23 Frugal Living Tips from the Great Depression You Need to Know

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If you are looking for frugal tips from the past that can help you save money today, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some frugal living tips from the Great Depression era that are still valid in today’s hard times.

If you are looking for frugal tips from the past that can help you save money today, you've come to the right place. Here are some tips from the Great Depression era that are still valid in today's hard times.

23 Frugal Living Tips from the Great Depression You Need to Know to Save a Ton of Money

The Great Depression was a time filled with hardships for families in America. During that time, it became necessary for them to live frugally because there wasn’t enough money to live, and many could not find proper jobs.

Frugality continues to be ingrained in American culture; many tips from that time have been passed down through different generations, and they’re still used to this day because they do work!

Keep reading to learn more about life during the Great Depression, and get some useful frugal tips from that time that will help you save money.

My Grandparents (and, of course, my great-grandparents) were all alive during the Great Depression. My Grandma has told us and has had me write down many of her stories from growing up during that time and the kind of life that her family endured. Her life stories and her 1930s frugality have been a source of great inspiration to me. I hope you can glean some helpful information and frugal living tips from the Great Depression from this article.

Great Depression Memorial

What Was Life Like During The Great Depression?

Life during the Great Depression was hard as unemployment was widespread, and there wasn’t enough money for many families to buy essentials such as food, shelter, clothes, etc. Many people (especially in rural areas) were very poor already, and the Depression only compounded the issue.

Because of the hard living conditions at that time, people were forced to live frugally and devise ways to make do with what they had.
In the present time, many people still implement some frugal tips from the Great Depression era into their lifestyle in order to save more money.

23 Frugal Living Tips from the Great Depression You Need to Know

Cleaning Wipes

1. Make your own cleaning products

You don’t always need to buy overpriced cleaning products that usually contain too many harmful chemicals. Instead, it’s better to make your own cleaning products at home and get the same results.

To make an effective cleaning solution, you need to mix vinegar, water, and a little bit of lemon juice. This solution can be used to clean multiple surfaces, including floors, countertops, and even sinks.

Mixing some baking soda and water can also make a powerful scrub for difficult stains.

Tip: Find lots of Homemade Cleaners Recipes here.

2. Learn basic sewing skills

Learning some basic sewing skills will help you go a long way when it comes to saving money. You won’t have to throw away old clothes because they’re simply missing a button or have a little tear.

There are many tutorials on YouTube that will help you learn simple fixes such as sewing buttons, patching holes, and even adding more length to some clothing items if you feel like they’re getting too short.

You don’t have to learn how to make clothes if you don’t want to. There’s no need to stress yourself out by figuring out how to sew your pants! But some basic sewing skills will help you make your clothes last longer and in turn, save more money.

Tip: Learn how Sewing Can Save Your Budget here!

Grow a Garden

3. Grow your own produce

Growing a small garden with your own fruits and vegetables will actually save you more money than you think.

Learning how to garden isn’t complicated, and you’ll be free to grow whatever you want to suit your tastes. You can also grow extra produce to preserve, barter, or even give out as gifts to others.

You don’t even need to have a large land to grow a garden; you can plant some pots or a small area outside in your yard.

Get all of my Frugal Gardening Tips here!

4. Learn to preserve your garden produce

If you put your time and effort into growing a garden, then it’s important to learn how to preserve your produce so it won’t go to waste.
For most people, this means learning how to can produce to help increase its shelf life for much longer than usual.

Here are a few other ways to preserve your food:

  • Curing
  • Freezing
  • Drying
  • Dehydrating
  • Fermenting

If you want to know more about any of these topics, these are my favorite books on food preservation:

Find all my canning and preserving recipes here.

Growing Herbs

5. Grow your own herbs

It’s highly practical to grow your own herbs instead of buying overpriced herbs from the market. They’re even easier to maintain than most home plants.

Just like produce, you don’t need to have much land to grow herbs; you can keep them on the windowsill in your kitchen. This way, they’ll always be fresh for picking as you cook.

Tip: Learn more about Starting an Herb Garden here.

6. Cook homemade meals whenever possible

A typical American tends to spend a large portion of their food budget on eating out or getting delivery, so it’s highly recommended to cook homemade meals whenever possible in order to save money.

Not only will homemade meals save you money, but they’re also better for your health as they’re free of any artificial additives or preservatives.

Tip: Find more of my Frugal Recipes here!

Homemade Bread

7. Make food from scratch

You know that I always recommended learning to make certain food items from scratch whenever possible!

Here are some of the foods you can try to learn to make from scratch instead of buying them ready-made from the market:

8. Substitute meat with cheaper protein sources

During the Great Depression, meat was scarce, so people resorted to cheaper substitutes to get their protein.

Instead of red meat, you can go for chicken or rabbits. (Both of these are also easy to raise yourself if you have a little time and little space.) You can also use non-meat protein sources such as eggs, dairy, nuts, lentils, and beans.

If you want to buy meat from time to time, you can try to buy it with the bones as it will be a lot cheaper, and when cooked properly, it can taste better.

Tip: Here are more ways to Save Money on Chicken.

Banana Peels

9. Make use of kitchen scraps

Most people in the Depression era had scrap jars, which they filled with any food leftovers or scraps they could use for different purposes.

Here are some of the ways you can make use of any leftover kitchen scraps:

  • You can use citrus peels to make homemade cleaning solutions.
  • You can use produce and herb scraps to make stock or add them to other dishes.
  • You can boil leftover bones into a bone broth.
  • You can grind the heel of your bread loaves or any leftover breed into breadcrumbs that can be used as topping for casseroles or as a salad dressing.
  • You can use bacon grease in pie crusts, stir fry, or anything else that needs fat.
  • You can turn eggshells and any other kitchen scraps that you can’t eat into garden fertilizer (compost).

Tip: Find ways to Use All Your Kitchen Scraps here!

10. Use “just a dab” of products

Sometimes, we use way too much product than we actually need, whether it’s shampoo, make-up, or cleaning products.
To avoid waste and make these products last longer, it’s recommended to stick to the “ just a dab” rule.

You also might want to double-check the instructions on the back of these products to ensure you’re using only the required amount if a specific amount is needed. You are probably using too much.

Self Sufficiency Goals for 2014

11. Learn to make simple repairs around the house

You can save some of the money you would pay a repairman by learning how to do simple repairs around the house.

Even though it may take you a considerable amount of time to acquire the skills needed to make the repairs effectively, you will highly benefit from these skills in the long run and can use them whenever needed.

YouTube is a wealth of information on learning how to do your own repairs. You can find just about anything on there!

12. Learn how to upcycle furniture pieces

Before you throw away old furniture pieces and shop for new ones, see if you can upcycle them first.

There are various creative ways you can upcycle old furniture to save you the cost of buying new furniture. If the furniture is made from high-quality materials, all you might need is a fresh coat of paint and some fabric to make it brand new.

I’ve taken old TV cupboards and upcycled them into really cute wardrobes. It’s amazing what a few more shelves and a little paint can do!

Electricity

13. Conserve your electricity usage

You can conserve your electricity usage in many simple ways to cut down on your utility bills.

For example, turn off the lights whenever you leave a room and always remember to unplug any electric devices when they are not in use.

