Making Do, Cutting Back, Living Leaner....

I've been rather lax lately, between work and organising for the move there hasn't been a lot of inclination to sit up late LOL. In addition, because I am not doing anything other than keeping the yard tidy for the soon to be new owners, and not planting, I don't have any pics of my latest plantings etc. I thought today I would post on the subject that is, I am sure, in the forefront of most minds....the current global financial situation we are all caught up in, and what we can think about doing...

Keep in mind that these worst possible case scenarios have a relatively small possibility of ever occurring. This massive global depression may never come to fruition. Don’t worry yourself into an early grave over what may or may not happen....prepare for the worst and hope for the best!

Having said that, if you are sufficiently convinced that this is serious and it’s real, then you may wish to take some measure of precaution to help keep yourself and your loved ones safe from harder times to come.

One big difference between families of the depression era and families of today are that backyard gardens were very common. It's true that in the middle of hard times we cannot depend on constant shipments of food to the stores.

Even if there is a supply of food, it is limited to about a 3 day supply and out of the price range that most families can afford when there is a run.

That is why I suggest you think about survival gardening. This is simple to do when one knows how. Hint - seeds sold in the store can be genetically modified generally unless specifically labelled heirloom open pollinated. Find some good gardening sites online, learn all you can about gardening and start practicing, even if it is with a few tomoatoes or pumpkins, some potatoes or a fruit tree....learn now whilst you have the luxury of time on your side.

Our grandparents and great-grandparents formed a lack of trust in banks and turned to burying cash in the backyard or hiding it under the mattress.

Our current economic downturn doesn’t yet call for such drastic measures but there are things we can learn from those who went through this challenging era and prospered.

Growing at least some of your own food can save a lot of money and provide the satisfaction that comes from eating local, really local. Consider starting a community garden such as the Depression-era community relief gardens, or the World War II Victory Gardens. Keep some chickens, rabbits or ducks etc for the proteing, fertiliser and bug exterminators.

In hard times, we can sometimes find a lot of pleasure in remembering to enjoy the simple things in life.

During the 1930s, games like Monopoly became popular because they gave people hope and allowed them to dream of a better life. Remember some of the board games from your childhood, and plan a low-tech outing with friends and family.

It will also help you remember that you don’t absolutely NEED every single gadget that hits the store shelves, and on top of that it will be a bit cheaper than spending the day at some theme park.

We all have different situations, and this is one of the most pressing issues facing our country and the world right now.

You might be just out of college and trying to make it on your own, or you might be paying for your child’s college now, but there are definitely lessons to be learned from the Depression.

In some cases, it may be beneficial to sacrifice a bit of privacy in the short-term in order to get back on track financially.

Rent an extra bedroom to a friend, have your child move back home if you are struggling to send him or her rent money every month, or downsize your home.

You don’t have to necessarily make a gut-wrenching decision overnight, but do yourself a favour and at least check out some listings on Craigslist for rentals, or have a real estate agent email you listings in a cheaper price range.

If a great deal pops up that piques your interest, you can at least bat around the idea with your family. If you are single, just go for it!

If you are looking for employment, you might consider looking for a position that is slightly below your ideal salary, but that seems to have the most potential for advancement.

If you are entrepreneurial, and perhaps have already fallen behind on bills, one positive thing about the current economic climate is that you are starting over at a time when many other people are also faced with starting from scratch financially, and perhaps you may even be in a position where you literally have nothing left to lose, which can be a great time for personal innovation and taking the risk to start in a new industry or implement an idea that’s always been in the back of your mind. It’s time for boot-strapping!

If you have credit available, you might be tempted to use it before the bank cuts the credit line. Don’t do it.

Going into debt will only hurt you in the long run. Instead, remember the words of your grandmother and heed this simple, age-old advice - “if you can’t afford to pay cash, you can’t afford it.”

When you simply have no money, it is easy to keep spending under control because it is impossible to spend. If, for example, you are getting hit with overdraft fees, you need to establish a barrier that you absolutely will not dip below (even if it means paying a bill late).

