23 Frugal Tips from the Great Depression You Need to Know

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 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 what life was like 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 that you can glean some helpful information and some frugal living tips from the Great Depression from this article.

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 come up with 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

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 just 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.

You can also make a powerful scrub for difficult stains by mixing some baking soda and water.

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 trying to figure out how to sew your own 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!

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 just 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 wouldn’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:

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 a large amount of land to grow herbs; you can simply 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!

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 a small amount of space.) You can also go for 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.

9. Make use of kitchen scraps

Most people in the Depression era had scrap jars, which they filled with any food leftovers or food scraps that they could make use of 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.

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 you will be able to 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 that will 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 little bit of paint can do!

13. Conserve your electricity usage

There are many simple ways you can conserve your electricity usage to cut down on your utility bills.

For example, make a habit of turning 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 almost 3 years now and don’t miss it!

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 every day, and freshwater is definitely something we take for granted.
Just like electricity, there are simple ways to conserve water usage to cut down on 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.

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.

There are many simple tutorials online that 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:

• Homemade cookies in a jar or any other baked goods
• Homemade scented candles or soap
• Handmade Jewellery
• Knitted items such as sweaters, beanies, or gloves
• Personalized scrapbooks

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 of your yard on your own.

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 that 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 you are able! But on the other hand, if you are currently paying for services (could be ANY kind of services including TV streaming) and you can’t afford other things in your budget, it’s probably time to trim things down.

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 do learn the thing you want to do on YouTube. Stop going to the movies and borrow a movie from a neighbor to have 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 try to avoid one-time-use products 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 try buying cloth napkins or hand towels instead of buying 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.

19. Buy used or thrifted items

You can buy many items used or thrifted at a much lower price. I’ve been able to find 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 on the rise, 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…just 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.

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.

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 making a purchase will help make you more aware of your spending habits as opposed to 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 things that are necessary and avoids wasting money. In contrast, a stingy person avoids spending any money at all, 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 that 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 that were around during the times of less.

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

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