I could write several paragraphs about my parents' thrifty practices in assorted areas of life. They saved every but of string that entered the house (People used it when mailing packages back then), used the same tinsel year after year on the Christmas tree, and we always carefully removed wrapping paper so it could be folded and used again for many years. It was sturdier back then. We re-used ribbon and bows year after year. (I still do.) Mama cut up blank-backed junk mail to use for scratch paper ( I still do that, too.) Other things will undoubtedly pop into my mind as time passes.