How to Live Well in a Recession

When my wife was laid off from her job recently, our family found ourselves facing an unexpected economic hardship that is being shared by millions of Americans. Fortunately, I knew where to turn for advice on getting by in bad economic times. My grandmother, who is 86 years old, survived the Great Depression as the child of a widow, grew up to raise four children on a factory worker's income, has lived through several recessions, and has, in her words, "pinched pennies until old Abe Lincoln yelped." Below you will find quotes from 86 years of wisdom for not only saving money during a recession but for also enjoying your life along the way.

Recession Tip #1: Buy versatile staples in bulk

"When I was young, we grew most of our own food. But we always went to town to buy 50 lb. bags of flour, corn meal, and sugar. Those three items, along with milk, eggs, and oil, are the base ingredients for dozens of different foods. They're cheap to buy in bulk and they keep for a long time. Just get yourself some large airtight containers. I use those metal tins they sell popcorn in at Christmas and they work great. A lot of people got through the Depression eating cornbread and biscuits."

Recession Tip #2: Learn to sew

"Girls used to learn to sew as soon as they were old enough to hold a needle. We made most of our own clothes in those days. Even if you just learn the basics of sewing it will help you save money. When my children were young and going through their fast growth spurts, I'd always buy their pants a couple of sizes too long and hem them up. That way when they grew out of them I could just let them out instead of buying new clothes. Anyone can learn to hem or mend a busted seam. It's really easy."

Recession Tip #3: Cook soup

"There's a reason why there were soup lines during the Depression. Soup is one of the cheapest foods you can make. Just a little bit of meat can stretch for several meals if you add cheap and filling ingredients like beans, carrots, and potatoes. Make sure you've got a big pot and make enough for leftovers. Soup always tastes better on the second day."

Recession Tip #4: Buy a deck of cards

"The whole community used to gather at my uncle's house on Saturday nights to play Rook. We didn't have television then and most houses only had one radio so our weekend card games were our main source of entertainment. We'd set up card tables in the living room and just play all night. A regular deck of cards only costs a few dollars and you can play lots of different games with them."

Recession Tip #5: Take the paper

"The Sunday paper was something our family always took no matter how bad our finances were. It provided several hours of reading for everyone in the family for a small amount of money but that's not the main reason. The coupons inside the paper always more than pay for the price it costs. Many stores today will double coupons so that just increases the return on your money. If you match up your coupons to the inserts from places like Kroger and Food Lion, you can plan your trip before you shop to save on gas and so you don't find something cheaper after you bought it.