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| Using a Wagon to bring home groceries, 1942, LOC. |
In the 1940's, residents were encouraged to save resources and find creative ways to avoid the waste of gasoline and other necessary supplies. Money was scarce. Families worked hard to put food on the table and to maintain a place to live. One of the campaigns that was broadcast was called, "I'll carry mine." Photos were taken of a variety of children and adults doing their part as they walked home from the grocer holding bags or hauling parcels in little wagons. They were choosing to walk rather than drive so they wouldn't use any gasoline.
War ration books were issued around this time as well. A certain portion was rationed to residents, with limited amounts of sugar, butter, and other basic items. Homemakers had to get creative with what was presented as meals for the family. Gardens were prevalent and this helped make sure nourishing food was available, especially in hard times.
We are facing hard times today. One of my biggest struggles, each month, is to have enough food for my family. Our bills have increased. Our annual car insurance bill just arrived with a staggering increase of $100. This is a burden when one is having a difficult time just getting by and making do. I have noticed the cost of groceries has increased again. I am already avoiding what I call luxuries (such as hot chocolate, and store-bought treats). We avoid restaurants and unnecessary spending. There simply isn't enough money on a limited income for such comforts.
We need a good dose of old-time homemaking. Getting back to basics is essential for survival. When the most basic living expenses are high, we have to find a way to come up with enough money and resources to simply feed the family. It is the old saying, of putting food on the table. This has become an ongoing challenge these days!
I am inspired by the creative ways homemakers managed their homes in the 1940's. I am thinking of more ways to live on less so we can come up with money for food:
1. I need to conserve gasoline. I am avoiding going out as much as possible, often putting off necessary shopping for a day when there is an appointment. In this way, I can stop at the store on my way home from an essential errand. Combining crucial trips is important for us to save money on transportation. The less often I need to put gas in the car, the more often I will have a few dollars to buy basic items like sugar, butter, and orange juice.
2. Repairs and maintenance on the house are put off for as long as possible. Some things we have simply learned to live without because money is needed for more basic needs.
3. Whatever we can fix or mend ourselves, for free, is done in order to make everything last as long as possible.
4. I am seeking happiness and joy in things that don't require money. This is one of the most important things we can do because life should be happy and pleasant and peaceful. If we are content in our circumstances, finding ways to turn hard things into an adventure, we will keep up our morale and walk ahead to victory!
I realize many people are struggling with health issues as well as enduring financial trials. We can find peace through it all as we travel on these difficult roads if we remember to have trust and faith in our Heavenly provider. If we can remember all the blessings and the things for which we are thankful, it is easier to bear the times of going without.
Better days are always ahead. In the meantime, we keep up with our daily chores and duties. We keep up with prayers and hymns. We find strength to keep going by staying close in our walk with the Lord. These daily actions are much like the promise from Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Blessings
Mrs. White
From the Archives -
Is This True? - Only Rich People Have Clean Houses.
A Peaceful Work - The Simplicity of Old Fashioned Homemaking.
I will never regret staying Home - A Humble Parlour as a School of Theology.
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9 comments:
Dear Mrs. White, I am going through a similar financial situation and I am tempted to anxiety and lack of self-control. Pray for me. We have a small amount of cash to get us through today, and will be paid tomorrow, but most of our paycheck will go to bills right away, with not much leftover. We've got some gift cards for a restaurant, so we'll use those to celebrate my birthday, for free. I just mended a hole in my husband's work shirt so he doesn't feel the need to buy a new one. I'm drinking lots of tea instead of the oat milk that I like, because we need it for cooking. We're out of bread and I must make do with tortillas, because that is what we have. Life can be hard, but I'm trying to trust God that things will improve for all of us. BLeB.
I was one of those 40's children. Born 1941. I remember as a little girl the ration books and how we had to use little butter. Oh how I loved butter and do to this day. My parents were very hard workers. My Dad had a radiator shop and my mother was a homemaker. We had a garden and a few chickens. We were considerd rich. I'm glad I learned to work hard, and appreciate what we had. Thanks for reminding us we still need to be frugile.
