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. :)
In NY deer processing is now $100 each.
Try the shoes at orthofeet.com. They’re great and long lasting.
You have found the diminishing return point when it finally gives up the ghost.
A depression era term “Did the Ghost Walk?”(Did you get paid today?) If the ghost walked it meant you did. I heard that term used on an old 1930s movie not long ago. I knew what it meant.
My mother-in-law said her mom used to ask her dad that on Fridays back then.
You and I are cut from the same cloth. I do the same.
For a split second, I thought that woman was going to come back over to the register and apologize and pay for her items.
I’ve learned in the last few hours that some stores are asking you to scan your store membership card before it will allow you to proceed with self-checkout. Kroger will need to start doing this, if that’s not already being implemented.
It’s amazing to me how far we have fallen as a society. I think it’s pretty bad when we allow criminals out of jail with a slap on the wrist, and there are plenty who think I’m committing a crime by confusing their pronouns.
Raise chickens for meat and eggs ... my mom said I was like my 1901-vintage grandma ... “She just understood chickens.” What a great compliment.
Working on gardening and preserving.
In 1929-’39, most people’s refrigerators had an extremely small freezer compartment INSIDE of it, so people shopped for food daily or every other day or two.
In the early 1960’s we had one of those and no freezer. We only went grocery shopping weekly. Either Friday night or Saturday. Lots and lots of canned stuff. Tuna, salmon, Spam and some regular refrigerated stuff. And could fit a few things into the freezer compartment. Living out in the country we didn’t have convenient access to food sales outlets on a normal day so it was canned and careful planning.
I just finished reading “The Day The Bubble Burst” a social history of the Wall Street Crash of 1929 (Gordon Thomas and Max Morgan-Witts 1979 Doubleday & Co.).
In summation on pg. 403 I quote “On the day the bubble burst, the land was dotted with houses bought on partial payments; cars bought on credit; clothes, jewelry, vacations, luxury goods of every kind acquired on the promise to pay in the future—often when stock profits* came in.” (*stocks that were purchased on borrowed money)
Here we are in late 2023. No one wants to be frugal; no one wants to live below their means and save for the future. All they want to do is co-own their large homes and luxury cars with a bank and swipe their plastic to pay for their vacation of a lifetime. We are screwed.
My Dad was born in 1937, so he was a ‘Depression Toddler.’ I remember Grandma telling me that the only time she ever punished him was when he got into the fridge and tossed a few eggs under it! (Food was sacred!)
They were well prepared for what was ahead, though. Grandpa had his Wife, HER Father and a new Son to support...at age NINETEEN! (He was born in 1918.) Yikes! That young man worked any and ALL jobs that came his way. I learned a LOT from my beloved Grandpa. *HEART*
Grandma came ‘from money’ and how her parents didn’t lose it is still a mystery. They had enough cash on hand to buy up homes with all contents included...
...and that is why I have a home full of ‘antique’ furniture, today. Well, more so because NO ONE in my lineage parts with ANYTHING. ;)
There’s one Seed Catalog that I receive that has all sorts of old-tyme pictures in it and it’s still printed in a large format.
I use those pages for wrapping paper and depending upon the time of year, you either get an Herb Sprig as a bow, or a clipping off of some random Evergreen in my yard.
Paper grocery bags are great for wrapping gifts, too. With some simple twine and a little natural trim, they look very ‘Martha.’ ;)
“Go back to the tax rates and immigration standards and NEVER have a democrat in office.”
BTTT
Cannot be repeated enough.
Since this is what I do already, I figure this is simply commonsense (autotype typed it as one word).
Say, WHAT? I’ve never heard of that. That’s a new way to STEAL?
I don’t have a ‘smart’ 0bama-phone, so I guess I still have to PAY for my stuff. ;)
I can’t ‘do’ rabbits - they’re too CUTE to eat and should just be used for Angora yarn and the random Lucky Rabbit’s Foot...because THAT doesn’t hurt them, Right? ;)
But I will say that those Sunchokes (as they’re also called) are invasive, so be careful where you plant them - unless you want ALL of your carbs from that source. (They ARE yummy!)
I LOVE my Piggly Wiggly! They have the best markdowns I’ve ever come across as far as grocery stores go. :)
Exactly. I found that site from a lady on You Tube that I follow (Frugal Fit Mom) and I felt the same way.
This is NORMAL for a good 50% of us living in The Real World.
Back then, OR now. :)
I LOVES me some Dave!
Thanks to him, I was Debt Free and RETIRED at age 56.
His, ‘Live Like No One Else So You CAN Live Like No One Else’ is life-changing. :)
I have a pair. Not cheap, but last long time. I also have one pair of brown and one pair of New Balance 928v3 shoes. A out $125 on sale but will likely last me the rest on my life. Bought two pair of Adidas trail running shoes for $30 each. They are great. Was at a local mall about six months ago, and bought two pair of Rockport $130 shoes for $40 each.
I will never have to buy another pair of shoes in my life, but I’m 70 years old.
Buy most of my clothes at Costco. 32 degree brand clothing are plenty nice and very inexpensive.
I recently picked up a pair of Palladium Pallabrouse boots. Rubber and canvas, they are identical to the boots issued to the French Foreigh Legion is the late 40’s and 50’s (same company). Surprisingly comfortable and great traction.
The ironic part is that the pair I have was made in Vietnam.
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