Survival Skills Of The Great Depression Era | What About The Next One? by Ken Jorgustin for Modern Survival Blog
My dad was born during the end of the Great Depression era. His parents were in their 20’s and my great grandparents were in their 50’s during that time. It’s difficult to imagine what life must have been like back then. Especially given today’s modern world of conveniences being so stark in contrast to that period.
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression that took place mostly during the 1930s. It started in 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s. If you’re interested, you can read more about the Great Depression on Wikipedia.
Being preparedness-minded, and given the potential for another Great (Greater) Depression in our own time, I think back to those days.
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What did those people do to get by or to survive? What skills were better to have back then and what were they forced to do as a result of hard times all around them?
A few thoughts come to mind…
Frugality During The Great Depression
Perhaps the most learned skill during the era of the Great Depression was that of frugality. Frugality in all things. Use and Reuse. Little was thrown out.
People had no choice but to make do with very little. But they managed to survive. The things we throw away today or the things we take for granted would be treasured and used to its fullest back then…
Every scrap of food was consumed. Everything. Every part was used to its fullest potential.
You know how most people throw out what’s left of a ketchup or mustard bottle (for example) with maybe that last inch of stuff on the bottom that won’t come out? Well they would get it out… Add a bit of water in there and shake it up, and it will come out. Things like that… frugality. No waste.
When clothes became too worn out, they were mended or patched up, sewn. (How many people can actually sew today?) When clothes became too worn to wear, the materials were used as rags, mops, whatever.
There are a million examples. But you get my drift… Frugality was a necessity of life. Nothing at all was thrown out.