I recall my mother talking about the Victory 'Garden her parents had during the WWII rationing, one where the entire neighborhood worked and shared the harvest. Those were fond memories as she was the one that would help her dad in making it all work for the good of their family and their friends. There are always opportunities if we perceive hope, not hopelessness. God will always give us the strength to move forward. Blessings!
My mother was a teenager during the war years. I’m blessed that she raised me with all the stories and practical wisdom of that time. We haven’t had eggs for months, but I’m getting good at baking with applesauce. We watch a lot of old tv shows on our free TV channels, but I’ve adored “I Love Lucy” and “Father Knows Best” since I was young, so it’s fine. We stay home, listen to the radio, play cards and read. We are planning our garden and things are warming up in our northern area. The Lord has blessed us with our home, our wonderful grown daughter and a solid vehicle. We’ve had to adjust and make a lot of changes since my husband began an early retirement, but I thank God that His word has always guided us in being prepared. So, all I can be is thankful and keep my eyes on Him:).
Some of my best memories and life lessons were learned when we were at our poorest. There's so many wonderful recipes that can be made inexpensively without meat. Staying home as encourages a family's sense of unity. I look at tough times as a time of spiritual growth.Sometimes hard times are a blessing in disguise.
Hugs
Jane
Thank you for this post. Trying to live on the least we can, going forward, is very wise.
At the moment I am lucky to be in a position where I don't have to watch every penny, but I have been there in the past and my parents raised me to be frugal, so I am still careful with what I spend. Who knows what hard times might be around the corner? The other reason I haven't upped my spending is that I try to live as greenly as possible. I don't need new clothes and take good care of the ones I have. I enjoy home-cooked food, rather than costly restaurant meals. To me it just feels like the right way to live.
HOLA SEÑORA WHITE, AQUI EN BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINA DONDE VIVO, LA VIDA SE HA VUELTO EXTREMADAMENTE CARA, LOS COMESTIBLES AUMENTAN CADA SEMANA, EL PRECIO DE LA CARNE VACUNA, POLLO, LOS HUEVOS,ACEITE,MANTECA, VERDURA TODO LO QUE SE USA PARA COCINAR AUMENTA SIN CESAR Y NADIE HACE NADA AL RESPECTO,NI HABLAR DE COMPRAR ROPA Y CALZADO NUEVO, SOMOS 6 VIVIENDO BAJO EL MISMO TECHO,MI ESPOSO Y YO SOMOS JUBILADOS Y EL SIGUE TRABAJANDO DURO PARA MANTENER A LA FAMILIA, PRONTO CUMPLIRA 69 AÑOS, PERO SE SIENTE FUERTE COMO UN ROBLE, TENEMOS HIJOS CON DISTINTAS DISCAPACIDADES, GRACIAS A DIOS NO PASAMOS HAMBRE, PERO DEBEMOS RESTRINGUIR NUESTROS GASTOS, LOS IMPUESTOS SOBRE LA PROPIEDAD,EL SEVICIO ELECTRICO Y DE GAS NATURAL HAN AUMENTADO ESCANDALOSAMENTE. NUESTRO PADRE CELESTIAL CUIDA DE NOSOTROS,EL CONOCE Y SABE DE NUESTRAS NECESIDADES, NO PASAREMOS HAMBRE NI TAMPOCO FRIO, EL CUIDARA DE NOSOTROS MIENTRAS VIVIMOS EN ESTE MUNDO TAN MALO ESPERANDO GOZOSOS EL DIA GLORIOSO EN QUE CRISTO VENGAN POR NOSOTROS. BENDICIONES Y ORANDO LOS UNOS POR LOS OTROS.
Dear Mrs White, I grew up in England during the war years, and still remember my Grandma making good healthy meals out of whatever we had. Grandpa grew a lot of our vegetables, and food was sourced from local farms or village shops. There were no ready meals in those days, and I feel they have become too easy to rely on. One of our worst educational decisions was to stop 'cookery' or 'home economic' classes in our schools. So much was taught in those lessons, not just cookery but how to manage, budget, make cheap meals etc.
It is so good to find a moment or two of joy amongst the worrying times.
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