Parental Impact
My parents were hard conservatives, but not overly religious ones. This meant they were financially responsible, and socially reasonable regarding intentional bias. Heavy on blind spots.
This dichotomy played out regularly at grocery stores. Whether it was donating a dollar to a cause or tipping the barista, my mother reminded me that by keeping the money I could grow my savings.
We were at a point in our lives where a dollar here or there would make a difference in our personal lives. Over a decade later, I can give more openly. I regularly tip and donate to these easy opportunities, but find I do have to actively practice generosity. The muscle is new to me, and like anything new, requires training.
As a parent myself now, my intent is to blend these values. High emphasis on saving. High emphasis on helping the community. There are right times and opportunities to do both.