Frugal Living in the 1940s: 19 Money-Saving Tips

1. Stretch meals using cheap food

Add less expensive calories so that your meat lasts longer. I would love to get better at this, like adding beans or potatoes to our meals. Kids just keep eating and eating, and it gets expensive.

2. Learn to can and preserve food

I don’t have this skill yet, but I do know people who could teach me. I don’t have the setup. I know that a lot of storage and organization is needed, and I’m a bit scared of those glass jars since my one-year-old likes to climb everywhere.

3. Ration food

We kind of do this. We try only to buy fresh veggies once a week, which means we carefully plan what we eat each day, so we don’t run out. That’s a form of rationing, but not on the same level as they had to do during World War II.

4. Make desserts using fruit

I think this is super interesting because fruit is so expensive unless you have a hookup for free fruit. I guess, living in the 1940s, sugar was rare and expensive, but that’s not true anymore.

5. Cut back and spend less

I feel this is a throwaway one. You can always cut back on expenses and save money.

6. Bake your own bread and baked goods

Everything that someone else had to put labor into, costs more. If you need those items for your family, you can save money by making them yourself.

I have celiac disease and gluten-free bread is super expensive. If I could figure out how to make it myself, we could save money in that category, but I wonder if it's so finicky to make gluten-free bread that doesn’t taste like cardboard.

7. Throw more potlucks

This is a meal where everyone contributes a little bit of something. You don’t have to make all the different things, but you still get to eat all the different things. Also, it’s a great way to get together with friends or have a party, without having to spend all that money on food yourself.

8. Invest in a freezer

We totally still do this. We have a chest freezer in the back and we go to Costco once a month, stock up, and buy in bulk. We avoid the single-serve price but still have everything we need. It can also be helpful to have extras if a food shortage does happen, or in case of a natural disaster.

9. Live to enjoy life, don’t live to get things

This quote from the article is pretty interesting, “The housewives of the 1940s would be appalled at how we live today. They lived to enjoy life and weren't wrapped up in staying happy by obtaining material things.”

I spend way too much time thinking about the future, so that makes me not as present with the awesome things that are happening now. I’m really trying to live in the moment, and not think about what will be delivered to my doorstep tomorrow from Amazon.

10. Grow your own food

I am not good at this, but this is such a useful skill. The thing that deters me is the time and effort. Maybe I will do this more when my kids get older. and they can help, instead of destroying things and needing constant attention.

11. Clean and reuse diapers

Disposable diapers weren’t even invented until the 1950s, so everyone living in the 1940s was cloth diapering then. We do cloth diapers and save a lot of money. Even if you have to buy your entire cloth diaper set up brand-new, you still save money.

12. Use food supplies already on hand

Before you go to the store, clear out your pantry and think of clever ways to utilize the last can of beans or the leftover turkey sausage. This can save a lot of money.

13. Learn basic sewing skills

I do have basic sewing skills, and this can save a lot of money, even though clothing is much less expensive, comparatively, than it was living in the 1940s.

I like to buy slightly more expensive clothing that lasts longer, so it’s worthwhile to mend them. Fast-fashion, thin fabric can’t be mended. It has to be thrown away when you are done, which can be disappointing.

14. Use a clothesline

This means hanging your laundry out to dry instead of using a dryer. I’m really curious about how many of you use a clothesline. I don’t. It’s time-consuming for me.

15. Share rides with others

Gas is getting really expensive. You can make a trip to Costco together with friends, so you are getting two grocery trips for the cost of one. We aren’t great about this, but we do use a fuel-efficient car if it’s safe and possible.

16. Be more aware of energy use

This is a great idea, but it makes me a little uncomfortable because I wilt when it’s hot outside.

17. Reuse everything

For example, cutting up an old towel and using it to clean your car. There are more disposable products than there were living in the 1940s. There is a lot of plastic that I don’t have a way to reuse.

18. Homemade cleaning solution

I make my own all-purpose cleaning solution which is a fraction of the cost of buying all those fancy cleaners. I make it with brown mouthwash, vinegar, and dish soap.

We don’t have all the fancy things because it costs money and takes up a lot of space. For our windows, we use a window cloth that cleans with just water.

19. Pass on your frugal knowledge to your children

This just happens naturally, because they are watching what we do.

Frugal living in the 1940s

People living in the 1940s were more frugal, so we have a lot to learn from them. How do you save money today? Let me know in the comments.