One of the ways our family saves a large amount of money on electricity is by not having a dryer. We haven’t had one for over 3 years now, and don’t miss it!

Tip: For more in-depth saving ideas on electricity, check out my blog post on Old Fashioned Ways to Save on Electricity.

14. Conserve water usage

Many people don’t pay attention to the amount of water they waste daily, and freshwater is definitely something we take for granted.
Just like electricity, there are simple ways to conserve water usage and reduce utility bills.

For example, make a habit of taking shorter showers and washing only full loads of clothes and dishes. It’s also recommended to check all the faucets around the house and fix any leakage.

Tip: You might be able to glean more info on saving on water from my How to Live Without Running Water article.

Homemade Kids Gifts

15. Make your own gifts

Making your own gifts can save you a lot of money, and for many people, handmade gifts can carry more sentimental value than expensive gifts.

Many simple tutorials online will help you make your own gifts, even if you’re not particularly crafty.

Here are some homemade gift ideas that will help you save money:

Tip: Go here for Simple Homemade Gift Ideas!

16. Don’t pay for services you can do yourself

If there’s any service you can do yourself, then you don’t need to hire and pay someone else to do it.

For example, you can learn to do simple repairs and home maintenance jobs such as fixing leaky faucets or painting a room. You can also wash your car and take off your yard alone.

Not only will you save a lot of money by doing the job yourself, but you’ll also feel great pride and accomplishment.

This one is always a hard one to mention because there are a lot of people who do small services on the side to make a living. I think this is a wonderful idea and you should keep doing it as long as possible! But on the other hand, if you are currently paying for services (could be ANY services, including TV streaming) and you can’t afford other things in your budget, it’s probably time to trim things down.

Uno

17. Find ways to entertain yourself cheaply

Entertainment is a big part of our lives currently, and many people struggle to find ways to entertain themselves without spending too much money.

One of the ways you can entertain yourself cheaply is by reading or taking up a simple hobby. Find free lessons to learn the thing you want to do on YouTube. Stop going to the movies and borrow a movie from a neighbor for a free movie night at home. There are many things you can do to create your own free entertainment.

You can also play games with your family and friends, such as board games, card games, or even outdoor games. And while we are at it, could we please bring back the days of neighborhood get-togethers?

Tip: Find my favorite games for kids here.

18. Buy re-usable products

When you go shopping, make sure to buy reusable products when possible and avoid one-time-use or disposable products. This will help you save money in the long run, and you’ll also be helping the environment.

For example, you can buy cloth napkins or hand towels instead of disposable paper products. Our family has been using cloth napkins, rags, and towels for a long time now (over 10 years!), and we always feel uncomfortable using disposable ones when we have to. It’s easy to get used to the change, and it will save you tons of money!

Tip: Here’s how to Make Your Own Cloth Napkins and Un-Paper Towels.

thrift store

19. Buy used or thrifted items

You can buy many items used or thrifted at a much lower price. I’ve found so many things at the thrift stores (including glass jars!) that I’ve been able to reuse, repurpose, or give a new life.

However, make sure to check the quality of the items you buy, as there’s no point in buying a used or thrifted item that will cost you more to maintain or repair than what you might pay if you buy it new.

I love shopping at Thrift Stores whenever I can. Here’s a video I did a while back where you can come to the thrift stores with me!

20. Try to drive less

With gas prices rising, it’s a good idea to drive less and use alternative forms of transportation (if reasonable) to save money.

If you’re going somewhere nearby, consider walking or biking. (Or if you are like us… drive the Side by Side; it gets better gas mileage!)

Not only will this save you some gas money, but it’ll also be good for the environment and a good workout for you.

However, if you’re going somewhere that’s too far for walking or biking, you can consider carpooling or taking public transportation if you live in the city.

Our family has cut down our trips to town to twice a month at the moment. Not only has it been better on our wallets for the gas savings, but we are spending less overall.

Barter

21. Consider bartering or borrowing

During the Depression era, people relied heavily on the bartering or borrowing system, and there’s no reason you can’t still do that today.

Bartering or borrowing has various benefits, as it will help save money and strengthen the bonds between people in a community. If one person in your neighborhood grows cucumbers and you grow tomatoes…work out a trade! We currently have a trade going with some friends; we are growing their pork, and they are growing our beef. We both use our strengths, and we both benefit in the end.

Tip: Learn all about Successful Bartering here.

22. Learn how to budget

If you want to live frugally and save money, you must learn how to budget properly. You need to compare your income to your weekly and monthly expenses, then learn to prioritize these expenses.

The top priority should be basic necessities, such as food, utilities, shelter, and transportation. Once you’ve covered these necessities, you can consider additional expenses, such as clothes, personal care, and any recreational items.

You should also consider saving and investing any extra money you might have. In this economy, investing might not look like stock portfolios, but it could look like a greenhouse or extra lumber so that you can do more things on your own before prices continue to increase.

Tip: Grab my Irregular Budgeting Worksheet printable here.

Cash

23. Start paying in cash

There were no credit cards at the time of the Great Depression, so maybe you should consider starting to pay in cash if you don’t already do so.

Handing over cash when purchasing will help make you more aware of your spending habits than swiping a credit card with “imaginary money.” This has helped our family immensely!

Even if you only save the 1-to-4% processing fees, they will add up very quickly with the number of transactions we make, and you will be surprised how much the banks were taking that you could’ve saved.


What Is the Difference Between Frugal and Stingy?

The difference between frugal and stingy is that a frugal person spends money on necessary things and avoids wasting money. In contrast, a stingy person avoids spending money, even on necessities. Therefore, frugal is usually used in a more positive light than stingy.

We all should try and be a little more frugal, but let’s avoid being stingy, OK? 😉

Can Living Frugally Make You Happier?

Living frugally can make you happier. This lifestyle is less about denying yourself and more about making your life easier, as you’ll worry less about money. You will also learn to appreciate and make do with what you have.


Instead of forgetting about history and thinking that we live in a different time, it’s important to look back at the past and see what we can glean from those who came before us and already dealt with these times and issues.

I’m sure that many of you have already heard of these tips, and you are likely doing some (or most!) of them, but it’s always good to have a reminder and remember that these things that you are doing DO matter and they are making a difference in your income.

I’m thankful for the stories from my Granny and for her teaching the younger generations what we might need to know. Many of us have only lived in times of plenty, so it’s wonderful that we can still learn from those who were around during the times of less.

Need something else to read next? Here is a HUGE list of my Best Frugal Living Tips.

Did you find this post helpful? Be sure to share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and through Email with the sharing buttons below.

Which of these frugal living tips from the Great Depression are you already doing, and which will you implement next?


Me and KadyMerissa has been blogging about and living the simple life since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page.


 

This post on Frugal Tips from the Great Depression was originally published on Little House Living in October 2022.. It has been updated as of September 2023.

 

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108 Comments

  1. Use wood ashes in your garden. It mineralized the soil. It helps fertilize. Whether it’s ash from a wood burner or a burn pile in a yard.. doesn’t matter. Free, healthy fertilizer!

    1. Ashes actually change the ph of your soil which isn’t a good thing; so before adding a lot of soil alternatives have it tested first. Don’t just add to your soil willy nilly.

