Quote:
Originally Posted by sugarwood
By appearing poor, you made your father look poor. He did not want to look poor.
It's the same logic many men have when they have a wife that does not work.
It is a form of conspicuous consumption and a way to indirectly signal status.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jyl
+1
Not a depression mentality, more of living up to his perception of social standards.
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The OP's father was an early boomer, born shortly after the war as was I. He undoubtedly got his values from his Depression Era parents, but by the time he was old enough to "understand," he was smack in the post-war era where the above two posts apply.
I, too, can relate to the OP's stories as I was raised in the same social/economic environment as his father. Family image was important, not only in appearance but in behavior. The Depression Era values came out in the "Don't waste food--finish your meal" directives and the overall value put on practicality/durability of goods over form or fashion, as well as the "save for a rainy day" approach to money and spending. These are the messages I grew up with and, in modified form, have passed on to my children who are probably close to the OP in age. I didn't go as far as be concerned about shoes or bread, but the overall "look" of my children (three daughters) was important--especially for my wife.