Learning from the Great Depression: Hacks for Making Ends Meet in 2022

In 1938 — just like today — nobody can afford to fill their tank. But for very different reasons.

In the Great Depression, gas was 10 cents a gallon, but jobs were hard to find. Millions of families went without because there was no work. These days, we see ‘Help Wanted’ signs in every store window and some businesses can’t keep afloat because they don’t have enough workers, but it’s rampant inflation that is pinching the family budget. Not just gas, but the price of groceries, services, cars, and everything else is skyrocketing.

Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. Advice I heard from my Dad and others in the generations who lived through the Great Depression and its aftermath. Here’s some ways our parents and grandparents put this advice to use in the hard times of the 1930s and we can do the same today in the inflation of 2022.

Make it yourself. A trip to the grocery store can bring on a bout of sticker-shock! Everything from bread to soap and cheese is at a ridiculous price. But there’s a great satisfaction in taking a loaf of bread from the oven or making dinner from scratch. And with restaurant and take-out skyrocketing, it’s a no-brainer to make dinner more often. So break out the cookbooks or google how to make that family favorite that you usually buy. I love trying the recipes in DIY Cookbook: Can It, Cure It, Churn It, Brew It. and if you enjoy trying copy-cat recipes for your favorite store-bought treats, Brave Tart has lots of fun recipes.

Grow it yourself. During the Great Depression and into the war years, anyone who had a few square feet of dirt planted seeds and grew their own garden. Gardens saved many families from both hunger and malnutrition. From microgreens to herbs to an all-out vegetable garden, even those of us in urban areas can grow something, whether on your kitchen counter or in your backyard. Don’t worry if you haven’t gardened before, a pot of soil, a pack of seeds, some water, and sunshine are all you need to have salads for the summer. And it sure beats $5 for a bag of greens! For gardening year-round, check out my friend Michelle’s blog Forks in the Dirt for lots of great ideas!

Fix it yourself. In the 30s, clothes were patched or remade for younger siblings, cars were held together with bailing wire and a prayer. When they wore holes in their shoes, Depression-era folks cut new soles from rubber or cardboard, then stitched and glued their shoes together again. The next time something of yours wears out, check out Youtube and see if it can be fixed instead of replaced. You’d be amazed at what you can do yourself and the money you can save!

Entertain yourself (at home!). With everything costing more — especially gas! — finding ways to have fun close to home really pays off. Hollywood was big in the 30s, and going to the movies was a popular event, but plenty of people couldn’t afford the twenty-five cents to see a show. Board games became a thing, with classics like Sorry and Monopoly coming out at the time. Playing cards was a common family activity. Picnics were a popular community activity, as were games like Red Rover and Blind Man’s Bluff, which needed nothing more than enthusiasm and an open field. Stick close to home with stay-cations this year. You might make some new family traditions!

Trade with your friends and neighbors. As bad as people had it in the thirties, a lot of folks had it worse, and working together in hard times was the norm. In these times of high prices, it’s a great time to reach out to your neighbors. Carpool the kids to swimming lessons. Consolidate trips into town to save gas. Bring over extra zucchinis to trade for rhubarb. Maybe trade lawn-mowing with a neighbor who can change your oil. You might make new friends with that family that’s lived across the street for years.

Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. How do you make ends meet as the grocery and gas prices eat into your paycheck? Let me know in the comments!