Posted on 12/28/2023 1:15:18 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Everyone always has new hacks and tips on how to save money. But it isn’t necessary to reinvent the wheel to change your financial situation. Instead, you can look to the frugal living tips from the Great Depression that a lot of our grandparents used.
The Great Depression from 1929 to 1939, was the gravest economic downtown in U.S. history. The stock market crashed; the unemployment rate reached new heights; and industrial production was severely impacted.
During the Depression, everyone had to learn how to scrimp and save and there’s a lot we can learn from that era today. Even if you’re not in dire straits, following frugal tips from the Great Depression can help you cut your expenses and save money.
That said, here are 27 great depression frugal living tips and ideas we can all learn from:
1. Make your own soap
2. Wear clothes more than once before washing
3. Keep warm with a hot water bottle at night
4. Learn a few sewing skills
5. Do all your errands one day a week or less
6. Track your spending
7. Make a herb garden
8. Cook with leftovers
9. Look through the pantry before going to the store
10. Purchase a whole chicken
11. Eat less meat
12. Buy reusable products
13. Start a vegetable garden
14. Invest in quality
15. Upcycle furniture instead of buying
16. Buy things second hand
17. Make your own cleaning products
18. Share with your neighbors
19. Learn how to store and preserve produce
20. Learn to DIY around the house
21. Use less electricity
22. Relax by candlelight
23. Just a dab will do ya
24. Use things up before replacing
25. Go to restaurants less often
27. Make payments in cash
Details at link. :)
The moth holes makes it a classic.
One of many fine freight train songs.
Life in the depression was much easier “When the ghost walked.”
This garbage began when some kids decided to ape ghetto garbage and wear their pants hanging under their collective arses.
Hmmmm, already do 95% of those.
Have a Happy 2024, as much as possible, my dear FR friend.
My grandfather fought in WW 1. Came back to the US in 1919.
Raised cattle and ran a farm. When the depression hit, it almost broke him. He told me that even though prices were dropping, no one had any money so very little commerce happened.
Go back to the tax rates and immigration standards and NEVER have a democrat in office.
28. Never go grocery shopping while you are hungry.
H/t to Dave Ramsey.
I'm hoping that '24 will be a better year. :-)
I just had a repair technician come and take a lot at my washer — which has started to make some unusual noises. His prognosis: “The good news is that it still works, and using it while it’s making these noises won’t do any harm. The bad news is that I can’t fix it because it needs one key part that isn’t made anymore. The better news is that you wouldn’t want me to fix it anyway … because the cost of repairing it will be more than half the price of a new one.”
Plus is if you learn to process the meat yourself, rather than pay the $70.00 or so per deer to have it processed and handed to you in packages to freeze.
Here in Texas deer processing costs have gone thru the roof. But that is for fancy venison pork sausage etc.
Many or now processing their own, but you have to buy/build a smoker, etc. $70 per deer would be very cheap.
Michigan is still on the lower end of cost of living. I get a boneless deer usually. Steaks chops tenderloins and the rest ground to burger with some beef suet to prevent dryness.
More if you want jerky or brats too.
Being disciplined to not use a card but use cash only will force a person to live within their means. To do so will take discipline. Discipline can also allow a person to use a credit card to their advantage.
My wife and I use a credit card to pay for just about everything. It gives us 2% cash back, which is why we put virtually everything on the card. We pay the full amount due on the card every month and as a result never pay interest. We live below our means. The day we can't pay the card's balance in its entirety is the day we'll cut up the card.
Popular brands may deceive. YMMV
Need some help understanding this one!
I pay for everything and when I find I forgot to ring something up, I go back. Not to brag, but I figure there are two things I consider.
One is that if the store cheated me, I’d be quick enough to let them know about it, so it’s only right for it to go both ways.
The other is that I answer to a higher authority than the store. Some day I will have to stand before God and account for my life, and I will not be answering for stealing anything.
I have enough to account for, besides. I don’t need to add more to it.
Some people bring their kids to the grocery store and they go around eating for “free” while shopping. Then they leave their empty food wrappers and fruit peels in the cart for the next customer to throw away. Store staff does nothing about it so if continues. I’m pretty sure that contributes to higher prices.
Lol... in the Navy payday was referred to as when the eagle s***s.
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