    2. These recommendations are surely outdated and impractical. #1 advice should be – Stop going to Starbucks. Make coffee at home.

      1. Ha! Like this! Canned food was also unheard of. Let’s stick to a good old fashion bag of beans. It’s a fraction of the cost and healthier.

        1. No, sorry. I’ve seen ads from the great depression and canned food is featured in many ads. It is also in photos of grocery stores from 100 years ago.

        1. Cut your own grass, bathe your dog,. Rake your leaves,. Cook at home more, take your lunch to work. Don’t buy coffee, make your own. Clean your own house, no cleaning person. Do your own nails. Basic things you normally pay for.

          1. Add on to that drop the cigarettes/alcohol if you use them now; don’t buy a new car every two or three years; shop your closet before you buy your next clothing items; evaluate whether you are using the current TV choices you have and/or would your time be better spent in other ways. The list goes on and on. Many of us are living a very inflated lifestyle right now. And retailers/internet providers are loving it. As for freezing milk, I used to do that all the time but when I broke my femur and couldn’t go to store I tried it again and it curdled, although it was fresh. Comments?

      2. Funny what you call “outdated” fed people through the great depression, WW1&2, and will through this new current “great depression”. Make no mistake, this is NO recession.

      3. These ideas are especially relevant now. Many people do not have grandparents from whom to learn these methods of survival.

  2. Fish cuttings… after cleaning them.. great for fertilizing berries. Will give you the sweetest tasting berry you ever ate. Plus a great way to use the scraps from a fishing trip

    1. These are great tips but they weren’t implemented because of the great depression. This is actually how people lived years ago. They didn’t have the conveniences we have.

  3. If you have chickens, make a chicken compost tea for your plants. Or just use the shavings themselves when you clean the coop. Will give you higher yields from your plants. Go easy though… its liquid gold and just a little is all you need. Or spread the shavings over your garden in the late fall if you plan on letting it rest in the wintet

  4. Thank you very much Merrisa for sharing, im practising some of them like growing my own food.I appreciate it so much ,Ido not buy fruits and vegetables at all.hoping t to learn making my own cleaning products at home

  5. I water down cleaning stuff,like dawn.water and a microfiber cloth clean glass best. I keep a bowl in kitchen sink and use it to water the gardens..a hassle til I got used to it…one person=10 gallons a day minimum…I compost everything …I mean everything..I don’t mk a pile …I throw it in the garden .in summer it’s unnoticeable….again, mk use of the good stuff or be a wasteful planet-destroying person. Make your own minced dried onion { in oven,takes a few days,soon much better,….shop at $ tree..I m sure there are more..oh,automatic savings withdrawal every month! Adds u p

    1. This article was so refreshing. I have been living a happy fulfilled life adhering to many of these principles. Parents born 1920 & 1925. They taught me well. Thanks and good luck.

    2. If you have a microwave it dries stuff more efficiently and a dehydrator it a good investment as iit can be used to other things too. Making soup stocks makes better tasting healthier stuff. During the drought one year my friend used her water from her washer to do extra watering for her flowers etc. Cooking is abig saving and busy people can cook ahead and freeze it a deep freeze is an investment that saves you big money on premade things. A lot of little things adds up. Apantry of staples that you buy stuff when it is a good price and will stay good for a long time is worth the effort. I think like this IF in the time it would wait wouldI make that interest on my money if I had in savings etc?? Then really it is like a savings account

    3. Not necessarily.
      Some of us haven’t been buying coffee all along or any of the other updated things people do.
      The topic of the post is tips from the Great Depression so of course we’re going to see tips from that era.
      Some people may need tips that go beyond -stop buying coffee, stop eating out because we haven’t been doing any of that all along.

  6. Where would i grow my own dang produce??? When the heck do i have time to make stuff from scratch???? No amount of budgeting can change the fact that it is hard to buy a house now than it was during the great depression. It doesnt change that most of us are simply not paid enough to live or live well. Get out of here with your cutesy fonts and cottagecore filter. None of this advice fixes the problem! Stop blaming the individuals struggling and start blaming the billionaires who became richer while we got poorer, while we suffered, struggled, and died through the pandemic. This article is dystopian and no cute font or filter can hide that.

      1. Merissa – I don’t think our depressed friend here will ever take the first step to improve her life. Maybe it’s just easier for her to complain then get out in the sunshine. Don’t be afraid to block people who just want to be nasty.

        1. Truly one thing that I heard about the depression was actually giving food or meals to friends and strangers, and have you heard of sharing items with your neighbor from the kitchen? Having a big heart was important to help each other!

          1. That’s so true. My dear old Dad was a child in the 1930s over here in Wales. His family lived in abject poverty but he often talked about how he would still prefer to be living back then as people were so much kinder to each other .

        2. I save food grade plastic containers to freeze soups, sauces, etc. Meal prepping. No need to buy your own

          Not sure if baking bread and other items is cheaper. It costs quite a bit to buy the ingredients on a small scale whereas retail establishments can buy their ingredients in “tons” at much cheaper cost and pass along that savings to consumers, especially the Costco bakery. Twenty four oversized chocolate chip cookies $7.99. A large pumpkin pie $5.99. Twelve giant pumpkin strudel muffins 6.99 ~ I cut in half and freeze the extras.

          Buying a Costco chicken at $4.99 can feed me for days ~ large pot of home made soup (some of which i freeze), chicken nacho’s, chicken salad sandwich, etc etc
          Although I habe been known to use the carcass to make my own chicken bone broth. I got 4 good size containers that I freeze.

          I rarely buy expensive dog treats. Instead they get vegetables, fruit, trimmings, etc and all have lived long healthy lives so far.

          1. If you have aanybody in doubt baking bread is cheaper plus the taste is superior in every way a loaf of homemade bread with quinoa and oats added is well under $1

          2. I priced out the cost of my baking bread and it depends on a few things but it is still cheaper and there are ways to make it much more cheap, if you are baking weekly. Buy your flour bulk (25 lb bag), buy your yeast bulk (by jar or by weight) and not in those single packets, or learn sourdough baking and make your own yeast. I invested in a pullman loaf pan by USA Pan to make bread more similar to commercial sandwich bread and use a recipe to make it soft and spongy (wetter dough, less flour, autolase method). Making artisan loaves with whole grains, seeds, whatever you wish, is definitely cheaper than the expensive artisan breads in a store or market. You can save anywhere from about 33% if you are buying yeast packets and 5# bags of flour and comparing to cheap, lowest quality store bread, or you can save up to 80%, possibly more, if you are comparing to quality breads at the market, and using the suggestions I mentioned. And yeah, DEFINITELY tastes better from home.

