The Great Depression Generation

While conducting various interviews and reading books, I learned how people managed to get through the Great Depression.  The most important factor was being frugal.  Frugality is defined as the quality of being economical with money, food, and clothing; thriftiness (Webster Dictionary).  Being frugal and careful with money was necessary for survival in the 1930’s.

When asked the question, “How did your family manage in those times?” Evelyn Wissner, who grew up in a small town in Minnesota, responded with, “By being careful with our money.”  No one could afford to be wasteful or frivolous with food, supplies, or money.  In an essay published by The New Deal Network, Judy Busk writes of the importances of being frugal.  Busk stated that, “Rags were precious, to be used, spread with mentholatum, to wrap sore throats; or to make rag rugs; better cloth was cut up and used for quilt squares.” (NPR).

Being frugal came with the mentality that you could never throw anything away because what you were disposing of  could have potential use at some point down the road.  With this mindset, came hoarding.  Hoarding is the mass collection of items that pile up over time, and it became very popular during the Great Depression.  While others may see the items being hoarded as useless or without value, the hoarder sees value or use in these items and is incapable of disposing them.  Many of the hoarders tend to believe that they are recycling and reusing, rather than hoarding.  In a way they are reusing and recycling, but hoarders are unable to establish when they have gone too far with their collection of items and their inability to throw items away.

All of these characteristics displayed in the Great Depression generation, remained with them for the rest of their lives.  When asked the question, “Do you think the Great Depression had any effect on the person you are today?” Evelyn Wissner responded with, “Yes.  I think I am still very careful about how I spend money.  I don’t like to be extravagant.  I never want to be poor again. With the savings I have, I could certainly spend more than I do.  I don’t buy more than I need.”

When I asked the same question of, “Do you think the Great Depression had any effect on the person you are today?” Ernie Peterson, who grew up in Los Angeles,  responded with, “Oh yes. Definitely. I watch whatever I buy very carefully. I never spend full price for anything. I always check to make sure it is on sale, otherwise I will not buy it. I hate spending money on anything. I know that stems back to the Depression. My parents were that way too.”

~Abi