No one ever really thought it was possible to have another era like the Great Depression. Boy, where they wrong. While we did not exactly see the same type of problems that happened in 1929, the country in general has been laid low financially in pretty much the same way. And it is very likely that we are not going to get out of it any time soon. This is where today’s generation can take a page from their grandparents and great-grandparents experiences.

There is still a large cohort of individuals still alive that grew up and experienced the Depression. They learned how to tighten a belt, but be happy. Living life with less stuff makes the mind become more creative in finding diversions. This is a lesson that many of us today can learn how to master. The distractions that are available 90 years after the Depression are obviously very different. We have movies that we can watch inside of our own home where as the previous generation went to the movies. Air conditioning is a common item, making our homes more comfortable. No being driven outside to get relief like it was before its widespread use. In a nutshell, modern technology has changed our lives in a way that the Depression generation did not experience. So how is this relevant to learning a lesson?

It comes down to the simple fact that we can learn to be just as frugal as they were. Take advantage of the items that are already in the home and are budgeted for. There really is no need to constantly go out and purchase new items that have a short term entertainment value. Why waste money on a cheap thrill? Instead, find new hobbies that do not cost an arm and a leg. Watch a movie that has not been played for a while. Check out a TV show that was ignored in the past. Simply learn to make do. There will be more money in the checkbook for later, instead of being squandered with the regret that comes with the action.