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Seven Financial Tips from the Great Depression

Having lived through the Depression, our grandparents and great-grandparents formed a lack of trust in banks and turned to burying cash in the backyard or hiding it under the mattress. Our current economic downturn doesn't yet call for such drastic measures but there are things we can learn from those who went through this challenging era and prospered.

Food: Grow a Garden

Growing at least some of your own food can save a lot of money, and provide the satisfaction that comes from eating local, really local. Consider starting a community garden such as the Depression-era community relief gardens, or the World War II Victory Gardens, searching step-by-step instructions on the Internet, and applying those ideas to any project that you can implement on someone's vacant lot (with permission).

Entertainment: Enjoying the Simple Things

Not everything about the Depression was actually depressing. In hard times, we can sometimes find a lot of pleasure in remembering to enjoy the simple things in life. During the 1930s, games like Monopoly became popular because they gave people hope and allowed them to dream of a better life. Remember some of the board games from your childhood, and plan a low-tech outing with friends and family. It will also help you remember that you don't absolutely need every single gadget（小玩意）that hits the store shelves, and on top of that it will be a bit cheaper than spending the day at Disneyland.

Transportation: How Many SUVs Does Your Family Need?

Hitchhiking（搭乘）was prevalent in the Great Depression, and this is one area that can at least offer some creativity, although Mint absolutely does not recommend that you sell your car and get to work each day by holding up a thumb next to the freeway, nor should you become a hobohemian（流浪漢）and hop trains to get around. However, since owning a car is more of a luxury than a necessity, we can learn from the community aspect and form carpools, walk to the store if it's only a mile away, and if you are lucky enough to have a half-decent public transportation system, Google Maps now shows your time and cost to drive relative to taking a bus or walking. Consider moving closer to where you work and walk or ride a bike instead. Like Dave Ramsey, author of Total Money Makeover, says: “If you are willing to live like no one else now, you can live like no one else later.”Essentially, by defying convention, even for a relatively short amount of time, you can save a hefty sum of money.

Housing: Downsize or Rent a Room

We all have different situations, and this is one of the most pressing issues facing our nation and the world right now. You might be just out of college and trying to make it on your own, or you might be paying for your child's college now, but there are definitely lessons to be learned from the Depression. In some cases, it may be beneficial to sacrifice a bit of privacy in the short-term in order to get back on track（回到正軌）financially. Rent an extra bedroom to a friend, have your child move back home if you are struggling to send him or her rent money every month, or downsize your home. You don't have to necessarily make a gut-wrenching（搜腸刮肚的）decision overnight, but do yourself a favor and at least check out some listings on Craigslist for rentals, or have a real estate agent e-mail you listings in a cheaper price range. If a great deal pops up that piques your interest, you can at least bat around the idea with your family. If you are single, just go for it!

Jobs/Entrepreneurship: Nothing Left to Lose?

Due to the extensive public works projects in the 1930s, there was at least a bit of relief for the unemployed masses. People simply took any work they could, and often worked 12 hour days. If you are looking for employment, you might consider looking for a position that is slightly below your ideal salary, but that seems to have the most potential for advancement. If you are entrepreneurial, and perhaps have already fallen behind on bills, one positive thing about the current economic climate is that you are starting over at a time when many other people are also faced with starting from scratch（白手起家）financially, and perhaps you may even be in a position where you literally have nothing left to lose, which can be a great time for personal innovation and taking the risk to start in a new industry or implement an idea that's always been in the back of your mind. It's time for boot-strapping（步步為營(yíng)法）!

Credit: Redefining What You Can Afford and Need

If you have credit available, you might be tempted to use it before the bank cuts the credit line. Don't do it. Going into debt will only hurt you in the long run. Instead, remember the words of your grandmother and heed this simple, age-old advice—“if you can't afford to pay cash, you can't afford it”.

Money Management/Budgeting: Simplify Your System

When you simply have no money, it is easy to keep spending under control because it is impossible to spend. In many cases, one spouse saved money in the cupboard and even hid it from the other spouse. There is a good trick to be found here that requires a lot of discipline. If, for example, you are getting hit with overdraft（透支）fees, you need to establish a barrier that you absolutely will not dip below (even if it means paying a bill late). Take the cue from the 1930s and use cash rather than debit for your petty purchases, especially when you are close to zero in your account. This will help avoid paying $36 for that pack of gum if an unexpected payment goes through your account and causes an overdraft fee.

For our grandparents and great-grandparents who lived through the 1930s, many months surely consisted of living in survival mode, and there were much fewer recurring expenses and bills to be paid, so it was possible in a lot of cases to keep track of spending without even necessarily writing it down. Today, we have several types of accounts, in many cases at different institutions, with new types of debt and monthly payments to keep track of, so take a look at Mint's free software today and start tracking your spending automatically to find areas where you can save money.

1. Growing food in a community garden can save money and _____.

A. enrich our life

B. provide a satisfaction of enjoying the local food

C. practice some basic ideas

D. make big profits as well

2. Why did people like to play the game Monopoly during the 1930s?

A. Because it was a low-tech game.

B. Because it gave hopes to people.

C. Because it was complicated.

D. Because it reminded people of their childhood.

3. During the Great Depression, _____ was a very popular way of transportation.

A. hobohemian

B. carpool

C. hitchhiking

D. walking

4. According to the author, by defying convention, we can _____.

A. save a lot of time

B. save a lot of money

C. ride a bike to office

D. move closer to office

5. One lesson to be learned from the Depression is that _____ can help us get back on track financially.

A. giving up a little privacy

B. checking out some listings for rentals

C. getting e-mails from a real estate agent

D. stopping paying for college fee

6. What is the author's advice on those who are looking for a job?

A. They should work 12 hours a day.

B. They should take a job with lower salary but more potential.

C. They should take any work they could find.

D. They should take part in public works projects.

7. To avoid going into debt, you should _____.

A. throw your credit card away

B. use credit before the bank cuts the credit line

C. reconsider what you can afford and need

D. pay cash for everything

8. It is better to _____ that you will not dip below while you are facing the problem of overdraft fees.

9. Comparing with those who lived through the 1930s, today we have new types of debt and _____ to keep track of.

10. The purpose of this passage is to provide financial tips for us in _____.