I can only agree, certainly as far as my own experiences go. My parents didn't have a lot of money but always covered the bills and essentials, including my sister's and myself's well-being. We always had the correct school uniform and dinner money, for example. Thinking back, my sister and I never really asked for much and weren't the types to pester our parents when there was something we wanted - including consoles and computers! I think we had a really good early upbringing and, without really understanding the reasons why at that age, we felt thankful for what we did get as and when we received treats (or when there were "bigger " items that we had shown interest in). My dad was from a foreign land and had no real education, but he was a grafter. He was often away from home for long spells whilst travelling the world with his job, which sounds far more glamorous than it was in reality! He was a heavy haulage engineer/foreman and would often be swinging from cranes 8-storeys up on a girder, or guiding a series of multi-wheeled trucks attempting to drive an oversized load cross-country. Mum, on the other hand, was a housewife after giving up her job when I was born (largely through ill health). The single income was tough on them (I think), but they were always sensible (Mum looked after the finances!) Through them, I believe my sis and I developed a respect for the value/worth of things and we both inherited Dad's grafting qualities! 🤣
I remember saving pocket money from my grandad, paper rounds, car washing, "farming" and that's how I was so fortunate to be able to get into videogames and computers from an early age. I would work and save like mad, and my parents would help me as and when they could (as with my sister). My folks had no interest in gaming or computers, but recognised mine. And as soon as I had got my first Woody Atari 2600 plugged in and running, my Mum took more of an interest! And the same with home computers, too. I was a bit of a weird kid, though. When I got my home computer, I was more interested in making it do things by programming it as opposed to just playing games on it. I remember when I was a bit older and bought my Atari ST... along with a book about 68000 assembly language!
I was lucky though insofar that I had plenty of opportunities to make pocket money as I wasn't afraid to work for it. The "farming" for example... I spent a lot of time with my aunt/uncle in a lovely farming village back in the day. It was one of those old-school villages where folks left their doors open, crime was pretty much non-existent, and everyone was friendly and welcoming (and knew each other). Through my aunt/uncle, I would get jobs helping the local farmer over school holidays and weekends. Nothing too dangerous, of course - just things like mucking out stables, collecting fruit in the orchards, moving tractors around the yard... A fiver here, a fiver there, a tenner here, a tenner there, and it added up over time. In truth, I felt rich as I was only a young lad and having 20 quid handed to me was amazing! I always looked to give some of my spoils to my parents but they never took it!
Ultimately, I wouldn't be where I am today without them.
I know that's obvious, but I think I had parents who "got it right". Whilst they weren't rich in cash, they were wealthy beyond infinity in terms of their love and care towards us.
@mace¬ I'm sure you're doing just fine, buddy.
