65 Pieces of Survival Wisdom From the Great Depression

[livingston]

Survival wisdom: Great Depression
I spent some time earlier this year researching the Great Depression years and was most interested in even the smallest life lessons to be gained from those “worst hard times.” There were 3 books that were most enlightening to me: The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl , We Had Everything But Money, and The Forgotten Man.

Here are 65 things people did that demonstrated a great deal of survival wisdom:

1. Families traveled to wherever the work happened to be. They stuck together as much as possible.
2. Life insurance policies were cashed in to try and survive for just a few months longer in their “normal” worlds.
3. If possible, homes were very often refinanced in an effort to save the family residence.
4. Clothing had to last as long as possible and women (mostly) became expert seamstresses, especially at alterations. One creative woman used the fabric from the inside of a casket to sew beautiful holiday dresses for her children.
5. In areas of the Dust Bowl, cattle were fed tumbleweed and moms learned how to can tumbleweed to feed their families. Some had to find food wherever possible to keep from starving. This book is my favorite for an in-depth read about the Dust Bowl.
6. During heat waves, people slept on their lawns or in parks.
7. Many stores allowed people to buy on credit and they just kept track of what was owed. Sometimes they were repaid, sometimes not. Some store owners ultimately lost their businesses.
8. It wasn’t unusual for people to live out of their cars and trucks.
9. When there was no cash, payment was made with eggs, fresh milk, or produce

65 Pieces of Survival Wisdom From the Great Depression - Survival Mom

 

[carpediem]

My great grandfather ran a grocery store during the depression. One of the families he extended credit to actually said he saved their lives and they considered us family until all the ones who remembered had passed away. He kept a ledger of the people and what they owed, and very few stiffed him. I wonder how that would work in the modern era? Of course, no one will extend you a shred of "credit" like back then today. Can't pay, just go away......

 

[Deplorable Me]

Many of my uncles related stories and lived that list. They lived frugal all their lives. My uncle Frank is the last man standing, he still cuts his own firewood.

Great article.

 

[C3D]

More than half that list is obsolete. In the era of entitlement, freebies, reparations, privilege - there is no sense of community allowing much of those practices to be repeated if needed.

We live in a world where people borrow money from banks, blow the money on cruises and big screen TVs, then blame the banks for lending them money, and Elizabeth Warren agrees.

 

[Deplorable Me]

In smaller circles it's still working. It comes down to a level of trust with family and local people. A wee bit of blind faith, optimism, and forgiveness.

 

[Toecutter]

Grandmother lived on a small farm during the depression, she didn't throw anything away and found a way to use any food she had. Told me her family would grow vegetables and trade them for milk , eggs and meat with neighbors. She said times were hard but they had it better then most.

 

[prambo]

My parents moved from a small town in Herkimer county to NYC in the early 30's, before they were married. My Mom lived with her sister and husband and my Dad I don't know where he stayed; perhaps with his Father.

After they married they moved to Brooklyn. They had many stories about stretching a nickel and making a living. They both worked jobs far from each other in Manhattan - they said if they found that a woman was married they'd replace her witha single woman. When they went to the movies in Manhattan, they had to choose between getting popcorn or taking the trains home. Get popcorn = walk home.

They did well and never were frivolous with money.

 

[Deplorable Me]

I think the depression era people were the foundation for the Greatest Generation that saved us in WWII. Sacrifice, thrift and innovation.

 

[carpediem]

Will the millenials be the next "great generation"? My money is on no. They will lead this nation to ruin if we let them.

 

[kgun12]

My father's father died when he was 12 years old and he was the oldest of 4 kids, so he quit school to provide for the family with any job he could find and hunt whatever. He said one time the farmer he worked for couldn't pay him in cash so he gave him 2 50lbs bags of sweet potatoes. For the next month and a half they eat sweet potatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Until the day he died, if you mentioned sweet potatoes he would gag, we NEVER had them for thanksgiving dinner or at any other time.

He had a tough life for awhile, if you ever saw the movie SGT York with Gary Cooper, my dad's youth was like his, work his ass off plowing fields or pulling stumps or whatever else he could find. He was a great man, joined the service and provided a pretty good life for us, we were never rich but we were never hungry and always had decent clothes, not the best but decent, didn't have the latest or greatest anything, but we had the most important thing, a house full of love and support.

 

[tony]

If the SHsTF and we spiral into depression I'm sure there will be a lot of young people that may not handle it all that well. Many say the generations X, Y, and Z won't be able to deal with the adversity. Hell, a lot of Boomers couldn't handle it.

As whiny and spoiled as many young people are today there are quite a few that will have the knowledge, common sense, and fortitude to carry on. The cream will rise to the top and they will continue to march.

I'm hoping...

 

[libertysnake]

I honestly don't think things will get crazy bad, but if they do, my plan is I'll sell my home and one of the cars and give the money to my parents. They have a legal two family, so I'd rather they get the money and financially support them with whatever extra I'd have had from the house. My father is retired and getting over cancer. My brother isn't as helpful as he should be, so I can't count on him to do the right thing and help them.

Otherwise, I have no requirements about where I work physically, so my overhead is low. I'm not in danger of losing my home either financially.

As whiny and spoiled as many young people are today there are quite a few that will have the knowledge, common sense, and fortitude to carry on. The cream will rise to the top and they will continue to march.

I'm hoping...

