I think your choice of words is unkind my friend. You might more properly have used the word "frugal". They are trying to conserve the assets of their children are they not? Why would you call that cheap and not loving or selfless or thoughtful? If you walked in your father's shoes and lived his life perhaps you might understand him better..so too with the daughter of that older German woman. You cannot possibly judge that which you do not understand and clearly neither of you can fathom why your parents would make that choice. I understand perfectly well. Happy Saturday!