Lessons from the Great Depression that can help us live better even in our modern world.
As a young girl, I was regularly amazed at the resourcefulness of my maternal grandmother, who grew up in the 1930’s during the Great Depression era.
Granny managed to find a creative use for just about anything, and she was a wonderful cook! She made her own clothes, sewed for the grandkids, made quilts out of scraps, and canned whatever she could.
She would put to use whatever she happened to find growing on their property. I loved her delicious wild plum jelly, made from “sand plums.” Nothing ever went to waste under her watchful eye.
Even though I’m so thankful for all that we have been blessed with today, I believe we would do well to learn from those who lived through this time.
We can learn so much about living frugally, wisely, and well from our grandparents.
RELATED POST: 8 Useful Homemaking Skills Our Grandmothers Knew
Lessons from the Great Depression
While there are many valuable lessons to be learned from the experiences of those who went through this difficult period of history, here are ten important lessons from the Great Depression.
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- Be a good steward of resources and don’t be wasteful. Every year, the United States generates approximately 230 million tons of “trash”–about 4.6 pounds per person per day. By contrast, those of the Depression Era learned to use (and reuse) every available resource with minimal waste. That piece of leftover odd-length string? They wouldn’t toss it out; it would be used for some repair project, as a shoe lace, or to create a toy for a child. I love this saying:
Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.
- Don’t be so reliant on stores and markets for your food. Instead, raise or grow food for your own family and/or barter with others for items you may need. We’re all familiar with the Victory Gardens of the 1940’s. However, the precursor to this was the long American tradition of small-scale rural farming and backyard gardens even on smaller city lots. The mass movement of the American population off of rural farms and into big cities that began in the 1800’s was one factor that made The Depression worse than it might otherwise have been. After all, a nation of family farmers is not as susceptible to mass hunger as a nation of city dwellers that rely on others for their food supplies.
- Plan ahead and be prepared for hard times. Those who put away food storage through canning, drying, or other means were in better shape when The Great Depression hit than those who were not prepared.
- Learn how to hunt, trap, and fish. Many people in the 1930’s relied heavily on venison, rabbits, and wild-caught fish as a primary food supply.
- Do it yourself. It’s not only a great feeling to know that you repaired or made something yourself, it’s also often more economical.
- Learn useful skills. Skills like learning to garden, cook from scratch, and learn basic sewing and mending skills.
- Learn basic medical techniques and practices in the event the health care system is not readily accessible or is unaffordable. While few would want to return to the days before modern medicine, it’s a good idea to keep a first aid kit and a well-stocked natural medicine cabinet on hand.
- Don’t put your confidence in wealth, which can easily vanish. Many people saw their savings and investments essentially evaporate overnight, which was devastating for those who had trusted that their riches would always be there for them.
- Money doesn’t bring happiness. Related to number 8, it doesn’t take material riches to be happy. While many of those who went through The Great Depression experienced severe deprivation, there are many stories of happy family memories and finding contentment even in the midst of financial need.
- Be thankful for little things. As the Bible says, “But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” In our contemporary era of excess, electronics, and non-stop entertainment, it’s good to remember that the greatest joys often come from the simplest things.
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Did you have grandparents or other family members who lived through The Great Depression? What lessons have you learned from them?
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8 Useful Homemaking Skills Our Grandmothers Knew
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Such a good post – thanks for the reminder of the Great Depression and the people who lived through it. We’ve lost so many of the amazing lessons that we saw that group of people example to us. More of us should look back to days gone by and gleen from their experiences. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Cindy!
Thankfully, I know how to do many of these these things already and live in an area where others know how to live off the land to. I think we are in for some difficult days ahead and the knowledge of out grandparents will help see us through.
Yes, I agree, it’s such valuable knowledge to have.
These are great and practical ideas. My parents did live through the depression, I remember when I was growing up they were very frugal. At times they would make depression-era meals.
Visiting today from Imparting Grace #122
Thanks for stopping by, Paula!
Such a great post! If we all could learn a few lessons from Depression Era families this country would be so much better off. Thanks for sharing on Homestead Blog Hop!
Thank you, Liz!
Joy this is such a truthful post and full of so much wisdom. I try as much as I can to save and not make trash but there is so much packaging that comes with our store purchases, it can be disheartening at times. I recycle and then even repurpose as much of it as I can. Thanks for the great reminder. And there is always joy in DIYing your own things.
Thank you, Mary! I know what you mean about all the excess packaging. It’s hard to get away from it these days.
This is a great post! Two Chicks and a Mom will be Featuring it tonight at Party in Your PJs!
Thank you, Donna! And thanks for the feature!
Such great lessons we should all be practicing! Thank you for sharing your post on the Simple Homestead Blog Hop! As one of the co-hsts I will be featuring your post this week!
– Nancy (Nancy On The Home Front )
Thanks so much for the feature, Nancy!
I’ve always been fascinated with the Great Depression and really appreciate your list of ten things we can learn from that period of time—specifically “plan ahead and be prepared for hard times.”
So glad you stopped by, Carri!
I love this article. Many of us have no idea how good we have it until our wealth is gone.
Thank you, Amy!
Great post! I was always so humbled by my grandmother, who also lived through the Depression and never had much. But she was so, so happy! She didn’t care about material things, she found her greatest contentment with her friends and family. I strive to be like her!
btw, found you through the Homestead Blog Hop!
Thank you, Lacey! Your grandma sounds so similar to my grandma. What great role models they are for us today!
This is a great reminder for all of us! #wonderfulwednesday
So glad you stopped by, Tracy!
These are also lessons in the bible. Basics of prudence. When Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes he told the disciples to gather the leftovers and not waste it. Great post featuring values of the Great Depression.
I agree, Sherry! Thank you!
I am so grateful that my dear mum who was born in 1930 taught me the art of frugal. It would’ve come from her mum and my Scottish Great Grandmother before that. Now it has come full circle and people are more aware of waste and how it affects the environment. I often wonder what the world would’ve been like if we kept going with the suggestions above till the present day. I’m sure there would be less physical and mental sickness throughout the world. Just a thought…
I agree, I think we would all benefit from living more simply and more frugally. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lou!
Great post! This is a topic close to my heart Joy. I lived with an aunt for 2 years who lived during the Great Depression and that time changed my perspective on many things. Thank you for sharing on the Art of Home-Making Mondays! 🙂
Thank you, JES! I used to spend time with my maternal grandmother, and she inspired me so much. I think I know what you mean about a perspective change, since I experienced that with my grandma, too. 🙂
Terrific post! There are so many wonderful skills and lessons to be learned from the past. I have spent the past few weeks canning. We are definitely grateful for the abundance of delicious tomatoes this year. : )
Thank you, Sarah! I’m thankful for the skills I learned from my grandma, but I wish I had spent more time with her to learn even more. She knew so much. I miss canning! I haven’t canned anything this year. It’s such a nice feeling to see jars of home-canned things on the shelves. 🙂
Great article. I remember hearing my granny speak of the Depression Era, and even as a kid growing up in the 60s and 70s, life seemed so much simpler. I love having the modern conveniences we have today, but I must admit, there is a part of me that longs for the simplicity of times past.
I feel the same way, Connie. I’m so thankful for what we have today, but there was a simplicity that we’ve lost.