“Unbelievable Ingenuity: 13 Astonishing Survival Tactics That Thrived During the Great Depression!”
Bartering allowed communities to support each other. It wasnât just goods that were exchanged, people traded their skills, like mending clothes, fixing roofs, or even offering childcare.
4. Making Soup Stretch
Soup became a staple for many families because it could be made with minimal ingredients and stretched to feed a large number of people. Leftover vegetables, bones, and scraps were thrown into a pot to create broth-based meals that lasted for days.
Soup kitchens also sprang up in cities, offering free meals to those in need. These kitchens became a symbol of survival during the Depression.
5. DIY Entertainment
Without money for movies, concerts, or restaurants, people had to get creative with their free time. Families entertained themselves with homemade board games, puzzles, and card games. Storytelling and radio shows also provided inexpensive ways to pass the time.
Music, too, was a common form of DIY entertainment. Families would gather around the piano or guitar and sing together, an activity that cost nothing but inspired a sense of togetherness.
6. “Make Do and Mend” Attitude
When something broke during the Great Depression, it wasnât simply replaced, it was fixed. Families adopted a âmake do and mendâ mindset, repairing shoes, mending clothes, and fixing household items rather than buying new ones.
