Frugal living tips for homemakers
She confidently trusts the Lord to take care of her (and her family)- Psalm 111:7
Calvin Coolidge was quoted during the shortages of World War I saying “Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do (or do without)“. Depression-era families were experienced in being resourceful, and we can be too with thoughtful frugal living tips!
My grandpa used to tell me stories of living during the Great Depression.
There were 10 kids, poverty, and things were bleak. He shared that at times, an onion sandwich was all they could hope to eat. And they were grateful for it.
One bathtub in the kitchen, taking turns in the same water.
Making the most of what you already have
Even in the struggles, Grandpa could recall sweet memories of siblings and exploration and delight. His mother was a master at making something from nothing and is one of my homemaking inspirations.
Can you imagine 10 kids, a ner’ do well husband and a small town with few opportunities? Yet, she was known for being clever, helping strangers, and making sure every child had a button for their clothes. She must have felt weary, and scared.
However, there was a shared sense of camaraderie. Community mattered.
Back then, women shared ideas across a clothesline or in snippets from a magazine. Today we have the same spirit with a vastly broader sharing network via the internet.
There is so much useful information at our fingertips, I gathered a round-up to get you started and make it through these times with confidence about the things we can take charge of, right now! (read ideas to make ends meet here)
The kinds of tips that make us feel empowered instead of paralyzed. Inspired, we too can embrace the lessons of Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without.
Be encouraged by this practical homemaking roundup, teaching ways to make the most of what we already have in our homes and pantries!
Frugal homemaking skills 101: Stretching Resources
- Save money pantry challenge by Don’t Waste the Crumbs
- 126 meals for $30 emergency extreme budget grocery haul by Frugal Fit Mom
- Building a depression-era pantry by Melissa K Norris
- 8 depression era recipes good enough to eat today by Simplemost
- Making the most of your pantry fridge and freezer by Good Cheap Eats
- 126 Meals For $50 emergency extreme budget by Moss Family TV
- Here’s A quick way to save money with monthly meal planning (an old post I did, but wanted to share specifically to talk about a freezer inventory sheet)
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Molletes Mexican frugal meal by Mexican Cooking With Gaby And because I love Grandmas, Great Depression Cooking Poor Man’s Feast with the cutest lady!
Educational homemaking skills
- How to homeschool- a comforting guide for beginners
- How to homeschool like a boss by Frugal Fit Mom
- Homeschooling during coronavirus? Try the 3 hour homeschool solution! by Simplehomeschool
- One thing we enjoyed when the kids were young was creating lapbooks. You can create your own easily based on any theme your kids enjoy OR even buy them to download
- Homeschooling When You Hadn’t Planned on It by the Homeschool Mom
- 7 Useful Ideas Every Homeschool Mom Should Know
Practical homemaking skills from our grandmas
Oh, the lessons from our own histories! My grandma is a determined soldier against stains for example, and for fixing what is broken. Not tossing it away.
One of my most treasured photos of her is when I was sad my favorite sheet ripped. She promptly got the sewing basket and set to work. I don’t have those skills, but I’m trying to learn. Want to join me?
How did depression-era people live frugally?
Again, I emphasize community. A homemaker tried hard to make the most of what she had. There were few options, and those tidbits passed amongst the women stretched her dollars and her hope.
Check out these great resources that pass along depression-era tips that are super useful today!
- 6 Powerful Life Lessons Learned from my Thrifty Grandma by Grateful Little Honey Bee
- Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without by Old Fashioned Families
- 7 Frugal Cooking Tips from The Great Depression by Grateful Little Honey Bee
- 40 ways to use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without by My JoyFilledLife
- How to make laundry soap by Wellness mama
- How to spring clean your house with recipes
- Homemade multipurpose disinfectant and deodorizing spray
- BTW, if you like essential oils, I switched to (and am in no way sponsored by) Edens Garden. Great prices, quality and free shipping on any size order. I use Fighting Five and Guardian on the regular
Encouragement for your homemaker spirit
Laughter is good medicine and family time can be so much fun!
We can be intimately engaged with those in our homes. Game time, puzzles, reading, taking a walk…spend moments pursuing peace and making a good memory.
- 8 Ways the Feeling of Overwhelm Can Help You by Healthy Living Mom
- Where is God when I’m afraid by Sweet Surrendered Soul
- Doing the Best We Can by Sarah Westfall
- A letter to the church by Spirit Led Sneakers
- When you feel like you can’t face your circumstances
- How Faith Delivers Freedom from Fear by Cathy McIntosh
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Hello, Victory & Courage: 3 Powerful Prayers For Fear by Kristine Bolt
Frugal skills count when you are broke
Oh, friends, my heart hurt for those where the money is scarce but the bills are plentiful. We really, really understand this.
I am trying hard to keep from living in fear myself each day, as we haven’t recovered from the LAST financial crisis of my husband losing his job. Here are a few lessons from the road I hope will encourage you…
- 9 things to do immediately when you lose your job
- Some Surprising Benefits Of Being Broke
- 5 suggestions to calm your nerves when the money is gone before the bills are paid
- Why Money Has A Hold Over Me, And How I Need To Let It Go
- Simple Frugal living tips for emergency prep
- See what encourages me on my “making ends meet” Pinterest board
We are resilient people. Stay strong my friends ♥. If this post encouraged you, please pass it on to someone else who could use it…and leave YOUR ideas in the comments!
Frugal living resources I enjoyed:
- Depression Era Frugality: Tips, Tricks & Life Hacks from the Great Depression Era that We Can Use Today
- Clara’s Kitchen: Wisdom, Memories, and Recipes from the Great Depression (this lady had a wildly popular Youtube channel (here) that she started in her 90’s!)
- Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management: The 1861 Classic with Advice on Cooking, Cleaning, Childrearing, Entertaining, and More (Ok, maybe not “practical” in a modern sense, but such fun to read! )
- The Homemaker’s Mentor Treasury of Homekeeping Skills: A Vintage Keepsake Collection
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Hi Christa – Thanks so much for linking to TheHomeSchoolMom’s resources! Your link for “Homeschooling When You Hadn’t Planned on It” also goes to the lapbook post instead of the suddenly homeschooling post if you want to update it. Since I can’t include the correct link in the comment, I’ve used it in the website field so you can find it easily. Great resource list you’ve put together!
Thanks! I’ll update that now 🙂