        3. Another way to save money is to wash Ziplock plastic bags. I use them till they’re worn out, then use them in the freezer to store our composting veggies & such, when it gets full, I remove bag and empty contents in the composter outside near our garden….. My daughter thinks I’m cheap; those Ziplock bags sure aren’t….. I get my money out of them! So I want to thank you for the couple ideas I haven’t used before…. GREAT SITE
          THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

      2. Merissa, My husband and I began doing many of the things you suggest years ago when we had our first baby and I became a stay at home mom, but I still found a new item I haven’t done yet in your list so thank you! We have always bought used cars because my hubby could fix them and I learned to sew and eventually knit, and garden, and paint, and make jam….. Guess what? Learning new skills is FUN! And enriches our lives. We used to drive up to Pictured Rocks to camp with the kids and stuff like that, instead of flying to fancy places, and they loved it and are still loving camping, hiking, fishing to this day. We have never paid for a single lawn service, house cleaning, or snow removal. I was out of state last month when my 2002 Jeep’s tail pipe rusted off the muffler so I took it to Midas…they wanted over $800 to fix it. I went on YouTube and looked at how to videos and fixed it myself with a coffee can which I had already and two screw on clamps from a hardware store I walked to and they cost less than $5 for both. Yup…YouTube, DIY, and self confidence are treasures. I’m a 60 year old woman…if I can get under a car and save $800 almost anyone can. Man…I felt so high after I fixed that! We have passed this love of learning down to our kids and they all DIY, and love being creative and fixing stuff. They became a doctor, a lawyer, and a very successful finance guy…who fix their own cars, refurbish old furniture, lay tile, and cut and install their own hardwood floors and cook from scratch, because they enjoy it. Hubs has always fixed stuff for friends, relatives, and neighbors, too. He is amazing and kind and generous. He is an Eagle Scout and so is our son. That was a good way to learn life skills back in the day. Mostly learn from free videos now. Thanks for the great article!

        1. My mother lived during the depression in a large city. She remembers standing in soup lines. Later my grandmother would keep a pot of soup and coffee on the stove for anyone who needed a meal and some company.

      3. I love your article! Gardening wasn’t the only tip here. Saving water electricity, lots of other things were in here even if you don’t have yard space. And a lot of people don’t realize they can save money that they’re spending, like doing their fingernails, buying extra clothes, wasting a lot of money and not even realizing it. I really appreciated this article and I loved it. Continue doing what you’re doing.

      4. I know this comment was from the past. But you are just offering tips. There will always be people who would spend every last penny they had and more. If they won the lottery, they would be broke in no time blaming others, not their actions.
        Take care. I look forward to your tips and learn.
        Chris

    1. I personally saw no where in this article where the author was blaming or shaming anyone for anything. I agree that while not everyone is in a position to use all of the tips that were given. Regardless of one’s financial status, there are many things in the article that any of us could use if we choose to do so. As a matter of fact when I read closer the only thing that I saw that showed blame for anyone was your comment. My personal opinion would be that some people need to stop using the poor poor pitiful me attitude. And blaming those that have more for the position that they are in themselves. The vast majority of people who have money, it was not given to them and they did not inherit it, they work their butts off to get it. Even though I, myself struggle with the cost of living, I don’t resent those who are in better standings than I am. If anything, I try to better myself. Perhaps you should try that. Changing ones attitude can do wonders.

      1. From my perspective, most people with money did inherit at least something. Either opportunity or property. Hard work is not enough to get ahead anymore, the wealth gap is out of control.

      2. Remember we should treat everyone the way we want to be treated. What happened in the past is there to help us. We each have struggles to help us be stronger. Sorry for your pain. Please make a list of something you are thankful for, even if it is that you can see the sky, hear the wind, tasting your food. We are blessed but somehow do not always see it. Being able to adapt goes along way. Believe me I have seen what it means for one parent to work and have thin times but it is best to be THANKFUL for what we have.

    2. We went through the stagflation of the 70s. Yes. We are older than dirt. We followed many depression era frugalities. We used ours brains and figured it out. We made a game of it and enjoyed making it work. We saw it as not being wasteful and respecting the work it took to earn our money. We retired from our jobs in our earliest 50s and live a comfortable life. From our investments. We still practice many frugalities because we don’t like being wasteful and frankly enjoy it. We save money and the environment.
      Don’t waste time thinking about what you can’t do, get busy figuring out what you can do.

      1. I appreciate everything my mother taught me. When I had to retire early with no income I had to make some drastic changes.

        • No more bi-weekly house cleaner although I could sure use it still.

        • No more bi-weekly gardener. Living in CA we have small yards very easily managed with a very lightweight corded electric lawn mower.

        • Stopped buying expensive laundry detergent and bought the Walmart brand. I wish I had done this years ago. A big savings their esoecially with the loads of towels done in this household for pets and cleanup. There is no difference in the cleanliness of my clothes. No one will notice the change. One of these days I may investigate making my own. I also do not use the more expensive laundry pods. It is a waste of money, even more so when using for small loads.

        • My mother always saved food plastic containers and used those for storage in the refrigerator and freezer. I also save jars to put pantry items in and also referigerate soups. Good to have on hand to share homemade soup.

        • I no longer buy canned soup. Homemade is far superior in taste and freshness. Soups are an excellent way to stretch a budget. I make alot of it to have on hand in the freezer.

        • I was never much of a meat eater growing up and now only occassionally buy a whole Costco chicken chicken ($4.99). I purchase dried beans, quinoa, nuts, peanut butter, eggs, skim milk, cheese, plain yogurt for most of my protein. Whole frozen edaname bean pods heated and flavored with seasonings are a great munchy snack with protein.

        • My parents each year would rip up old clothing and towels for the “rag box”. I have started doing the same to reduce the amount of paper towels used. I also don’t purchase paper plate and only use paper napkins for guests.

        • Dropped cable and use streaming services ~ split the cost with a friend. I have Netflix, Amazon Prime, PBS Passport subscription to allow binge watching and prior seasons and many free chanbels. If I want to watch and binge a series on something like HBO or BritBox I look for the free trial or sign up for a month and then cancel.

        • Completely agree about eating out. It saves huge amounts of money making your own food much less expensively and often with left overs.

        • I used to clip coupons but I don’t even know if they exist anymore since I no longer have a newspaper delivered.

        • Don’t waste refrigerated food. Freeze it or use it before it goes bad! Americans throughout 30% of their food ($$$$) annually. Back in the 60’s and 70’s my parents would make monthly large purchases at the local navy commissary. The prices were much cheaper. They had a large upright freezer in the basement and would freeze milk, orange juice, butter, bread, meat, etc. I don’t have a stand alone freezer but will freeze milk in water bottles (leave room for expansion). I have learned to maximize the freezer. It is your best friend when it comes to extending the life of the food you purchase and saving you money.

    3. Depressed in the new depression? More like bitter a$$hole…our lives are what we choose to make of them. You’re free to do as well or as poorly as you want to like all the rest of us and begrudging those who had the ambition to create wealth for their self isn’t going to make your wallet any fatter or your life any happier, but working hard, having some ambition to do better for yourself, and perhaps using some of the thoughtful tips this lady took the time to share might help….if you’d rather sit back and complain about what others are doing to try to help or wait around for someone else to make your life better for you, why did you even bother reading the article? Just felt like being nasty to someone because you’re unhappy with what you’ve chose to do with your life?

