I mean keeping cash and budgeting. Saving up in advance for large expenses. That's how my parents handled their finances, and they taught me how to do that. But then I got my first credit card and discovered I didn't have to budget and save up cash anymore. I wouldn't want to go back to that.
The old fashioned way was the only way we could be retired so young. If you save up for things you often find you really don't need it (except mortgage debt, which we paid off years early). Also, nothing is better than going into a car dealer and buying a car for cash- you can really negotiate a low price if you visit a few dealers and let them know you are doing so.
Most of my family does the opposite and they have trouble when they have an unexpected emergency finding a way out without paying a lot of interest.