Boy, do I know these stories. My dad was born in 1928. I was born in 1971 (why yes, I was a late in life baby). Therefore, he grew up broke during the Depression, and I was raised in the 80’s. The cultures during the two decades was quite different. I do have to admit, though, that my dad isn’t that bad. He throws almost everything away (to the point that we can’t get him to keep anything), and keeps up with technology. I did, however, grow up re-using almost everything, and the kitchen was drowning in empty butter containers. My mother in law also grew up during the Depression and hasn’t adjusted as well as my dad has. Everytime she comes over, she marvels at the stuff we just casually throw away. When she stays, I’m always finding empty baggies (and not just the ziplock kind either) drying around the kitchen.
I suppose it does get a little engrained in you, though. My sister still saves bows on Christmas presents (although she’s not fanatical) and I still feel guilty when I throw away perfectly good containers. My mother and grandmother tended to the frugal side, and I just can’t seem to entirely shake that.