I honestly think you're underestimating a lot of this generation. You see a lot of the bullshit on TV and you assume that's what we're all like. I didn't buy outside my means. I never complained when I was pulling 70 hour work weeks. I took the night shifts and slept in the days, because I had to at times. And I know a lot of others that did similarly, and also know a lot of spoiled ignorant boomers as well.

Every generation has idiots. You judge a man on his actions, and his word.

 

[tony]

I honestly think you're underestimating a lot of this generation. You see a lot of the bullshit on TV and you assume that's what we're all like. I didn't buy outside my means. I never complained when I was pulling 70 hour work weeks. I took the night shifts and slept in the days, because I had to at times. And I know a lot of others that did similarly, and also know a lot of spoiled ignorant boomers as well.

Every generation has idiots. You judge a man on his actions, and his word.

I believe you missed some of what I wrote. If you noticed I included the Boomers in my post. I underestimate no man and assume nothing. The proof is in the pudding as the saying goes. It sounds as though you my friend are and will be one of the survivors when the dust settles...

 

[Criticalt]

My great grandfather ran a grocery store during the depression. One of the families he extended credit to actually said he saved their lives and they considered us family until all the ones who remembered had passed away. He kept a ledger of the people and what they owed, and very few stiffed him. I wonder how that would work in the modern era? Of course, no one will extend you a shred of "credit" like back then today. Can't pay, just go away......

Our local Agway(maybe the last on earth) gives credit.
They dont even use a computer. They use 3x5 cards in a tupperware box. Its like living in the 1800s.
A couple years ago I gave the owner 2 jars of my "famous" spicy pickles for a new 18'x16' canvas tarp. He will take almost any canned food for merchandise.

 

[Darth]

Our local Agway(maybe the last on earth) gives credit.
They dont even use a computer. They use 3x5 cards in a tupperware box. Its like living in the 1800s.
A couple years ago I gave the owner 2 jars of my "famous" spicy pickles for a new 18'x16' canvas tarp. He will take almost any canned food for merchandise.

Karma the famous spicy pickles.

 

[Criticalt]

Karma the famous spicy pickles.

I will this fall.
The cucumbers are started and should be in the ground soon.......weather permitting.

 

[Darth]

I will this fall.
The cucumbers are started and should be in the ground soon.......weather permitting.

Don't be a pickle tickler.

 

[carpediem]

Don't be a pickle tickler.

 

[GOPerfect]

Many Americans were too proud to accept charity or government help.

Yeah, the golden age when pride actually meant something...

 

[GOPerfect]

Most people were willing to do any type of work.

These days, too many jobs are "below" people.

 

[tony]

Most people were willing to do any type of work.

These days, too many jobs are "below" people.

So true... If the free handouts dried up and people were to get hungry that attitude just might change. I doubt the free handouts will ever stop. It is too deeply ingrained in our society at this point. Remember, these days handouts are an entitlement. I always felt "workfare" was a better option than "welfare"... Workfare would also build self esteem.

 

[GOPerfect]

So true... If the free handouts dried up and people were to get hungry that attitude just might change. I doubt the free handouts will ever stop. It is too deeply ingrained in our society at this point. Remember, these days handouts are an entitlement. I always felt "workfare" was a better option than "welfare"...

Me, I would LOVE to see ALL handouts stopped. Every single one.

Citizens, company, corporation; matters none. All farm hnadouts to end. Food stamps. All of them.

 

[tony]

^^^^^ I would call that "back to basics" or a "fresh start" and I like the idea of it.

 

[GOPerfect]

^^^^^ I would call that "back to basics" or a "fresh start" and I like the idea of it.

A lot of people would die. Just like during the Great Depression. Many times you hear of the Great Depression in an almost romantic way, but there were many that perished because the Government ran out of everything and were unable to assist.

Today, even more would die off.

 

[libertysnake]

Most people were willing to do any type of work.

These days, too many jobs are "below" people.

I worked a year in a grocery store when I got out of college. Paid the bills until I was able to find something more aligned career wise.

A little hardship builds character and resourcefulness.

All that matters is that you keep working hard. Keep moving forward.

 

[spat]

Most people were willing to do any type of work.

These days, too many jobs are "below" people.

The job is only "below" them as long as they can con the public into supporting them instead.

If you get hungry, really hungry, it's amazing what jobs you'll decide are no longer beneath your dignity.

 

[spat]

A lot of people would die. Just like during the Great Depression. Many times you hear of the Great Depression in an almost romantic way, but there were many that perished because the Government ran out of everything and were unable to assist.

Today, even more would die off.

Maybe that's why the "greatest generation" were greatest. They had dispensed with the chaff.

 

[GOPerfect]

Maybe that's why the "greatest generation" were greatest. They had dispensed with the chaff.

Never agreed to or liked the term "Greatest Generation".

Much of the mess we are in these days is due to that generation.

I know what you mean though.

 

[spat]

Never agreed to or liked the term "Greatest Generation".

Much of the mess we are in these days is due to that generation.

I know what you mean though.

I think the "greatest generation" were kids during the depression and adults for WWII.

I think the people who sewed the seeds of our downfall were adults prior to the depression (like Wilson and FDR, etc...), and thus a previous generation. Not sure what that one would be called.

Plus, like any large group there was some variation. They certainly had scumbags as well as paragon, but their scumbag to paragon ratio was much better than ours.

I do get your point though, certainly the founding fathers would have been an even greater generation.

 

[Criticalt]

Don't be a pickle tickler.

What happens in the privacy of my own home is my business.

And the business of governor party tits.