    4. No one is blaming the individual but it is true, Americans used to be known for their tenacity and inventiveness. We have gotten lazy and to dependant on the government. And if we didn’t have weathy people, who would create businesses and jobs. And who would be around to give to charity. Don’t blame people who worked hard and made wise decisions to get where they are. Learn from them and make your own future.
      My mother used to tell me how she and her sisters and my grandparents managed to make it through that very difficult time. It was hard! The one thing they didn’t waste time doing was looking for someone to blame. They spent time together, they worked together.
      I had a time when my husband was laid off and we were on food stamps for almost a year. Now you may think I’m crazy but it was a good year for us. We were together more shopping for food was an adventure and I had fun finding ways to save money and create news dishes to try.
      Life can be hard but good old fashioned hard work, discipline and self reliance can get you far. I know because I’ve seen it done. Don’t be a victim, be a Victor!!

        1. Michele,
          Have you ever stated a business and created jobs? If you haven’t, maybe you should try and see how hard you have to work before you are able to put money in your pocket.

          I grew up in a home where my father had his own business and there were days my father work 16 hours a day, seven days a week just to keep the doors open. My mother got a job to meet household needs during the lean times.

          My father is still in business and is in his late 70’s. I have not had any handouts from my parents. But did learn what hard work and perseverance can do for you in your life. Not just financially but also pride in doing it on your own instead of waiting for someone to do it for you.

    5. Why the rudeness? Maybe not u but some of us find this stuff very helpful. It’s not like we will have a 2nd Great Depression but real close. I live off my land food wise and I have learned that using my washer and dryer late at night..around midnight is actually cheaper than running them between peak hours of 2p-7p.

    6. Some people just never learn ,make a start and be positive, i hear a lot of wasteful people who complain that they don’t have any money, etc…its you own fault…learn to conserve

    7. I understand your anger. I have been there. I turned that anger into a crazy fuel that changed my life. After years of feeling like a hamster on a wheel, I just decided to stop comparing myself to other people – rich, young, prettier, better dressed – and just take care of me. Step 1 was realizing that banks are not our friends. I made it a goal to get out from under credit card and car loan debt and pay off the small little house that was mortgaged to the hilt. I did this by living super frugally – cut my own hair, no new clothes, no eating out, no vacations. I sold off 2/3 of my wardrobe and all the junk around my house on Ebay. Every penny I made went toward debt. I was not out to impress anyone and my venture took a good # of years. Was it fun? – hell no! Time – During all of that, I worked 2 hours from home and had to commute. I got up every morning and left the house at 5 a.m. and didn’t get home until 6:30 p.m. I learned to use what home time I had by putting everything on a schedule. Cooked what I had set out that morning, cleaned up. Laundry on Thursday, grocery shopping on Friday, cleaning on Saturday, other chores on Sunday, etc. Was it fun? – sort of….. You can get back to basics when you’re not out trying to impress the world. I sewed, I crocheted, I learned to garden. I grew vegetables and herbs in buckets. Every dime I didn’t have to spend at the grocery store or eating out helped. Is this fun? During all this time, I also had a battle with cancer. Was that fun? Hell no! All of this took a period of about 10 years. I owe the banks $0. I own a small, run-down home. But it is clean and decorated tastefully (thrift shops and things I’ve made). I repair things as I go, but it is mine. I drive a car that is 12 years old and I will continue to drive it until the wheels fall off. I do still have and pay for things with a credit card but I pay it off every month. I collect the cash back and pay my property taxes with the money. The friendly bank is paying me and I plan to keep it that way. I live super frugally. My experiences have taught me the things that are most important in life. I guess what I’m trying to say is just reevaluate your life and understand that banks are not friends, politicians lie and rich people don’t think about us as much as we think about them. The scales are not in our favor, nor will they ever be! Today I am happy. I am grateful. I am a winner. I think the tips in this post were quite relevant to the current economic situation.

      1. You are just amazing! What a positive attitude! You, yourself, have accomplished all this with determination and self discipline. I bet you’ve heard this saying from the depression era(which I learned from my grandmother and mother) :
        Use it up
        Wear it out
        Make it do
        Or do without!

    8. I encourage you to try even a few things. Cooking a few meals from scratch will save you. I am finding on a day off I can make a few. Gardening, I am doing small pots. We may not be billionaires but I will try my hardest to stretch my dollar in these crazy and uncertain times.. You too can do this. I know it can be daunting or depressing but baby steps… You got this !

    9. It amazes me the people that can afford to be extravagant are often frugal in many areas of their lives. Perhaps that is the reason they are ahead… they didn’t waste resources and opportunities presented to them or make excuses. Even small changes can have big impacts. Delayed gratification and hard work for bigger rewards in life is much more gratifying than sitting around trying to figure out how to tap into another person’s hard earned wealth. Even those that live in an apartment can usually have a container garden with a tomato plant or two, wear 2 layers and turn the heat down a few degrees, etc, etc

    10. Find solutions to your problems instead of blaming others for your problems. Work hard and solve your own problems. You can grow plants and herbs inside. You can get a second job to make more money. You can start a business and make money.. that’s how those billionaires became billionaires…by working hard and solving their own problems and not expecting free handouts.

    11. Don’t take it out on the author here because of how you shoce to respond to the defining moments of your life. And why do people blame the rich? A lot of the old money got rich during the depression Era and most of the new money isn’t a bunch or evil, poor haters. Most are actually kind and helpful and very forthcoming with their knowledge and expertise and resources. The rich get rich because they think different. Maybe you should look at yourself before getting mad at the majority of the country where people have yards and rent houses with yards. Maybe you can plant some herbs in your window. Or do something useful with your time on YouTube and thrift some sewing or crochet or knitting materials and teach yourself how to do something homemade. I knit or quilt baby blankets every year for baby showers and keep chickens and a garden. I work and average of 50 hours a week commission only and have 6 kids, 5 still in school age. Whats your excuse.

    12. Start with small changes. Look outside the box. I grew vegetables in pots. Nice 2 cook a meal with something I grew

    13. Stop putting barriers in your way. Small things add up. Unplug things you when you are not using it that can save a hundred dollars or more a year, use a dish pan to rise off dirty dishes before putting them in dish washer the use the water to flush toilets or water garden swept the driveway not water ( cement doesn’t grow) that will save a hundred dollars a year, use bacon grease to make lye soap for laundry or hands, use inside of envelopes that come in the mail for notes and try buy when things on sale at a third or half off even there are online coupons. All these little things add up to hundreds of dollars into your pocket so who doesn’t have a few minutes to pay yourself for using your time more intelligently. When I compare my budget each month I take the savings made by putting it way. It is exciting to watch it grow. I even paid myself ten dollars everytime I shopped at a store. That even slowed my shopping in order to stay in budget. It is easier to complain and put up barriers than to take charge to make things better.

    14. Wow, you must lead a VERY miserable life. Your view of history is DEFINITELY skewed. You obviously haven’t read a history book, or if you have it was some “rewritten” crap from current education peddlers. Saying that you don’t have time is PMS (poor me syndrome) and bemoaning how “so many died” during the pandemic (scamdemic) Even IF one was to believe one million people died of covid (blatantly inaccurate) using that number…there are 328 MILLION Americans. 1 million is only .3% NOT even a whole number!!! That’s pretty damn measly! BUT that million deaths were over a 2 yr period to top it off. So that is actually .15% mortality rate a year. I’d actually have more respect for someone who thought the leprechauns were going to put the come hither on them than someone worried about that.

