Anyone else notice the price of groceries just keep creeping up? I swear they go up by the time I make it through an aisle in the store sometimes…..
Are you looking for ways to save money? Trying to live frugally? Wondering how to make meals for less?
Amen! You are not alone! In fact, even in 1913 people were looking for ways to live more frugally (and thankfully, taking notes)
My great-grandmother grew up in England at a time before television, telephone, internet, credit cards, and shopping malls. She owned few clothes by today’s standards and it was not a fashion faux pas to wear the same thing more than one day in a row. When her family purchased food, a whole family meal could be made for 8 pennies.
Her lifestyle more than 100 years ago seems quite far removed from our modern lives in 2016.
And yet, it seems some wisdom never goes out of fashion.
Tucked among her recipe books, letters, and scraps of notes, I discovered one of her school exercise books.
I know what you're thinking, these tips might have worked in 1913, but we live in a different age. I don't have time to make everything from scratch and spend hours running here and there to save a buck.
There's something to be said about those who went before us. They lived through tough times most of us haven't seen and learned how to more with less, lessons you and I both need in order to save money. This much-needed wisdom lives on for all of us in these pages from 1913.
I totally understand that which is why I've rounded up 4 of our favorite EASY and FRUGAL recipes from the 1900s to get you started.
If you try to make everything from scratch when you're not used to it, you're going to pull your hair out. I'm going to show you:
- how to make 5 pantry staples at home in less than 15 minutes!
- quick recipes that cost HALF the price of store-bought (awesome sauce, right?)
- allergy-friendly, cuz let's face it, we need that these days
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Saving money honey! Click here
It was in this book, written in 1913, I found some economic wisdom that still applies to us today.
16 Ways to Save Money and Live Frugally
In 1913 learning to manage money and be a good steward of what you had was something passed on and taught to children.
In those days, frugality was important enough that it was taught in school. And although there are no great revelations in these words, most of this advice has stood the test of time, and will probably continue to be stated as components of good money management for another century to come.
Here it is, in her own hand:
8 ways to save money and stick to a budget
Hello, is it just me or does anyone else struggle to stick to a budget…
(My own comments are written in parentheses)
Management of the Income
- Savings and insurance are most important (Make it a priority to build your emergency fund. Most experts suggest 3 months of savings tucked away.) Need help? Here's 7 Tips to Spending Less
- Remember which things are necessary and which are only luxuries.
- If possible, buy things in large quantities. (But make sure what you buy will store well.)
- Buy things from shops with a quick sale. (Don’t spend good money on stale food!)
- Never throw away anything that is of any use. (In 1913 not as many items came into the home, which made this a practical way to live. In our modern world, the better advice is to save if it’s useful and you have the space to store it.)
- Save as much as possible in the summer. (Even if you don’t have a garden, in most places food is cheaper in the summer when it is grown in abundance locally. Freeze, dry, and can everything you can!) Learn how to can with my free video series here
- Do not buy in a hurry (This one is just as important today as it was 100 years ago. Don’t give in to impulse buying. Step away. Think about it, especially in light of #2)
- As much as possible, buy things of good quality, and take care of them. (Frugality does not have to mean purchasing the cheapest item. Cheap items are often made of cheap materials that fall apart quickly. Buying a higher quality item and taking care of it can stretch your dollars further in the long run.)
A few pages later, she has also written advice specific to saving money on food. Many of these made me smile due to the references to foods from a very different country and era! (Although British readers might be more familiar with them.)
I don't know about you, but the one place I know I can save money (and often times blow it) is on our food bill. It's so important to remember:
- ultimately, we are responsible for how much we spend at the store
- we can save money
- good food doesn't have to be fancy
- sometimes the simple tips are the ones most often overlooked
8 Ways to Practice Kitchen Economy
Economy means “no waste.”
- Stale Bread: use for pudding, crumbs, fried bread, bread fritters, toast, bread & milk. (This is an excellent homemade bread recipe)
- Pieces of Fat: use for dripping (often added to recipes for flavor), clarified fat (which can be used for cooking later.)
- Milk: scald at night, batters, sour milk can be used for cakes and scones
- Puddings: leftovers can be cut in slices and fried (although few of us make old-fashioned English puddings, leftover quick-breads can be given the same treatment – soaked in milk and egg first they make great French Toast!)
- Cold Greens and Potatoes: bubble and squeak (Add a little fat to a pan and fry them up! Add leftover meat for a full meal or serve as a side dish.)
- Meat: toad in the hole, pie, pudding, meat pie, shepherds pie, mince
- Cold fish: fish cakes, fish pie (Make this Fish Chowder Recipe- Great-Grandma’s from 1931 )
- Bones and pieces of meat: stock (I save vegetable ends for this too!) Here's how to make and preserve your own bone broth/stock
What it all boils down to is making sure you use every bit of what you have.
More Old-Timey Wisdom Resources:
17 Self-Sufficiency Tips from the 1940’s & Great Depression Live Interview
Easy 2 Ingredient Sourdough Starter
6 Things Our Great-Grandparents Did Better Than Us
Grab these easy recipes from the 1900s to get you on your way to living frugally with our great-grandmother's and grandmother's frugal recipes!
What are your favorite ways to save money and eat economically? Do you have any financial wisdom from other generations?
I LOVE Bubble & Squeak! It really does bubble and squeak when you’re cooking it.
Tricia,
Now I have to make it! I’ve actually never heard of it until Andrea wrote this article. My kids would love watching and listening to it cook.
I love the old Scottish way of cooking. I’m sure all the countries in that cluster, have awesome recipes. Neeps n tatter, cabbage anything, cock-a-leekie and my splurge, scotch eggs. These are only some of my favorites.
