Old School – Self Reliance 101

The Damsel used to hang on every word that fell from the pen of Amy Dacyczyn, who in spite of a lack of vowels, managed to write a funny, concise, and extremely useful frugality newsletter. The minute it came in the mail (yes, it was THAT long ago) the Damsel would devour it. She always found it full of ideas on how to save a buck.

The newsletter, The Tightwad Gazette (long may it live in memory), became so popular that Amy and family had plenty of sheckels. Soon people began asking why she’d go to such extremes (washing and reusing tin foil, for example) when their budget no longer required it.

She replied that although money was no longer a huge consideration, she enjoyed being hyper-frugal for its own sake. It gave her a lot of satisfaction to know she wasn’t wasting her family’s resources. Sometimes her measures were more eco-friendly, so that was a reward of its own. But sometimes she did over-the-top frugal activities purely because she chose to.

The Damsel recounts this because people ask her a similar question: why do things the old-fashioned way? Why, Damsel?

To this she must reply a la Amy: because it gives her a cozy feeling. She feels more secure knowing that she has some basic skills to take care of her family, come what may. And when she realizes how few people still have these skills, it gives her a sad, sick feeling inside.

The Damsel recently read a novel set in the future in which no one could remember how to write with a pen or pencil, because all “writing” was done with electronic gadgets. Much was lost in this society because of that. Granted, that’s an extreme example, but when knowledge of basic skills of survival without technology are lost, what will happen?

Maybe nothing. But the Damsel likes knowing how to make her own buttermilk, just in case.