Take the cue from the 1930s and use cash rather than debit for your petty purchases, especially when you are close to zero in your account. This will help avoid paying $36 for that pack of gum if an unexpected payment goes through your account and causes an overdraft fee.

Gone are the days of disposability. If you have a shirt with a tear or a pipe that’s sprung a leak or a tire with a hole, don’t toss it. Fix it. If you don’t know how to, learn it. Back in the old days, everyone did their own basic home repairs and calling in a specialist was something reserved for those with a fat wallet.

These days, with do-it-yourself videos and sites all over the web, finding out how to do something should be snap.

Time to break out the piggy bank. Since you aren’t using credit, it’s time to start saving for big purchases (or emergencies). Maybe that’s throwing all your change in a jar or cutting out that overpriced coffee each morning.

Help yourself by keeping track in a savings book, just like grandma used to. Or throw it all into an online bank saving account and make that scratch earn a little extra.

We’re all in this economic drain-circling boat together, right? If so, if your neighbour is trying to impress someone, they’re only sinking themselves. So don’t worry about if they have a bigger boat or a fancier car. That just put them a lot closer to the edge than you want to be. Want to strike up a conversation with them over the hedge? Ask them about their 401k.

One of the best skills developed by folks in the Depression was learning to stretch their food supply as far as it would go. No leftovers for the microwave in 1939.

Instead garden veggies were canned for the winter, meat bones went into making soup and even grease was saved in a jar under the sink. Follow their lead by brown-bagging your lunch or seeing just how far you can make that rotisserie chicken last this week. Here’s another hint – smaller portions!

When you are looking for extra cash, check your ego at the door. During the Depression, men would do odd jobs, paint a fence, chop wood or work a farm. Anything for extra cash (like selling those apples). If you are in a bind, don’t let your impression resume stand between you and a steady pay cheque. The money from Pitza hut or tips from being a pizza delivery guy all spend the same as yours.

Finally, one of the great lessons of the lean times is that people often were able to give some help, even if it was hard. A man would be hired to pick the crop for a day and get a good meal when he was finished. People took in boarders or picked up someone who needed a ride. Those were more trusting times to be sure, but if you’ve got an opportunity, no reason not to pay it forward. Because..... it’s tough out there for everybody.

And just for fun, heres a few Depression Era Recipes

Vintage WW1 Eggless, Milkless, Butterless Cake 1 cup water 2 cups raisins 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. cloves 1 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup lard (shortening) 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1/4 tsp. salt 2 cups flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. baking powder Place water, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, lard (shortening), nutmeg and salt in a saucepan and mix. Place on heat and bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes. Allow to cool, then sift together the flour, baking soda and baking powder. Stir into cooked mixture. Place in a greased loaf pan and bake at 350F for one hour.

Ritz Mock Apple Pie Pastry for two-crust 9-inch pie 36 RITZ Crackers, coarsely broken (about 1 3/4 cups crumbs) 1 3/4 cups water 2 cups sugar 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 2 tablespoons lemon juice Grated peel of one lemon 2 tablespoons margarine or butter 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Roll out half the pastry and line a 9-inch pie plate. Place cracker crumbs in prepared crust; set aside. Heat water, sugar and cream of tartar to a boil in saucepan over high heat; simmer for 15 minutes. Add lemon juice and peel; cool. Pour syrup over cracker crumbs. Dot with margarine or butter; sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll out remaining pastry; place over pie. Trim, seal and flute edges. Slit top crust to allow steam to escape. Bake at 425°F for 30 to 35 minutes or until crust is crisp and golden. Cool completely.

Chicken Soup Boil chicken and remove from bones. (left over roasted or baked chicken is fine) Heat broth until boiling and then reduce heat and sprinkle in corn meal. Whisk until thickened and stir in chicken. Add salt and pepper to taste. No measurements as the cooks long ago did not use measurments.

Scalloped Corn 1 can cream corn 1 egg 1/4 cup milk enough crumbled saltin cracker to make a semi-thick mixture when stirred into the above. Bake at 350 for about 30 min till nice and puffy

and a few more links:

GREAT DEPRESSION RECIPES

Great Depression Pork Stew

Depression Era Corn Chowder

Take care of you and yours:)