Rediscovering Resilience

Lessons from the Past for Today's Rising Costs of Living

In times of widespread hardship — whether during the Great Depression, the Irish Potato Famine, or other periods of economic strife — people often resort to creative, resourceful, and sometimes desperate measures to survive.

These historic eras — marked by poverty, scarcity, and insecurity — forced individuals to adapt and innovate in ways that helped them meet basic needs with limited resources. As the cost of living continues to rise today, many of these old strategies can offer practical solutions for navigating economic challenges in the modern world.

This story explores what people did during times of hardship to survive and how we can apply those lessons today, drawing parallels between past struggles and present challenges. From food rationing and communal support to creative financial planning, the wisdom of those who came before us can help us navigate the uncertain terrain of rising costs, inflation, and economic instability.

Food: From Scraps to Feasts

The Irish Potato Famine (1845–1852) decimated the country’s staple crop, leading to widespread hunger and mass emigration. During the Great Depression (1929–1939), millions in the U.S. and elsewhere faced unemployment and food insecurity. However, people developed ingenious ways to stretch what little food they had, ensuring that no part of a meal was wasted.

Creative Cooking

During famine, families become experts at using every bit of food available. In the 1930s, home cooks often made “Depression-era meals” that maximized simple ingredients. Popular dishes included:

• Mock apple pie, made from crackers instead of apples, sweetened and spiced to mimic the taste of the real thing.

• Hoover stew, a mix of macaroni, hot dogs, and canned vegetables, named after President Herbert Hoover.

• Potato peel soup, using vegetable skins and scraps that would otherwise be discarded.

Application Today

In today’s world, food waste remains a huge issue, with millions of tons of edible food thrown away every year. To mitigate rising food costs, people can take inspiration from the resourcefulness of past generations by focusing on minimizing waste. Learning how to make meals from leftovers or scraps, growing small gardens at home, and embracing seasonal produce can help cut grocery bills.

Consider trying

• Meal prepping to ensure you use all purchased ingredients before they spoil.

• Home gardening, even if it’s just a few pots of herbs or a small tomato plant.

• Preserving and canning foods to stock up during times of surplus.

 Bartering and Trade: A Cashless Economy

When cash was in short supply, bartering became a key method of survival. During the Great Depression, people traded goods and services instead of using money, and informal local economies flourished in the absence of formal financial systems.

Community Collaboration

Families often exchanged labor for food, shelter, or other services. Farmers might barter eggs, milk, or vegetables for clothing repairs or carpentry. Community barter networks provided a support system for those without income. Local fairs or markets sometimes operated on a trade basis, where individuals exchanged homemade goods for essentials they couldn’t produce themselves.

In Ireland during the potato famine, neighbors supported one another by sharing what little they had, especially in rural areas. Though some formal aid came in, community reliance was vital for survival.

Application Today

With prices on the rise, many are turning back to community networks for mutual support. Neighborhood groups on social media, community gardens, and local swap meets can provide opportunities to barter or trade skills and goods. Additionally, websites and apps that facilitate peer-to-peer trades, such as Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, allow people to exchange items without the need for cash.

In today’s world, trading services such as babysitting, tutoring, gardening, or home repairs can create an informal support network within communities. It’s a modern way to adapt the historical bartering system, reducing reliance on money and helping people make ends meet.

Making Do: Thrift and Reuse

One of the most famous mottos of the Great Depression was “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” People learned to repair and repurpose items instead of buying new, a practice essential when money was scarce. Clothing, tools, furniture, and household items were reused, patched up, and maintained for as long as possible.

Clothing and Resourcefulness

Clothing was often handed down through families, mended, or remade to fit new trends or different sizes. During the Second World War, many families made clothes from flour sacks, using their creativity to repurpose even the most basic materials into something functional. "Make do and mend" campaigns encouraged people to repair their existing clothing rather than purchasing new garments.

Application Today

Fast fashion has led to a culture of overconsumption, with many items worn only a few times before being discarded. In response to rising living costs, the resurgence of thrift stores, second-hand shopping, and DIY clothing repairs are becoming more popular. Learning to sew, fix, or repurpose old clothes can reduce clothing expenses. Thrifting not only saves money but also supports sustainability by reducing waste.

Another way to practice thrift today is through upcycling — taking discarded materials and turning them into something new. Whether it's repurposing old furniture, making reusable shopping bags from worn-out clothes, or turning scrap wood into garden planters, upcycling helps people save money while giving old items new life.

Growing Your Own Food: Victory Gardens Revisited

During the World Wars, food shortages were common, leading governments to encourage civilians to grow “Victory Gardens” to supplement their rations. These small home gardens produced fruits and vegetables to ease the strain on the national food supply. By the end of World War II, nearly 40% of the vegetables consumed in the United States came from victory gardens.

Application Today

As food prices continue to climb, growing your own food is an excellent way to save on grocery costs. Even those with limited space can plant herbs, tomatoes, or leafy greens in small containers on balconies, windowsills, or patios. Community gardens also offer opportunities for those without land to grow their produce.

Urban farming, rooftop gardens, and vertical gardens are becoming increasingly popular, allowing city-dwellers to participate in growing food and reducing their dependency on expensive groceries. With a little effort, gardening can provide not only food but also a therapeutic and educational activity that builds community resilience.

 Homemade Household Products: Cutting Costs with DIY

During hard times, people couldn't afford to buy the many cleaning, beauty, or household products they needed. As a result, they turned to simple, homemade alternatives that were inexpensive and effective.

Household Cleaners

In the 1930s, people made their own cleaning products using ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. These basic ingredients are still powerful enough to clean most surfaces, and they’re much cheaper than store-bought products.

Application Today

With the cost of household goods rising, returning to DIY alternatives is a smart way to save money. Many everyday products can be made at home for a fraction of the cost:

• All-purpose cleaner: Mix vinegar, water, and a few drops of essential oil for a natural cleaner.

• Laundry detergent: Grated soap, borax, and washing soda can create an inexpensive laundry detergent.

• Beauty products: DIY beauty treatments using ingredients like coconut oil, honey, or oatmeal can replace expensive skincare products.

Not only do homemade solutions save money, but they are also typically healthier for the environment and for people’s homes, cutting down on chemicals and single-use plastics.

Shared Living and Multigenerational Households

In times of extreme financial difficulty, shared living arrangements were common. During the Great Depression, many families doubled up in small homes or apartments to share rent and utilities. Multigenerational households, where parents, children, and grandparents lived together, provided an economic cushion for families struggling to make ends meet. This model was not only cost-effective but also offered emotional and practical support during hard times.

Application Today

With housing costs continuing to rise in many parts of the world, there is a growing trend toward shared living spaces and multigenerational households. Families pooling resources can save on rent, utilities, and even food costs by cooking and eating together. Co-housing communities are also emerging, where groups of people live together, share common spaces, and help one another with childcare, transportation, and other needs.

By embracing shared living, people can reduce their individual financial burdens and create stronger support systems, just as families did during earlier times of hardship.

By drawing on the experiences of our ancestors—whether by wasting less food, embracing bartering, making our own household products, growing gardens, or finding ways to live communally—we can mitigate the impact of rising costs and strengthen our communities in the process. In doing so, we not only honor the past but also build a more sustainable and resilient future.