She wasn’t talking about your “blue days”. For her it was having a down day…a day in which she felt “blue”; I remember them. I even found an article in her bible years later which she had cut out referring to feeling “blue” and what to do for them.

A different connotation; I prefer yours and will start this month.

It’s funny you refer to the “old” Christmas Clubs. I started using that method of saving for holiday gifts when I got my first “real” job, and, at almost 40, I’m still using a Christmas Club! And, you’re right — come November (or so) — it almost feels like a gift in itself! I do the same with a “rainy day” account. It’s amazing the way we can trick ourselves into saving for things.

When I was a child, my Dad always taught me to save for items I wanted (within reason, of course!), or else I wouldn’t be able to buy them. I don’t see that so much these days. I was talking with a young person recently — and said, “if you save your money, you could buy yourself something nice like a new bike.” His response, “I already have a bike, why would I need to save to buy one?” I then reflected back on childhood conversations with my Dad, and realized that one’s parents have to understand how to save in order for them to instill it in their children.