    15. If you have a library card, I hope you check out the book “The Grapes of Wrath.” It changed my perspective as a teenager. It is a long saga of suffering, but ends in hope. I hope your find that hope for yourself.

    16. Yes. Control what you can control. If parts of the advice no not fit your life, ignore it. For example, my city doesn’t allow chickens so I ignore the part about chickens. I DO have a thrift store to buy from. Donate goos to..creating jobs at the thrift d

    17. Baby it depends on your age Family, God, The spirit of being American working hard. Knowing Grandparents and parents that went through the great Great Depression and survived by living realizing Family, God and doing for others and most of all praying and Thankfulness. Happy Thanksgiving

    18. Listen, I get your frustration with the article, but hear me out. There is no blame, just a new generation of people trying to figure out how to survive under the current conditions. You sound stressed to me. Take care of yourself for You. Step 1: your time is your biggest value, if your job isn’t filling that value find some way to free some time every day, even if it’s 15 minutes. Again this isn’t about whose fault it is, it’s about empowering yourself.
      I’m gonna ssume based on your q’s that you are working excess of 50 hours a week, are exhausted at the end of the day, and live in an apartment. Step 2 where to Garden?: balcony, communal allotment, or a friend better land endowed with whom you will share the produce. Small city friendly livestock: quail and rabbits. Step 3: Cooking: you cannot afford not to do your own cooking. This is non negotiable in today’s world. Get a crock pot for 2-10$ at salvation army. Meal prep for the whole week on one day. Mason jar it up, warm it up every day. Skip: TV, social media, etc. “Take a bath” instead (read: something to get out of fight-flight. Your pleasure zone. Make sure it’s free). Step 4 “shopping abstinence” avoid places where you tend to overspend. Examine habits around clothing, tech, media, beauty products, and anything which financially drains you.
      Step 5: Invest in your self: develop one or two invaluable skills that are barterable under conditions of a total economic failure mode. Pick something you love and you will never regret this time spent when shit doesn’t hit the fan. Step 6: should probably be step one. Develop a network of respected adults who have diverse needs and skills to take care of each other. Ideal if walking distance. Step 7: just a tip: whenever some item needs replacement, hold out for the most durable option so that you never have to have it replaced again. Think: what if there was no replenishing this? Would this hold out for my lifetime if I never bought one again? If not, don’t buy it, save your money.
      Most of all:
      Time is your autonomy. Gain control of your time. Hold close to those you love no one can get through alone. Blessings. Good luck.

    19. There’s a reason why the expression “It’s better to light a small candle than to curse the darkness” is repeated. If we are open minded, we can learn to do more with what we have. Merissa helps provide ideas, suggestions that work for some, but cannot work for everyone. It can be hard to find anything to be positive about sometimes (ask me how I know). Making an effort to try something new or trying to adapt it to fit into our own lives can be challenging. If the thing doesn’t work, try something else. The important part is to try. I hope things have improved for you and that you’re doing well. Beat wishes to you and yours.

  7. I trade my used clothes at a church group swap out local library just started a free produce refrigerator for local excess farm stand products.

    1. Wow love the free produce refrigerator at your library. Wonder do you live in a small suburban town? I can’t imagine that happening here in urban CA.

    2. I think often people do not realize that saving pennies adds up quickly. Money not spent is money saved and earned. Being frugal develops healthy habits and makes a huge difference over time. It is a matter of setting priorities. Living below our means gives us a safety net and emergency fund. Our society has become a throw away society where we waste so much money on the latest trends styles. We are so spoiled in the US. With tough times ahead we need to adapt and learn to make do with what we have. Small changes now and preparing now will help us later. Developing an attitude of gratitude will make life easier and help us cope whatever we face.

  8. Merissa, these tips from the depression are awesome. We’ve, as a developing, country have come along way. So much so that we’ve lost some skills. Here what come to mind. *spinning fibers *weaving *blacksmith *carpentry * tailoring just to name a few. Raw materials nowadays, comes from other countries. These skills are almost forgotten.

  9. I love this list, thank you. I like to buy whole chicken and use it to the fullest. Broth, meat, soup, etc. So good and cozy in the fall and winter too.

  10. My Grandparents lived through the depression. They also taught me all those little tricks to save. 1 more I still do, don’t throw away the used aluminum foil. Sometimes it can be used again or for cleaning pots and pans, as well as, in the washer and dryer to get rid of static cling.

    1. My grandmother’s also cleaned the store bought bags bread comes in and the bread ties. It’s absolutely amazing what you can reuse.

      1. I use those clean used bags to put products in for freezing. Squeeze all the air out. Put it in a freezer bag. You’ll be able to reuse that freezer bag over and over because it won’t be dirty. Saves me money.

      2. Yep. My grandmother reused plastic bags by washing and drying them over and over again.. They could preserve anything. Plastic does not degenerate; but unfortunately, it does not degenerate in the environment.

  11. Little bits of bar soap make a great stain remover and if creative you can make a new bar.

  12. These are really great ideas. I already do several of them. I can’t seem to get my husband and son to wait to run the dishwasher when it’s full… I’m not much of a gardener but I did do some container gardening this year and harvested more herbs than I usually do. This is a great post. Thank you.

    1. You can easily dry the excess herbs. Put them on a paper towel and microwave 1 minute at a time until the water moisture is gone. Then use your hands to crumble.
      I save glass spice jars and put my own dried herbs in them.

  13. I’ve lived this way for a long time but I was surprised at the number of younger people who came to my greenhouse to buy garden plants. Some didn’t have a big yard, some we’re renting. Yet they all expressed interest in living frugal, growing food, and canning.

  14. Good tips all and a nice variety which allows readers to choose what fits into their lives. Was surprised to realize that we have been doing most of them for a long time.

    How smart of your grandma to get you to write these things down! So much has been lost, all I remember from our family was they ate a lot of beans!

    I admire you rising up the way you did to that very negative post and not replying in kind. That person obviously is very stressed and I thought you responded very appropriately and nicely.

  15. I have lived this way for over 50 years. Teaching canning and food conservation to many. I enjoyed the tips and comments , We all have a personal stake in this planet so the conversation is healthy for each of us to learn from. Always remain teachable.

  16. It really surprised me how many of these items are already part of our lives. I am 58. I was the child learning how to garden, can, sew, etc in the 70’s. My mom was a single mom thru much of our lives. It was just how we lived. When I was 15 I got a workers permit and had my first job, dishwasher in an Italian restaurant. I kept tithe to give to church and the rest went to my mom. One winter in particular was extremely tight on budget. Mom had a propane heater, the kind used in the garage, in the living room. We would bed down in our sleeping bags and go to sleep in the living room in a circle around the heater. I have fond memories of love and team work from that winter. The heater spent most of the time in the kitchen, with us. It was the room used the most. We even threw snow up against the house the help insulate it from the cold. It did work by the way. Your articles bring back fond memories and reaffirm that we are indeed careful with all the things with which our wonderful God has seen fit to bless us.

