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. :)
On these machines, you press a pay now button giving you your total, and a chance to put coupons in. The options are card, cash, or gift card. She never pressed which method she would pay with. She just picked up her stuff and left. I’m guessing this was not new to her.
I have seen some machines that allow your smart phone to send a code or something to the grocery machine, but this store isn’t that advanced. They’ll have to spend $ to keep up, and guess what will happen then? The prices will go even higher.
I feel for the stores. They are getting hit.
My ‘coop’ (Well, *I* won’t be living in it, LOL!) in the barn re-model should be happening by Spring.
I used to raise laying hens on a large scale. 50+ at a time. I raised Buff Orpington for their brown eggs and year-round reliability and the ‘Easter Eggers’ for pretty colored eggs.
I packaged them in clear cartons with nice labeling, and tied them up like a GIFT with a Raffia bow. I sold them for $2.50/dozen to a local Liquor Store/Deli and he sold them for $5 a dozen and customers yelled for more!
This was before people were allowed to have chickens here, there and everywhere. ;)
My plan for World Domination will involve the Heirloom Breeds to sell to Chicken Lovers Everywhere once they’re ‘feathered out.’
One of my childhood tramuas is Sears Toughskin jeans (level 3 body armour spec) with iron on patches.
Many are neck-deep in high water, for sure. :(
#10 purchase a whole chicken I recently figured out. For $5.50 I buy a whole chicken and Mr. GG2 cuts it in half and food savers one half for the freezer so we get two meals for $5.50 instead of a small package of cut up chicken for $7-$8.
We do the same with a small fresh turkey when they are available. One half of a turkey gives us two to three dinners and a couple of lunches.
I bought a good sized London broil for $9.00 which we cut in half and had two tasty steak dinners for $4.50 each. I just bought another one yesterday so we’re taking half of it up to our rural compound to grill out on New Year’s Eve and half in the freezer for later.
I think The Chicken is God’s Most Useful Critter...EVER! :)
Depending upon where you live, those Rotisserie Chickens at Costo, Walmart, your local deli, etc. are usually a good deal, providing plenty of meals and then Chicken Stock, too.
I’m waiting for the price to go back down - they’re running $8 now at my Piggly Wiggly deli - NOT a great deal. ;)
“Mix potato in your baked goods.”
I have never heard of that before! I’ll have to look that up. I substitute oil in baked goods (muffins or quick breads) with homemade (unsweetened) apple sauce. Use it measure for measure. Keeps things moist, but cuts the calories.
“...trail walkers can be heavy!”
Burns more calories while you’re clomping around if you don’t have any feet/leg issues.
I’m sure I can find something mid-range. I can’t believe the choices in footwear these days! :)
I like Zappos for deals and also Footsmart.
Yes, I frequently purchase the rotisserie chickens and we get two meals and a sandwich out of them. Kroger’s chickens run small. We also purchase Publix fried chicken which is much cheaper than a box of Popeyes and better tasting.
I saw an article the other day that said instead of purchasing rib eye steaks buy a rib roast and slice the steaks yourself and its way cheaper. I’m going to check that out.
My tips:
1) Don’t eat. It’s wasteful.
2) Don’t drink. Water is expensive.
3) Don’t do anything, just sit there.
4) Die.
Find a trailer for sale or rent.
Get a room for fifty cents.
No guests, no pool, no pets,
Don’t got no cigarettes.
Up against a tree…
Ok, TMI.
Get ye see Solomans.
I’m a man of means by no means
King of the road
that may be true but i don’t want an extra 3 lbs on my feet.
You always put Life into perspective for me. :)
Understood. :)
Then lose weight on your fat feet, chubby toes!
😂
You bought flour, sugar, salt, coffee and soda at the store for cash money so anything you could grow yourself and substitute was money in your pocket.
You used potatoes in your bread, hunted for honey and tapped trees for sugar, added chicory to your coffee, made sourdough instead of using soda and swallowed hard and just bought the salt because there was nothing you could use instead of it.
You can also make a potato flour but it is a bit of a nuance to do so I just boil and mash the potatoes.
If you are making whole wheat do not bother to peel, just grate.
ah shutty!
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