I love these! I’ve just been working on a list like this uses for leftover one. Will enjoy sharing this one!
Thanks, Tessa. I just can’t get enough of old-timey wisdom either.
[…] 16 Ways From 1913 To Save Money […]
What a treasure! And I love that perfect handwriting.
Yes, I agree that those rules are pretty much timeless. And it makes me wish that these things were taught in school now too because I feel like so many people simply never have anyone teach them these basic principles.
Lydia,
Amen! I completely agree. These are things most people used to know and so few do these days. I wish it was taught in school as well. And I’m a tad jealous of that handwriting, too. 🙂
Hello,
Although I am 57 (older than yourself, but you and I have similarities), I was brought-up with my Grandma, (also called Lillian) who was born in 1899. So, my Grandma lived through 2 World Wars and the Depression. We are from Yorkshire in England.
Absolutely nothing was wasted by that generation, to the extent that glass jars and bottles were sent back to the shop and cinders from the fire were recycled sometimes put back onto the fire last thing at night. The only thing thrown out was ash from the fire (actually sometimes this was used as a scourer on pots and pans and of course it was sterile) hence the term “dustbin” for what you may refer to as refuse can.
Now, bubble and squeak, so called because it “bubbles and squeaks” when cooked is a left-overs meal, likely cooked on a Monday after you have had a huge Sunday roast and really it isn’t that good to eat a big meal every day.
People have their own versions of how to cook this dish. This is how you might like to do it. In a frying pan add whatever fat you have, quite a big dollop maybe 2 to 3 ounces, add left over cooked veg eg sprouts, carrots, peas and roast potatoes. As the veg starts to fry press it down hard with a potato masher, it will ‘bubble and squeak, and brown underneath and you then turn it and brown the other side. If you are lucky it will resemble a pancake, it not it doesn’t matter. If there is left over meat slice this very thinly and place on very warm plates, drizzle over warmed left-over gravy, your meat will be warm and you serve with the bubble and squeak.
Your grandma may be referring to “Bread and Butter Pudding” which is recycled stale bread. This is actually served in restaurants!
All the best.
Sue,
Thanks so much for sharing your story and instructions on the bubbles and squeaks!
Hi Sue, My great-grandmother was born the same year – 1899, but in London. She worked in service and so never learned to cook until she immigrated to Canada and married a farmer (but she knew how to set a nice table!) Thanks so much for the bubble and squeak instructions! I will definitely be making this. When I was young, both my grandmother and mother made bread and butter pudding, although I have not made it myself. We never seem to keep bread long enough in the house to go stale! 🙂
Great advice. Love your grandmother’s handwriting , so pretty.
During the Great Depression they said “Use it up, wear it out, make it last, or do without!”
I really enjoyed seeing all these still valuable tips in her original hand! What a treasure, thanks for sharing
Back in her day and shortly after when the Great Depression happened Cold Greens and Potatoes would have been a fabulous main meal. The greens are a protein and with the potatoes it will give you the nutrition you need.
I love to see things like this and always found ways to watch and talk to my own grandmother. She was born in 1909. Even my mom who was born in 1945 talked about how they only had “meat” once a week on Sunday’s if they were lucky and my grandmother used to talk about being embarrassed that a Preacher came around and she had Blackberry Bread for dinner and THAT is all they had.
These wonderful tidbits helped our families survive and I appreciate you sharing them with us!
Rhonda Morin
Thanks so much for sharing Rhonda, that Blackberry Bread sounds really yummy.
Love that beautiful handwriting! What a treasure to find and use. I too learned so much by watching my grandmother as I was growing up. She continued to live by the same standards that helped her family survive the Great Depression. I guess it was deeply ingrained by then. For me, being prepared is as much about having the skills and knowledge needed for living a self-sufficient life as the stores of supplies we keep on hand. Thanks for sharing!
It was a joy to find your post. I’ve always wanted to live as you describe. I admire your courage and hard work. I am tied very closely to the big cities as my son is blind autistic, needs short distance travels for services he requires. I’ve done vegetable gardening forever, and adore my fun gardening as well. I would like to implement healthier foods/meals/lifestyle for my fam of 3, now that the other kids are grown and out. Limited space makes that hard, but I do have a corner lot. Bummer, most of the land is out front. Any tips you have would be great! Tish
Tish
There is a very informative YouTube channel that may help you for your front yard gardening…it is called Epic Gardening and another Epic Homestead Gardening. Kevin, the presenter, is very knowledgeable. Hope this helps!
I loved these tips. I have gathered way to much in my home. I don’t know how, because I’m way below poverty level. I need to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible.
Good girl, Andrea. The neighborhood, city, state, country….and let’s face it…..the world needs more people with your evaluation and determination. I am happy to find your posts.
[…] (My husband has an aversion to farm animals. And, really, I don’t like the smell.) Read 16 Ways to Save Money & Live Frugally, advice from her great […]
Hi I have clicked on the four frugal recipes key several times and entered my email and it comes up with a thank you screen but no recipes. Am I doing something wrong?
Linda, it should deliver straight to your email. Make sure and check your spam folder. Let me know if you don’t find it there.
Frugal meat tip I saw years ago, and have used for many years…I keep a container going in my kitchen freezer for bits of leftovers…pieces of meat, a bit of veggies, broth, spaghetti, you name it, it goes in there. When the container is full, we have ‘mystery soup’. It’s kind of a joke in our family, and everyone tries to guess what’s in there. Add spices, cheese, whatever to make it yummy. If there is a couple leftover meatballs or spaghetti in there, turn it into Italian mystery soup. Some potato and veggie pieces, add cheese and milk and turn it into a cream soup. It’s always different and always yummy. Especially when served with my husbands artisan sourdough bread. 🙂