  17. Home made laundry soap saves so much money!!!!!!! Grate a fels naptha bar of soap in a pan half full of water and melt the soap, pour into five gallon bucket, add two cups arm and hammer washing soda, and two cups borax mule team all found in the laundry isle. Mix well and store in old juice containers. Shake before putting it in the washer. It gets separated.

  18. Excellent post! Doesn’t matter where you are in the world we can all live simpler and frugally. We have, as you say, forgotten so many skills because there has been plenty but now we need to think before we spend on items we either don’t need or cannot afford! Thank you again for sharing tips that some of us have not heard of or have forgotten. We are in this together.

  19. Merissa I loved your advice / tips. I’m definitely going to be saving this for reference. However in response to the ugh.. “Depressed A$hole” …. ya know maybe… yes, she was rude. And yes, why did she even bother reading… Probably something in her mind has wanted to try these sorts of ideas. However I do feel that maybe her commenting was a sounding board for her oneself just like everyone else has done here. Hers was just negative. And we can bypass that and keep reading on. I will say that I highly doubt anyone of you actually “know” what it’s like to real daily struggle. To the one that was on foodstuffs for a good year…. try having to do that for 5 or more years… I’m 41 years old and I never ever in my young teen or young adult years imagined my life to be what it is now. I just survived an almost Cat 5 hurricane in a manufactured home! I’m in the medical field. I have a degree. I lost my job in June. I had covid in July. My Father passed away July 25. My car engine siezed the day after that. I’m still struggling to get a call back from all the interviews. Then a natural disaster. And now my lease is up at the end of this month.And there’s no where to go. It was hard to find a regular normal type of home less than 2k a month before the storm…. now after the storm…the availability for anything is very slim. You might say… well time to move… I’ve lived here most my life. I was born here. I grew up on Fort Myers Beach. And went to Elementary school there… it’s gone! All gone! So anyways… life is extremely hard for most these days I get it. But until you have literally been in a low income next to nothing situation, then you really will never understand….don’t judge her for her comments. You don’t know what kinda day she had. Yes I’m grateful for everything that I have and all my experiences. But what is next? So thank you for the tips Merissa. It was a great distraction to my woes.

    1. I’m so sorry for everything that you’ve had to experience since June. Especially, the loss of your father.😔 May he rest in peace. ❤️

      Hopefully, it will only get better for you from here on!👍 I wish you luck.☘️🧡

  20. I appreciate your posting very much. I was brought up by parents who lived frugally on the island of Jersey, Channel Islands, UK whilst they were occupied by the German Forces from 1940 to 1945. My Grandparents and mother ( My Dad was fighting or our freedom in North Africa ) certainly lived frugally but luckily they had a farm. They shared what they had and I have learnt many of the frugal ways of living from my Mother and Grandmother. But for a Portuguese ship bringing much needed emergency parcels of food prior to the end of the war most people would have starved to death. Things got really bad but they survived and were joyous when liberated.

    I have always been aware that a disaster could happen at any time and we most certainly have all the likelihood of a pending disaster coming our way at present not only in Britain but everywhere. Let us hope that sense prevails and that the world learns to live together and help one another. Putin, aided by the Russian Orthodox Church are not willing to live and let live. The Church along with Putin don’t like what is happening in the Western world, particularly with the Liberation movement. That may entice Arab countries to join Putin as they don’t necessarily lie Liberate either. Live and let live is my motto and we should fight for our freedom like my father did. Sorry to bring politics into this but we have to realise why things are happening in the way they are.

    I pray for the US, Britain and all the countries allied within the United Nations.

    Once again thank you for reminding me of the frugal way of life. Bless you.

  21. I loved your story on different ways to be frugal and save money. I would love to hear more of ways to be frugal. Thank you very much

  22. When I was a young bride I secretly laughed at my MIL. She saved wrapping paper and ironed and reused it. Small gifts were wrapped in tissue paper. When I realized gift wrap cost equivalent to another nice gift for someone, only to be ripped up and thrown away unremembered, I began doing the same. There are very cute Christmas tissue paper patterns out there, and all sorts of products come with bits of ribbon and lace. She also saved aluminum foil and reused it until it was shreds, then balled it up and used it to scrub pots. They never made much money, and yet went to China after retirement. I’m absolutely sure they were able to do that because she reused gift wrap and ribbon!

  23. As a kid in the 70s and 80s, most of your tips were practiced in my family and neighbors too. My parents had depression era values. It served them well and they retired very comfortably. However I do see that 1 negative reply writer has a point. A lot of this doesn’t add up to make any substantial changes in today’s world and economy. Very minor savings. Sure I still sew on a missing button and cook at home but most necessities are super high and it’s much harder for some income brackets. My husband of almost 10 years blindsided me and left. Our huge home on golf course (he made great money but he was very into having the best. I often tried to impose my more frugal nature as he was always buying a new expensive toy ie boats motorcycle etc but he earned the money and could afford and I really couldn’t stop him. My voice of reason didn’t sway him) So he leaves. I was a stay at home mom at time. Even after getting back to work there was no way for me to pay that high a mortgage. I earned about 1/5 his income. So house was foreclosed. Then my credit took major hit as we were both on mortgage. Anyway. Income is so vastly different for some than others. Just the basics are huge mountains for many. Thank God my rich father has helped me so much since but still not easy. One other point is people like my Dad and an Aunt. They are well off. They can afford to be extravagant but still are frugal in many ways. But as they are older Seniors something is coming into play. They saved and invested. Nice nest eggs right. My Aunt had a severe stroke. Her care after w home aides etc. She spent 150k in 8 months after for her care. My Dad’s 2nd wife after my Mom died had to go in nursing home. He tried to care for her himself for a long while but was eventually too much. Lifting her, cleaning her w incontinence problems. Nursing home cleaned her out of 250k until she died. So these nest eggs OFTEN go to end of life care. But if you are poor like many the Government Medicaid takes care of them. So now my elderly Dad is praying he doesn’t get sick like that so he can give his wealth to his children and grandchildren (my kids too) as that is how he always shows love. By blessing his loved ones w money. He worked hard. He doesn’t want nursing home to take it. But they will if he ever gets sick. It’s nice to save for a rainy day when you can ( with expenses what they are most people are paychecks to paycheck) but it gets taken when you are elderly. Sad. I have taken care of sick but it is difficult to be a caregiver. Even when you love that person. Sometimes nursing home is the only answer. I look at well off family going through this. But if you are poor state pays for it. Something is wrong w this picture. To see all your savings gone like that. Plus the income disparity. When I was a girl it was heavily implied as a girl not to have a career. Look for a husband , a dependable family man type. I thought I had made a wise choice. Seemed like perfect husband and father. So blessed. Then poof. Rug pulled out from under me. My schools didn’t even have computer. Typewriters. And guidance counselors really only worked w boys. Teacher or nurse seemed like only possible women’s jobs. They didn’t even encourage us for college. Then just about 5 years later things changed for girls. Women 5 years younger than I were given options. I seldom see a woman Dr or lawyer my age. 5 years younger yes. But not in the Midwest or my area. So it’s not necessarily blaming others but I was born and growing up in the time right before the shift. I was encouraged just to look pretty and get married.

