5 Frugal Money Tips From the Great Depression

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1. Reuse and Repurpose What You Already Have

The people who lived through the Great Depression didn’t throw anything away. And honestly, they were onto something.

Before you buy something new, ask yourself if you can repurpose something you already have.

You’d be surprised how much you can save when you stop buying replacements for things you already own.

Here are a few clever ways to make it work for you:

• Turn old jars into organizers for kitchen spices, screws, or makeup brushes.
  
• Use worn-out towels as cleaning rags instead of buying paper towels.
  
• Transform empty candle jars into storage containers for small items like cotton pads or jewelry.
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Before buying anything new, check your house first. 9 times out of 10, you already have something that’ll work.

Make It Easy: Consider a compact label maker to neatly tag your repurposed containers so everything stays organized.

2. Avoid Debt by Paying Cash Only

During the Great Depression, credit wasn’t really an option. And that might’ve been a blessing in disguise.

Using cash (or a debit-only mindset) helps you actually feel your spending, which keeps those impulse buys in check.

When you use cash instead of credit, you start to think twice about what’s truly worth your money.

Here’s what this old-school trick can do for you:

• Makes spending more intentional. Handing over cash hurts more than swiping a card.
  
• Prevents overspending because your wallet gives you a real limit.
  
• Simplifies budgeting. You can literally see where your money goes.
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Set up a simple envelope system with categories like groceries, gas, and fun money, and stick to them.

Make It Easy: Try a budgeting cash envelope binder to keep your spending categories organized and visually clear.

3. Fix, Mend, and Maintain What You Have

Back then, people didn’t replace. They repaired.

You’d be amazed at how much money you can save by learning basic fixes instead of tossing things out.

Even small maintenance habits can make your stuff last twice as long.

Try these small habits to start saving big:

• Sew minor clothing tears before they get worse (it’s easier than you think).
  
• Do quick appliance maintenance like cleaning filters or tightening screws regularly.
  
• Polish or oil wood furniture to keep it looking new instead of buying replacements.
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Dedicate one weekend a month to “maintenance mode”. Fix, clean, and tighten what needs attention.

Make It Easy: Pick up a compact sewing kit so you can fix small tears and buttons instantly instead of replacing clothes.

4. Save Leftovers and Waste Nothing

If there’s one lesson from the Great Depression that never expires. It’s “don’t waste food.”

Those small amounts left behind after dinner can easily become lunch or part of tomorrow’s meal.

Throwing away leftovers is like tossing money straight in the trash.

Here’s how you can make the most of your food:

• Store leftovers in clear containers so you can see what’s inside.
  
• Freeze portions to avoid spoilage and save time cooking later.
  
• Use vegetable scraps for broth. It’s cheaper and healthier than store-bought.
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Plan to eat leftovers within two days. Or freeze them right away to stretch your grocery budget.

Make It Easy: Get a set of reusable glass meal prep containers to keep your fridge organized and food fresher longer.

5. Save a Little Every Single Day

You don’t need to stash hundreds to save money. The Great Depression taught people to save something, even if it was just a few cents.

Those tiny daily amounts add up faster than you think.

Saving becomes easy once it’s a habit, not a chore.

Here’s what you can do to get started:

• Set up automatic transfers to a separate savings account.
  
• Round up spare change from purchases and transfer it to savings.
  
• Challenge yourself to skip one small expense daily (like coffee or takeout).
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Start today by saving just $2 (yes, seriously). It builds momentum fast.

Make It Easy: Keep a cute motivational savings jar on your counter to make saving feel rewarding and visible every day.

📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