With prices steadily increasing, saving money is crucial to several households and families. Thrifting is the perfect option for keeping some bucks in your pocket. Finding second-hand stores will be the oasis you need to find pieces of clothing at cheaper prices. If cheap clothes aren’t what you're looking for, no need to fret because frugality doesn’t end there.
If you’re looking to be economical in terms of food, you can find cheaper options at stores, such as Aldi, and even buying things in bulk at Costco. When grocery shopping, keep in mind what foods you enjoy and know you’ll eat over the course of a couple of weeks. Meal prepping is a great way to save money as well.
Home gardens have become today's victory gardens – vegetable gardens planted during World War I and II to reduce the pressure on food supplies and boost morale. Food security is something that everyone should have the privilege to, and home gardening is one way to provide such resources.
There’s no better way to get organic fruits and vegetables than from your home garden. Grocery stores always put pesticides and chemicals on their produce, but when you grow your own, you have control over your food. It can also be very inexpensive – if you already have the garden amenities, all you have to worry about is buying seeds. Of course, if you don’t have a garden already, you’ll have to account for the costs of implementing a home garden.
In the 1950s, there was a DIY (Do It Yourself) movement. Self-sufficiency and leisure-time hobbies were storming households; the same can be said for today. DIY can range from sewing clothes to repairing practical items like chairs, kitchen appliances, etc. The whole point is to save money by doing it yourself.
Not only is DIY practical and a way to save money, it’s also a creative activity. It can require you to think outside the box to fix certain items. When you fix something all on your own, you're going to feel satisfied, right? That’s because DIY is great for gaining knowledge, new skills, and you’re bound to get a feeling of satisfaction from mending items with your own two hands.
Storing food is no new development. It’s a practice families and individuals have been doing for years and across the world. You don’t really hear anything about food preservation trends, but today you’re definitely going to! It’s a great way to save money and have peace of mind knowing you have food stored when you need it.
There is a process to food preservation, though. The process starts with putting food in mason jars and heating them up to a high temperature to destroy enzymes and microorganisms. There aren’t any limits to what foods you can preserve. Fruits and pickles are great, and so is red meat, fish, and poultry; although, for these last few, you’ll need to follow specific directions so the food doesn’t get contaminated.
As for most items, their shelf life isn’t an immortal one. This is especially true for clothing. After several wears, maybe even two or three, clothes might start to fray and deteriorate. There’s no need to worry when you know how to repair and upcycle clothing.
Sewing is a great way to extend the life of your clothes; if there’s a hole, just patch it up with a needle and thread! Sewing is a skill that has lasted for decades, so you could probably ask your grandparents to teach you. It’s not an easy skill, but you'll be unstoppable once you practice and get the hang of it.
Bartering involves trading goods and services without the use of money – talk about a win for everyone! Each party gets something in return, and no one has to spend a dime to get it. This allows you to avoid using your debit and credit cards, and instead focus on being practical and economical with your money and household goods.
Trading, on the other hand, involves buying and selling goods and services. You’re spending money, but when you trade whatever you bought with another person, you can sell it for a higher price. So, you’re spending money with the potential of gaining even more.
Store-bought cleaning products can be expensive and bulky, taking up space in your cabinets. Making them yourself is an economical and natural approach that reduces waste. You may already have the ingredients to make effective cleaning solutions at home. Baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and essential oils are some of the key ingredients to making cleaning solutions.
You can use equal parts lemon juice and water as a cleaning product for glass and windows. Baking soda is great for sprinkling on carpets and upholstery to absorb odors. Be sure to make cleaning products in small batches so they don’t contain preservatives and ensure there’s good ventilation.
Prepping meals at home is nothing revolutionary. It’s been around for ages, and it’s still a great way to save money. Better yet, the meals usually taste better than going out for fast food or to a restaurant. Cooking at home also invites creativity and the gaining of new skills. However, homemade cooking can be deceiving economically.
