My first experience that involved my own money started when I was about 11. A preacher and his family moved into a home down the street. They had three small children (all under the age of five). Needless to say, the housewife had her hands full. She told my Mother that she really needed to get out for a few hours and that her house was a mess. Mother said, "Nita Grace will keep your children and clean your house for ten cents an hour." I went over at about 10am the next morning and the mother left. The children were napping, so I started cleaning, and when they woke up we had the lunch she had left for them. We played some more, then they napped and I cleaned again. The mother came home at three and I was exhausted; I had earned fifty cents.
I had never worked when school was in secession, but always worked otherwise. When I was 13 (I think), I got a job in a five-and-dime store in downtown Amarillo, Texas. Now remember, I never had access to a car, and the bus service was ten cents a ride. I worked five hours a day, Monday through Saturday, and my paycheck was thirteen dollars a week. At this point FW Woolworth- also in downtown Amarillo- was hiring, and at a slight increase in pay, so that's where I headed next. I really don't remember what I made there, but I liked the work. I ended up working there for three years, eventually working my way up to "floorwalker" (I carried a key to the cash registers around my neck and if a clerk got cash over $5.00 they rang a bell and I went over and made change for them... I was good in math).
Life went on. I continued working.
When I was a senior in high school and it got close to prom time, my Mother and I went shopping for a dress. I found just what I wanted... for $80.00. TOTALLY OUT OF THE QUESTION. Mother was a very good seamstress (actually had made most of my clothes my entire life). She said she thought she could copy the dress, and she did. I felt beautiful at the prom and then my sister (Winona) wore the dress as Matron of Honor at my wedding.
Life went on.
Fast-forward to when Floyd and I were renting where we lived until 1958 when I drew up house plans, we found a really nice lot, and proceed to build the house of my dreams (3/2/2, brick, double detached garage). We built this home for $13,500. At one point, our expenses changed: Butch and Floyd both had their tonsils removed, Floyd ended up in the hospital for a week, unexpected babysitter fees, putting in new yard... all the stuff that comes with a new home and young family life. I sat down on about the 10th of that month to pay bills and when I finished, I had twenty dollars left to feed a family of four for the rest of the month.
Life went on.
I will stop there about the value of the dollar in my life, because I have survived with a wonderful life, but what brought all this to mind is the fact that I am about to write a check for nearly $18,000 to replace the roof on my house. MIND BOGGLING.
But life will go on.