Cash-saving lessons from how people lived frugally during wartime
TODAY is Remembrance Day – in honour of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in wartime. Away from the front line, the two world wars saw much suffering at home — with the rationing of food, fuel and clothes. Both conflicts also relied on the Women’s Land Army — where women stepped in take over […]
TODAY is Remembrance Day – in honour of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in wartime.
Away from the front line, the two world wars saw much suffering at home — with the rationing of food, fuel and clothes.
Both conflicts also relied on the Women’s Land Army — where women stepped in take over farm jobs left vacant by men sent to fight.
People had to live frugally during this difficult time — but we can learn cash-saving lessons from how they coped.
DIG FOR VICTORY: People grew as much food for themselves as they could — and doing the same could save you money. Courgettes are the most cost-effective vegetable to grow as each seed has such a high yield, according to GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk. And a single cherry tomato plant can produce 200 tomatoes per season.
FREEZE THERE: It was illegal to waste food during World War Two — so everything was eaten, preserved or fed to animals. Pickling was popular, but these days we can freeze food or buy frozen goods, which are usually cheaper. Appliances Direct found swapping fresh goods for frozen, and freezing fresh meat, fish and cooked meals, can save £90 a month, as less goes to waste.
MAKE DO AND MEND: In the war, clothes were rationed due to the demand for uniforms. Now, more than 350,000 tonnes are binned every year. Check out Clothes Doctor on YouTube for tips on repairing clothes. If they’re really worn, most retailers offer incentives for recycling.
TROUBLED WATERS: Wartime families could only have five inches of bath water a week. Today, adults use an average of 149 litres, more than a bathful, every day. Cutting water can save on bills if you are metered. One less minute a day in the shower would save you £30 a year.
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