What Charles "Pa" Ingalls Taught Me About Money
- Alex Potter, CFP®
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 22
Over the past two years, it’s been a family ritual to watch an episode of Little House on the Prairie before bedtime for the kids. For those familiar with the show, I’m sure you can recall Pa’s constant endeavor to secure employment and farm his land to help the Ingall’s family live in modest comfort. For those who have never watched the show, I highly recommend!
The Failed Crop In his youth, Pa made a big bet. He borrowed money to plant seed for his farm. With a big payout on his mind, he was devastated when an unexpected seasonal storm ruined the entire crop. It’s a good reminder that when we make concentrated investment decisions, the end result to the downside can be amplified. Being diversified can help prevent such catastrophes.
Pa’s Work Ethic From working at the sawmill, to farming his land, to moving freight to Sleepy Eye with Jonathan Garvey, to building furniture, Pa never had idle hands. He found ways to earn from multiple sources and adapted when needed. There’s a great lesson in that for us today. Income doesn’t have to come from just one place. Side gigs, dividend paying investments, rental income – get creative with how your money works for you!
Pa Lived Within his Means Pa never wasted energy envying what others had. He kept life simple, lived within his means, and stayed out of debt. But he wasn't cheap... when it came to doing something special for Ma, he found a way. That's the balance many of us struggle with today. When you're not buried in payments and obligations, you create room for the things that actually bring joy – not more stuff, but more freedom to be generous with the people who matter most.
Pa the Educator One lesson we see over and over again in the show and throughout the books (my wife Cassy just finished the series with our kids), is that Pa lived in a manner where Mary, Laura and Carrie learned about finances through lived experiences. There was never a “sit down” conversation about budgeting or long talks about staying out of debt. It was through witnessing Pa’s struggles and his work ethic that paved the way for his three kids to learn. It’s a great reminder for us parents with young children, that our kids learn not by what we say, but by what we do.
Conclusion What I love about Pa is that he lived by a few basic principles. Work hard, don't spend what you don't have, and when you do spend, spend it on the people who matter. Simple ideas, but not always easy to put into practice. Here at Foundation Wealth Management, my goal at the end of the day is to help you build a strong foundation, protect what you've worked hard for, and give you the freedom to enjoy retirement.
Little House Fact
Carrie's tumble down the hill in the opening credits was a total accident . Landon thought it was too cute to reshoot .
Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. This communication is strictly intended for individuals residing in the states of MI, IN, OH. Cambridge and Foundation Wealth Management are not affiliated.
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