In the dark corners of my grandmother’s basement is a cellar filled with jars of jellies, peaches, berries, and pickled watermelon. Next to the jars are cans with green beans, corn, tomato paste, and peas. You name it – it’s there. When I was little, I spent part of my summer at the farm with my cousins, and my grandmother would always ask us to run down to the cellar to get something for her. We hated it. It was scary down there and we couldn’t see because we weren’t tall enough to pull on the string on the lightbulb. We would creep downstairs holding tightly onto each other’s hands and grab around in the dark to find the one item out of the seemingly millions of jars and cans of food. We would pick it up, and then run as fast as we could to the top of the stairs, out of breath, and hand it to my grandmother.

I always wondered what the deal was with storing a whole roomful of food. Why spend all that time canning instead of just running to the store? And then one day, it clicked. I realized that it was about empowering your family by being creative with your resources, being prepared, and being able to rely on yourself instead of others or the government if a personal or large-scale disaster ever struck.

This idea of the cellar prompted me to research the values of those that grew up in the Great Depression and how they used other creative ways to stretch their dollar. A lot of what I found boils down to DIY (do-it-yourself), a movement that is becoming more popular among young people today. Is it because of the recent recession? Is it the distaste for the “American Dream” and the “you-can-have-it-all” mantra that our parents grew up with? The financial mess our country finds itself in, along with a changing political and global landscape?         

Whatever the reason, it would do our generation well to look at the habits of those that survived the Great Depression. Back then, frugality was a necessity, but oftentimes, our grandparents continued to practice the same habits after the Depression and were able to build wealth. When asked what they did, here’s what they had to say.

1. Save for a rainy day.

Pay yourself first – always. Even though today might be lean, tomorrow might be even leaner.

2. Learn how to wait and hunt for bargains.

When our grandparents were ready to make a purchase, they researched, waited, compared, waited some more, saw a bargain, and then purchased. Hunt for coupons and be religious about clipping them! You don’t have to be on TLC’s Extreme Couponing to know how to save a few bucks here and there.

3. Get your hands dirty in the garden.

Most people in the Depression grew gardens. In fact, some community gardens yielded $5 worth of vegetables for every dollar invested. Not only will your veggies be cheaper, but they will taste a lot better and be free from harsh chemicals and pesticides, too!

4. Learn how to sew, knit, cook, and can food.

Making things yourself can give you a sense of pride and helps save money, too. Ask someone in your family to teach you how to do these things or make friends with someone who knows how. You can even check out local community education classes here: https://communityed.moorhead.k12.mn.us/.

5. It’s good to the last drop.

Dig out the last little bit of lipstick, add water to make your shampoo stretch, and eat the ends of the loaf of bread. Our grandparents didn’t waste stuff; neither should we.

6. Downsize or rent!

During hard times, people gave up personal space to share their home with extended family and friends. Consider downsizing or renting out part of your home to a college student, especially if you live near one of our local campuses. Remember, making temporary adjustments to your lifestyle for a short period of time can help you get ahead financially in the long-run. 

7. Sit on it.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is wait. Set a two-week window every time you are tempted to make a purchase over $50. You’ll think twice, and then if it’s something you really need, you won’t second-guess yourself later.  

8. Avoid debt like the plague.

A well-known saying from those that lived through the Depression: “If you can’t afford to pay cash, you can’t afford it.” If you are struggling financially, there is help! Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University class has helped thousands become debt-free; for area classes, click here: http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/locate-class/. Another great resource for help with debt is a local non-profit, Family Life Credit Services (www.FamilyLifeCredit.org) – they can help with budgeting, buying a home, educational opportunities, financial tools and resources, debt management programs, and more.

All in all, I think this old adage says it best: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”