The Great Depression of the 1930s was one of the toughest economic times in modern history. Jobs were scarce, money was tight, and people had to get creative just to survive. Interestingly, many of the habits they developed back then are still incredibly valuable today — especially if you’re trying to save money or live on a tight budget.
In this guide, you’ll discover 17 frugal living tips from the Great Depression that have stood the test of time. These are practical, fail-proof strategies that can help you cut costs, reduce waste, and live smarter in any economy.
- Plant Your Own Food
Back during the Great Depression, families cultivated gardens to sustain themselves. Now, even a small balcony garden will save you money on vegetables and fruit.
If you’re really determined to adopt Great Depression frugal living advice, begin with tomatoes, lettuce, or herbs – all low-maintenance and simple.
- Waste Not
Nothing went to waste then. Leftover veggies became soup. Searching around for quilts were scraps of fabric. Bones were put into soup.
This is the thinking which motivates all areas of Great Depression frugal living practices: utilize whatever you have to its maximum extent in your life.
- Repair and Mend Instead of Replace
They mended holes in clothing, repaired socks, and rebuttoned garments before fast fashion. A few sewing essentials will keep your wardrobe running for decades. - Cook from Scratch
Prepared foods were a luxury and a special treat in the 1930s. Families prepared hearty meals of flour, beans, rice, and what was in season.
One of the best Great Depression to frugal living tips is don’t rely on pre-packaged meals, cook yourself — cheaper, healthier, and often better tasting.
- Barter What You Want
When the cash ran out, people traded goods or services – eggs for firewood or repairs for chow.
Try experimenting with barter techniques on online bulletin boards or in your neighborhood. You won’t know what you can get for nothing.
- Save Bacon Grease (Seriously!)
Years ago, bacon fat was saved and re-used as a cooking pan. It seasoned all food and reduced the use of butter or oil.
It might be old-fashioned, but it’s another way that thrifty living strategies of the Great Depression stretched every dollar in the kitchen further.
- Use Less of Everything
They stretched what they had — from soap to sugar to clothes. Use half the shampoo, detergent, or coffee beans and notice if you can tell the difference.
Less is generally sufficient.
- Make Do with What You Have
Individuals learned to make do by doing things with what they already had. Use old jar as drinking glass. Use coffee can as tool holder.
It is where the mindset really gets to work for any person willing to borrow frugal living techniques from the Great Depression era in modern times.
- Share and Borrow Within Your Neighborhood
And the neighbors looked out for one another. They’d lend each other tools, food, and time. Don’t buy something new, ask a friend or neighbor if you can borrow it. - Hang Dry Your Clothes
Electric dryers didn’t yet exist — and even if they did, most people couldn’t afford them. Hanging your clothes to dry is a money and energy saver — and will keep them longer. - Batch Cook and Freeze Leftovers
Batch cooking was done in the 1930s, but freezing wasn’t. Prepare large meals, eat some immediately, and refrigerate or freeze the remainder to use later. It saves money and time. - Make Homemade Cleaning Products
Most households made their own cleaners from readily available ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon.
From Great Depression penny-pinching advice, you can make a general-purpose cleaner with no more than water and vinegar-it’s just the thing and cheap, to boot.
- Use and Recycle Everything You Can
From used glass jars to worn clothes, nothing was thrown away thoughtlessly. The habit of reusing saves money and creates less waste-those two things combined. - Buy Used First
Thrift stores hadn’t been invented yet, but people did buy used or receive hand-me-downs.
Check out local second-hand stores or online second-hand websites before buying something new. This is one of the easiest ways to apply Great Depression penny-pinching tricks to today’s world.
- Never Be in Debt
Credit was not easily available during the 1930s — and people dreaded debt. Rather, they saved for big purchases beforehand.
This is among the best and most underrated frugal living tips from the Great Depression: if you cannot pay cash for it, then do not buy it.
- Appreciate the Simple Things
Leisure was sometimes inexpensive and within your reach: singing, sharing stories, board games, or walks in nature. You do not need to spend your hard-earned money to be satisfied.
Learn to appreciate life’s little things – a stroll in the park, a well-written novel, or a nourishing homemade meal.
- Save Everything “Just in Case”
People kept buttons, string, fabric, and yesterday’s newspapers handy-just in case they might come in handy someday. You don’t need to hoard, but having a supply of practical items will cost you less over time.
Final Thoughts: Lessons That Still Matter Today
The Great Depression was a school for one whole generation on how to survive on almost nothing-and things learned at the time are appallingly relevant now. If you want to get by on less without sacrificing your quality of life, Great Depression-era frugal living tips are a great place to begin.
They’re not trivia tidbits: they’re practical, doable concepts that can accomplish a lot for your own pocketbook.
Start with one or two of these tips today, and you’ll feel the benefits in your bank account and peace of mind.
