It was always important for families to keep their personal issues in the family. When something went wrong, or a difficult time was encountered; the family came together to help each other. This attitude of self-reliance was instilled in the cultural practices that many of the immigrants understood from their own family experiences back in the villages and towns that they left in Italy.

So here in the new community that was now their village, the attitudes regarding self-reliance remained powerful incentives to always take care of the necessities first. Bills were always paid when due, especially the rent. Since very few families had checking accounts, cash or a bank check was the common currency.