, shoes, a purse. a piece of furniture or ingredients for cooking/canning. Much of what she bought would, for the most part, last much longer than her life span.
I am also aware that in those days one did not expect to purchase everything on credit. One bought one item at a time when one had saved the money. One might put something on lay-a-way, but one did not bring the item home until it was paid for in full.
As was the case with many of her wise reminders, this saying of hers also seemed to apply to non-material possessions. She seemed to think or believe that if one wanted a healthy relationship, a beautiful flower garden, a well written letter, good spiritual habits, or an inviting church one invested a lot a lot time and energy to insure a quality outcome. Obviously, she knew that one could not control another person, but she made sure she made a significant investment. When another person was unable to hold up their end of the relationship she quit investing energy – other than prayers of course. She and Grandpa got divorced for a time and only remarried when she decided that this was a good investment. Later she would claim that she remarried partly because she did not want him to grow older and be alone. In fact he died well before she did. She did nurse him after cancer came to visit and eventually claim his life.
When I returned to Wheeling to live with only a couple of pieces of furniture I again knew that Grandma Fannie would suggest that I purchase good quality used furniture rather than inexpensive new furniture which would not wear well. I know that every time I ignore Grandma’s Fannie’s wisdom she takes up residence and gives me the same sort of lecture she used to deliver when giving my siblings and I a quarter. I was convinced that there was some disparity between the worth of the quarter and the length of the lecture, but then Grandma Fannie was not one to pass up on opportunity to “teach”.
It seems to this simple mind that as individuals, communities and as a nation we would do well to heed Grandma Fannie’s advice. Perhaps it is just the perspective of an aging man, but it does seem to me that we are a nation which is often focused on short term gratification and long term disaster. Perhaps focusing on quality would give us better results in all areas of our life. This might entail practicing patience and doing without at times but perhaps the results would be better long term. Certainly, Grandma Fannie would say, “You get what you pay for.”
Thanks Grandma Fannie.
Written August 21, 2017
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