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The 20 Frugal Living Tips I Learned From My Depression-Era Grandma
Growing up, I spent a lot of time at my grandma’s house. I loved my time with her because she always gave me lots of practical advice on saving money and taking care of a home while feeding me some of the best cookies I’ve ever tasted. Because she grew up during the Great Depression, many of the tips she passed onto me seemed rather severe at the time. But since giving all of them a try for myself, I’ve been surprised at how easy they’ve been to implement, how much I’ve saved, and how relevant they remain to this day.
Tip #1: Repurpose Old Items
I’ll never willingly buy tupperware. Not when I can save old food containers to get the job done without having to part with a single cent. But this tip need not apply to just tupperware. My grandma also taught me to save grass clippings for mulch, used coffee grounds for body scrubs, and newspaper for cleaning the windows.
Tip #2: Mend Clothing
With fast fashion widely available, buying something new at the first sign of wear is by far the most convenient thing to do. And with clothing rather cheap these days, the habit seems harmless. But it adds up. Instead of heading to the store, my grandmother taught me to patch holes, sew buttons, and perform basic alterations to fix what I already owned. As a result, I’ve…