When buying the ingredients for recipes, it may amount to a large sum of money at checkout. Don’t fret, though, because remember you’re cooking a meal that should last you a few days of delicious food. So, the price of the ingredients and the amount of meals you get from cooking from scratch balance out!
If you’re in need of reducing rent costs or home payments, a good option is to move in with your family! I know, this may sound unappealing – sometimes being around your family 24/7 gets exhausting. However, if you set boundaries, communicate, and understand each other’s living necessities, multi-generational living can be an economical choice for you.
When you live multi-generationally, the cost of living depletes quite a bit; home payments, food, and resources are shared among all the family members living under one roof. This can reduce financial distress. Multi-generational living can also create a close-knit relationship with your family and memories you won’t forget.
Thrift stores have experienced a significant increase in popularity. All over social media, you’ll see people who only shop at thrift stores. Besides thrift stores, consignment shops and resale platforms fall under the secondhand shopping rise. They’re great for finding expensive clothes at much cheaper prices. You’re sure to find a steal!
You can browse these secondhand shops and come across some neat vintage clothing at affordable prices. ThredUp is an online thrift store that makes it easy for anyone to shop economically. Consignment shops pay you for items you sell to the store: a great way to make some easy money.
One thing humans can collectively rely on is support from neighbors, family, friends, etc. Perhaps not everyone in your community is adamant about supporting their fellow neighbors, but there’s always someone willing to go out of their way to show the good side of humanity. The Depression era was rife with chaos, unemployment, and poverty, but there was also a rise in community support.
In the end, all we have is each other, and, luckily, today we’re starting to realize that again. Community support is a great and easy way to support one another and provide resources of all kinds. You can help each other out with expenses, and also provide emotional and mental support in a time of uneasiness. If you haven’t already, form a community support network within your neighborhood, city, or town so those around you realize they aren’t alone!
Minimalism is exactly how it sounds: living life simply with few possessions, and less consumption of media and products. It’s a way of life that leaves no room for needless capitalism or constant exposure to overwhelming products and ideas. Living with minimalism is a life that focuses on what’s important and living with less clutter.
Those who lived during the Depression Era had a minimalist life mainly because of the chaotic time they were in, and it was necessary to keep a roof over their heads, but perhaps they also realized how much more peaceful such a life is. Today, the simple life of living is embracing the public more than ever. If you decide to go with the minimalist trend, you’ll be decluttering your life into a more relaxed and present one!
During the Depression Era, families turned to home entertainment due to limited finances, but they were onto something. While you’re having fun with close ones, you’re also making memories! Watching a movie or TV show at home is a universal form of entertainment that everyone adores, although it isn’t usually free. It may be low-cost, but streaming services are getting more bold with their prices every day, so renting a movie might be the way to go.
If you want to separate yourself from any form of media and avoid pulling your wallet out, instead opt for a board game. Uno is a classic that is sure to bring out a side of your family or friends you haven’t seen before. Jenga or Candy Land are two iconic games that anyone of any age can play and have fun with.
Transportation besides a car is something that should be accessible to everyone, but unfortunately, it’s not. Unless you live in a city with subways, such as New York and Maryland, then you’re options for transportation are limited. Buses are great for getting around, but in the U.S., a bus ride might be an hour or longer, depending on where you’re located and you’re destination.
However, don’t fret. If buses or subways are not near you, carpooling is an effective way to get around. If you’re able and it wouldn’t be too far a trip, walking or biking is another alternative form of transportation that will also provide exercise.
The Depression Era was a time of economic downturn: banks were failing, people were jobless, and poverty was rising. To accommodate these national inconveniences, people had to find ways to save money, and making gifts at home was one of them. Homemade gifts are not only economical, but they also show how much appreciation you have for the other person.
It’s easy to buy a gift at the store, but when you make something with your own hands, and take time out of the day to focus on this one thing, you show the gift receiver all the care and love you have for them. Those enduring the Depression Era knew compassion was necessary to keep hope afloat, and making homemade gifts for one another is a way to do that. It’s nice to see that trend has resurfaced–it’s also a plus that it’s a money saver, too!
