13 Frugal Living Tips From the Great Depression

Learn 13 of the best frugal living tips and tricks from the great depression that you should be doing today!

[granitemoss]

In my area, many towns have 'swap shops'. These little places are like a thrift store but everything is FREE for town residents, donated by other town residents. It keeps things out of landfills and helps people to be frugal. I volunteer at the one in my town and when it's open for a few hours on the weekend, literally thousands of items come and go through the place. It's marvelous, and every town should have one!

[barbniantic]

I delay grocery shopping and shop from my pantry until it is impossible to be creative with what is in there. Aldi's is my favorite grocery store.

[rochellethundercloud]

Mine is, was, and always will be.maintain your belongings.if you take care of what you have, it should last.my friend's grand mother survived ww1, 2, Korea, Vietnam, the depression, holocaust, etc. My own paternal grandmother survived 2 Nazi concentration camps twice each.my maternal grandfather survived the potato famine of Ireland

[edefyinggravity]

Know your rock bottom prices (especially for groceries) and stock up when the items you use are at those prices. For example, our typical stock up price on chickens is 75 ¢/ lb. A local store had them on clearance for 59 ¢/ lb, so I bought 5-6 months worth of chickens. Last month, I stocked up on turkeys for 45 ¢ a pound. Meat doesn't get cheaper than that! Between Memorial Day and 4th of July, condiments will be the lowest prices all year (less than half the cost of other times), so I'll stock up then.

Keep a stocked pantry (beans, broth, rice, fruits- canned and dried, tomatoes, various vinegars, your preferred oils, flour/cornmeal, pastas, etc.), and be sure to use what you buy.

Don't waste. Give appropriate portions, know what a serving size it.

Drink water (from the tap, unless your water is really nasty), not milk, juice, soda, tea, etc.

[juliecastillo]

I think my biggest one and the one that I struggle with the most is not eating out. It's so easy and now in the days of fast food to just grab a quick bite. But especially if you have a lot of kids that quick bite can add up to $30 or more for one meal. Whereas soup and grilled cheese at home can be made for probably about $5 or less

[JohnDoe-wbiv]

I never had store bought pancake syrup till age 12 in 1965 mom always made her own. Also she used tomato soup instead of ragu n speghetti and chili shed use kidney beans. Great northern beans and corn bread. Big garden apple trees pear n 2 cherry trees and a naybors pear. We never bought a Christmas tree but went on a farmers hill w his permission and cut a wild pine tree n used crows foot n pine branches for decorations.

[bengalkitty]

Always shut the lights off when leaving a room, changed all bulbs to LED, shop at thrift stores, yard sales, craigslist first, make my own cleaning products with essential oils. Repurpose glass jars to store food.

[shellyd]

We buy appliances (refrigerators, dishwashers, etc.) either on Craigslist or at discount stores. Just can't buy a $2, 000 refrigerator....spent $425, going on 5 years years now that we've had it. Dishwasher had VERY small, unnoticeable dent, stainless steel inside and out...originally priced at $650....bought for $350. Brand new. We are slowly replacing our appliances, but only if they are completely broken and cannot be repaired.

[groovy-mom]

I'm happy to see I'm already doing a lot of these!! I like Danielle Adair's comment about walking to the store. We're about a mile and a half away from the nearest store, but one of my goals is to start walking there more when the weather clears.

[donnaleeclubb]

While I don't make my own laundry detergent, I buy laundry detergent, only use one-third cup and add one-third cup of baking soda. It really stretches the lifetime of the detergent and still cleans, whitens and brightens your clothes.

[patriciafisher]

Aside from shoes and underwear, most of my clothes are purchased from the thrift store, and none of them require dry cleaning. At the end of the day, my clothes get hung up to air out, so they can be worn again. Not wearing the same shoes two days in a row helps them last longer. due to the fact they have time to air out. Buying inexpensive protein, such as eggs, peanut butter, peas and some chicken, keeps my food costs down .I drive a 6 year old car that was purchased used 3 years ago. I cut my own hair ( no coloring ). I do not pay for professional manicures or pedicures, nor do I use polish on my nails. Cutting costs in many areas enables me to buy some things I desire, but in the strictest sense of the word, do not need.

[dianejennings]

I cut large dishwashing sponges in half. I get twice as many for a better deal

[sallythomsen]

Best for everyone. We should learn from The Great Depression. Our grandparents frugality needs to rub off on all of us! :D My fav is shop from your pantry fridge freezer garden even yard (dandelion greens make good free salad!) Also try shop from your closet. Pick outfits from closet & drawers, mix & match colors. Easy if you color co-ordinate & Black, white, navy, grey, (plain tops skirts pants best)scarves, jewelry helps. Aldi's is so frugal! Thanks Money Mom, I have great ideas thanks to you. God bless you! xx <3 :)

[KatrinaNJoeBikeRiders]

I'm packing a bigger lunch so that I'm not hungry enough to buy snacks at work.

[beningolili]

Granmom enjoys going to our school to get can foods in bulk for free and donation bin for old cookbooks.

[chillinretreat]

I buy online with a list.to pick up...no overbuying walking through the isles!

[HisLoveYou]

I'm late to the party, but this is all SO applicable in our awful 2021 economy! Buy as much as you can in CASH - now is not the time to build debt or to go "crypto." Great video!

[maricelaandsammyshauls]

Great video love the tips new subbie here. If you enjoy watching hauls cooking and toys we got that at our channel