  24. My grandfather was 9 years old when the great depression happened and my grandfather turned out to be a good father to his 4 kids and worked 2 jobs and built a house that my grandparents raised their 4 kids and me and my brother was also raised in the house that my grandfather built

  25. Always use your credit card, unless there is a fee. Pay them off every month and get cash back. I will make an extra $500 this year from taking advantage of their deals. Plus many offer retailer gift cards with an additional 10-20% off.

  26. I would think that the last two years would be a sobering reminder to all of us that resources are finite. We should be a more self-sufficient society as a whole.

    Stores will not always have what we need; gas may not always be available to fill up our vehicles. Jobs may not be there for us to rely on for income. Natural disasters can interrupt our way of life in the blink of an eye.

    Having ANY of these skills can sustain you & your loved ones for any length of time. For some people it’s drastic but for a lot of folks, this is just how you live.

  27. My parents experienced the Great Depression. They are realists and doers. One thing that is free: a positive and thankful attitude towards ANYTHING, then your eyes will open to what is possible.
    To ask —
    Do I need??? paper towels, disposable anything, dining out –yes fast food and lattes included, expensive toiletries/make-up, the latest gadget, updated car, all the streaming channels, all the ingredients in a recipe, alcohol/cigarettes/retail therapy/lotto tickets, high power job requiring nice clothes, can a used item work instead, high maintenance haircuts, mani/pedi, any blings, a gazillion bags, shoes, name your item here. The list can go on and on.
    It is a shift in your thinking/attitude then eventually you see your savings account grow. Blame the economy, the gov’t, your job, your spouse, your health and you are stuck into inaction.
    Thanks Merissa for posting ideas that foster self-reliance and a simple life.

    1. You had such a great post – sorry I just saw it!!! And you are so right!!! Reusable towels in the kitchen, etc., home-brewed coffee beverages, and just NOT keeping “Up with the Joneses” makes all the difference!! Add social media to your list of blame factors… Such a waste of time and energy… energy that could be put into repainting a vanity rather than replacing, or nurturing a basil plant for use in a kitchen garden!! 🙂 Blessings!!! And thanks for an apt reminder!! ~Chrissie

  28. My parents lived through the Great Depression and World War 2 in NE England. Times were very hard prewar and then the rationing in WW2 made life even harder. My mother used to say that every penny was turned twice and then sometimes more. I learned a lot from both of them on how to reduce, reuse, repair many things. My parents were masters at frugality. It was this knowledge that got me through my own tough times later on when my hubby was unemployed for months at a time due to the ups and downs of the energy sector in which he worked. Our four sons have picked up some of the knowledge and use the tips today. The knowledge helped get them through their respective job losses during the height of the pandemic and help them rebuild for today. It is knowledge that will never get old.

  29. These are all great ideas. I am currently using some of them and possibly will try more. Thanks for sharing as we all must accept responsibly for ourselves and not blame others for our problems.

  30. You’ve got so many great suggestions here!! Seriously – kudos!!! I can speak from experience:
    1. Even an apartment-dweller can grow a simple kitchen garden;
    2. DELAY GRATIFICATION!!!! The old adage: Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without holds true; figure out what your budget it, and if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it. I’ve a client who argued, “But, if my husband hadn’t gotten laid off, we could have paid it off in 12 months…” My response was, “Why didn’t you save for 12 months to buy it, rather than get it debt, now plus interest, that you cannot afford?” When my daughter hit a growth spurt, a pleated/blinged out denim trim extended her hems by nearly 2″ and cost me pennies in the “remnant” bin at JoAnn fabrics opposed to a new pair of jeans – and her blinged-out jeans bought her the envy of half the class!
    3. I don’t care who wants to argue with me but dried beans/lentils/eggs are still, pound per pound, the LEAST expensive form of protein per serving. If you’re not comfortable making these staples and you’re on a budget, introduce yourself to them!
    4. Honestly, so many of these tips are meant for those who are serious: handmade gifts MEAN something; consolidating trips saves money. Having even a small garden does, as well. Invest in things worth owning, and learn how to maintain them; the internet has a million videos – 20 minutes can save hundreds from learning to change your car’s oil to swapping out a worn faucet washer. You’re either invested in sustainability, saving money, etc., or you’re not… I hope, if you’re reading this post, you’re the former… PS If your garden shows signs of blossom-end rot, the best remedy is whole milk, poured around the roots – there’s a freebie for you!

  31. My grandparents lived through the great depression, and my mother can remember many
    Ways they got through. One way was that every scrap of cotton was made into a yoyo, by
    Tracing a circle on the cotton and sewing around the edge and drawing it into a puff. Then the
    Puffs were sewn together to make pillows, table runners or bed covers. They were the first thing
    I learned to sew as a child, and my mother made one for each of my children, and I am currently
    Making one for myself while many fond memories float through my mind. Sue in Bermuda

  32. When I was young, my dad was injured on a high paying job and was out of work for 4 years going through his savings. I wasn’t allowed to wash my oily, dandruff prone scalp, as needed. So I was bullied. There was food even though food pantries didn’t exist. My parents were too proud to get government cheese, peanut butter, welfare. When he got a factory job, he was happy to get minimum wage. So you learn to be resilient and not make mistakes of past. Be kind, be caring, and giving…….but also pray and save.

  33. Tomorrow, I am going to a annual event that focuses on all the old ways (1700’s) of doing things. That would be inside and outside the house. It also includes (1800’s) early engines to run small washing machines, etc. There is an old, operating saw mill there. And an old forge. All the food sold is old time recipes. Soups, meadow tea, ice cream, etc. Fun day, for me/us for many years. This year, it will have special meaning for me.

  34. I am not sure that the cost of gardening and preserving is taken into consideration in these articles. Savings on produce depends greatly on the size of the garden…tools, water and seeds may exceed the value of the produce not to mention the tome needed. Preserving also has costs…buying large pots for processing, jars, and lids. Again the time factor is considerable. Freezing may require an new appliance, space ans electric costs.

    1. I believe that these things are taken into consideration. That’s why you’ll see so many articles on thrifting, repairing, etc. You can save a great deal from gardening, plus you know that you have fresh chemical-free, GMO-free food. Gardening and preserving can also be a wonderful hobby and is certainly a good use of time. Teaching younger generations and even learning ourselves is rewarding. Gardens can be made and maintained at no cost at all. Seeds and plants can be free – save your own seed, overwinter herbs, peppers, or other plants inside, put the word out to friends that you are looking for seeds and plants, take cuttings and root them, on and on. Make compost and mulch. Sure, a freezer is nice to have, but a full freezer is cheaper to run than a mostly empty one. Dehydrate free in the sun. Learn what kinds of fruit and veggies are good for storage, and learn how to store them – also free. Many folks find that the dollar savings in growing and/or preserving over store-bought counterparts is substantial. The exercise, fresh air, working with nature, nurturing, harvesting, and preserving have rewards exceeding any dollar value. Start small. Grow big if you want to. Ask around if you have questions – every gardener will be happy to share information, and likely some plants and seeds too! Your library might also have a free seed bank, and will definitely have books on gardening. My favorite is “Grow Food For Free: The sustainable, zero-cost, low-effort way to a bountiful harvest” by Huw Richards. I hope you give it a shot! Best wishes!