Seven Good Lessons From the Great Depression

[jeng1980]

I thought that this was interesting.  With the economy looking the way it does, here are a few things we could really start to take into consideration about practicing them.  I think people would see a nice increase in our economy strength.  JMO!

We may not be getting ready for bread lines or seeing hobos selling apples for five cents on the corner, but all this talk of another Great Depression should have us looking back in history for lessons that we can take with us into the future of this wild and woolly economic mess.

Here are some ideas that we can learn from the grandparents and great grandparents who lived through the lean times.

1. Patch it, sew it, fix it yourself
   Gone are the days of disposability. If you have a shirt with a tear or a pipe that’s sprung a leak or a tire with a hole, don’t toss it. Fix it. If you don’t know how to, learn it. Back in the old days, everyone did their own basic home repairs and calling in a specialist was something reserved for those with a fat wallet. These days, with do-it-yourself videos and sites all over the web, finding out how to do something should be snap.
   


2. Don’t use credit
   Here’s a concept: If you can’t afford something don’t buy it. You ancestors weren’t very keen on credit. Buying something on installment was a rare occurrence, if it ever happened at all. What would someone from that time think of us when we are whipping out the plastic for an Extra Value Meal? Which leads to …
   


3. Saving up
   Time to break out the piggy bank. Since you aren’t using credit, it’s time to start saving for big purchases (or emergencies). Maybe that’s throwing all your change in a jar or cutting out that overpriced coffee each morning. Help yourself by keeping track in a savings book, just like grandma used to. Or throw it all into an online bank saving account and make that scratch earn a little extra.
   


4. Forget the Joneses
   We’re all in this economic drain-circling boat together, right? If so, if your neighbor is trying to impress someone, they’re only sinking themselves. So don’t worry about if they have a bigger boat or a fancier car. That just put them a lot closer to the edge than you want to be. Want to strike up a conversation with them over the hedge? Ask them about their 401k.
   


5. Can it (or at least brown-bag it)
   One of the best skills developed by folks in the Depression was learning to stretch their food supply as far as it would go. No leftovers for the microwave in 1939. Instead garden veggiesbrown-bagging your lunch or seeing just how far you can make that rotisserie chicken last this week. Here’s another hint – smaller portions!
   were canned for the winter, meat bones went into making soup and even grease was saved in a jar under the sink. Follow their lead by


6. Any job will do
   When you are looking for extra cash, check your ego at the door. During the Depression, men would do odd jobs, paint a fence, chop wood or work a farm. Anything for an extra nickel (like selling those apples). If you are in a bind, don’t let your impression resume stand between you and a steady paycheck. The money from Arby’s or tips from being a pizza delivery guy all spend the same as your graduate student stipend.
   


7. Help a brother out
   Finally, one of the great lessons of the lean times is that people often were able to give some help, even if it was hard. A man would be hired to pick the crop for a day and get a good meal when he was finished. People took in boarders or picked up someone who needed a ride. Those were more trusting times to be sure, but if you’ve got an opportunity, no reason not to pay it forward. Brother, it’s tough out here for everybody.

Written on 12/04/2008 by Mike Koehler. Mike Koehler is a multimedia journalist in Oklahoma City working full-time to save the newspaper business while helping his wife raise three kids under age 8. In his spare time he sleeps. E-mail Mike at [e-mail].

Photo Credit: e-strategyblog.com

[Jordanplustwo]

Dec. 17, 2008 at 6:55 PM

Good journal, I think it deserves to be popular

[Della529]

Dec. 17, 2008 at 7:00 PM

I am definitetly voting this one popular.  It's time for all of us to understand these simple ideas.

[Crystal750]

Dec. 18, 2008 at 4:34 PM

Thanks for this.  As much as I dont want to see America fall on hard times, I do feel that we have become a very materialistic country (and that does include myself).  I would really like to see us get back to a time of when we looked more at what we can do with what we have verses how much more we think we gotta have.  I believe that those are the times when we find out who we really are.

[Jambo4]

Dec. 18, 2008 at 4:52 PM

Very good!

[aurorabunny]

Dec. 18, 2008 at 8:13 PM

Thanks for this.  As much as I dont want to see America fall on hard times, I do feel that we have become a very materialistic country (and that does include myself).  I would really like to see us get back to a time of when we looked more at what we can do with what we have verses how much more we think we gotta have.  I believe that those are the times when we find out who we really are.

Crystal750 Dec. 18, 2008 at 3:34 PM

I agree.  And this was a great post, I'm loving it!

I flinch a little everytime I hear someone compare our economic situation to the great depression. (Not that you were, these were AWESOME tips!)  My grandparents lived through the GD and man they have some stories.  I know things are bad right now but the lines are still long at McDonalds and Nintendo Wiis are still sold out at every store in my whole city.  The people comparing this to the Great Depression ought to realize that is a slap in the face to people who lived through the real thing and that ought to show just how spoiled this country really has gotten to be.  Anyways sorry for ranting on your journal, the ideas rock!

[Laura2U]

Dec. 18, 2008 at 8:27 PM

Great ideas! And I agree with aurorabunny. I know our economy is set up differently than the great depression or WWII, but I still think about how life was so different in those days. People ate meat during WWII only on special occasions, they wore coats and dresses until they were bare, and during the Great Depression they made clothes out of flour sacks! I also think it's disrespectful to compare our hard times now to those times. People still have money for ridiculously priced toys, Starbucks, and whatever else. And our country is still fat and slobbish. America isn't needy, it's lazy and spoiled!!

[Saucytaurean]

Dec. 18, 2008 at 11:47 PM

Voted it popular.  Great tips~

[CeiliMom]

Dec. 19, 2008 at 12:55 AM

My parents were part of the Great(est) Generation, subject of a book a while back. Anyone remember the exact title or author? Anyway, my parents were born in the 20's, had immigrated themselves or the previous generation had, went through the depression with family and neighbors to help, and served in many ways, including the battlefront, in WWII.

My parents taught me all of the principles listed above, thank God. I love them for it, and I so hope we will all get back to basics: help yourself so that you can help others. Thanks to so very much for posting this, as well as the source. My heart is full, thinking of my wonderful parents. Fantastic examples they were in their lifetimes.

[Laura2U]

Dec. 19, 2008 at 1:07 AM

Another one I might suggest would be to pass on clothes that are too small for your kids. Instead of just giving them to Goodwill or even throwing them away, see if any friends or neighbors could use them first. This would help a lot of people I bet, and would be a blessing.

[emf6874]

Dec. 19, 2008 at 3:34 AM

Everyone should look into using freecycle.org when you need something that someone else may not want, or instead of throwing things out.

BUMP