Older family members talk of rationing....

**TheRootedNomad** · 03-28-2008, 08:56 AM

I don't mean this to be an alarmist thread. Recent conversations with family members and a couple of comments here have simply sparked my curiosity and thought prcess.

When reading the latest recession thread one talked about older family members speaking of when they had to ration gas and sugar. I thought this was intresting since this has come up in several conversations I've had with some of the older members of my family lately. The reality is I don't think I would have a big problem with it when comparing to most of the people I know.

Here's why
~ I know how to substitute
-----no sugar - then I would use honey, syrup, fruit juice, ect
-----no butter or oil - applesauce, smashed fruit, jelly, ect
and so on

~ gas
----- even though I work pretty far my scheaduale could be flexable and there are a few of us that live in the same area that could take turns driving
----- for heating (we keep the heat so low it wouldn't be that big of an adjustment)

~ I'm not really picky
----- clothes (can be passed around between family and friends) or I can sew basic clothing if I have to
----- food (whatever is available --- there isn't much of it that I don't like)
----- walking, biking, - probably do me good to do more of it
----- domestic goods - hubby and I are both pretty handy - most stuff we could fix or make

DH is a very picky eater and would have a problem in that area but other than that he'd probably be ok with whatever too.

Now most people I know have minimal cooking skills, rely heavily on convience foods, don't know what a sewing needle looks like, and would have a very hard time adjusting thier driving routines or thinking "hey I can just take this one apart and fix it". Now that's not everyone, and probably doesn't apply to many here but i do believe it is a large percentage of our population.

How about you all ??? If there was rationing today how drastically would it effect you? Can you pretty quickly pick out what you would put in place??

**mombottoo** · 03-28-2008, 10:01 AM

During recessions of my adult life time we never had rationing in my area. However, I do remember my grandparents & great grandparents talk about the rationing during the depression.

How about you all ??? If there was rationing today how drastically would it effect you? Can you pretty quickly pick out what you would put in place??

If there were rationing of gas (for cars) it would affect me a little, but not as much as people who have to travel to get to work. Neither of us work, but I do a lot of running for our son. Food wouldn't be a problem either, I have enough food on hand (other than milk, eggs, bread) to feed us for a good 6 months. I can also garden if I have to for food, did it as a kid which is probably why I don't do it now.

**larabelle** · 03-28-2008, 10:13 AM

Good thread. I also do not think that I would have a big problem with rationing if things should get to that point.

* I also know how to substitute items when cooking and I know how to cook (THANKS MOM!!).

*I am presently in the process of moving closer to work (within #8) miles and realistically I am healthy and I could ride a bike to work (which might be really good for me excercise wise) or I could purchase a motor scooter (which gets #100 miles per gallon) and ride that to work. I do not need to take any highways to get there and if I left early enough in the morning the traffic would be light.

*I also keep my heat pretty low and we do not have harsh winters here in Texas.

*I'm also not really picky
----- clothes: I can and do sew basic clothing and I enjoy doing so. (THANKS AGAIN MOM!) I also am small enough in size that I find lots of great stuff at thrift stores (Salvation Army's, Good Wills etc)
----- food (I have food allergies (bread, dairy) but I can still find lots of cheap things to eat (beans, rice,etc)
----- walking, biking, - it would also do me good
----I am mechanically inclined so fixing things comes easy to me.

I agree that the majority of the population would have a major problem with rationing however I think that as for me and my house...we would be fine.

**sunshine** · 03-28-2008, 10:59 AM

My parents are depression era babies and remember rationing well (in fact mom still has some ration coupons that they never used), so I was raised with that mentality. Things like keep a stockpile, think and plan ahead for errands, etc. . . how to substitute, how to hunt/butcher/preserve meats. . . how to forage. . . . how to garden/preserve. . . .

**della92** · 03-28-2008, 11:27 AM

Gas rations would affect me greatly, as well as the business that I work for. I drive about 40 miles per day to get to work and back home, add another 15 to take my daughter to school. Although on a gas ration, she would have to ride the bus. We only have gas (propane) for auxillary heat, we heat with an outside wood stove, so no problem there.

Food, I have enough on hand to last 2-3 months, I have been using what is on hand lately, so I feel like I need to begin stockpiling (just haven't seen any great deals recently). I can garden, my husband can hunt, so unless it got really really bad, we could provide food.

I cannot currently sew a stitch, but I am sure I could work out an arrangement with the neighbor ladies that can or I can simply learn enough to get by.

My husband has a natural talent in fixing, making, repairing things and while I do not have those natural talents, he is an amazing teacher and has showed/instructed me on how to do many things I never thought I could do. I am much more business savy than he, so I could/would do any needed bartering. We compliment each other very well. With him, we could make it through anything.

There would be some adjustments for us, but nothing that we couldn't manage.

I do agree that alot of the people do not have the necessary skills now and it would be a huge lifestyle change for some. (For example, a few years ago, I witnessed an 18 year old boy that did not know how to wash a company car, now he was very intelligent, but he couldn't get it together to get bucket, soap, sponge and take vehicle to the area in the back with the waterhose and wash the car, but he did learn that day) So I also beleive that people are resilient and will be able and willing to learn any needed skills.

My biggest fear would be that some people would rather resort to violence/theft than learning new ways.

But lets just hope that we are all considering the worst more for emergency preparedness (sp?) than for what the actual future will hold.

**TheRootedNomad** · 03-28-2008, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by sunshine

My parents are depression era babies and remember rationing well (in fact mom still has some ration coupons that they never used),

:LOL: I remeber being a kid (probably 8ish) and being with my grandfather in the garage. Not sure what we were doing as we were always into something together. He was quite the packrat. Anyway, in one of the boxes were these green books of stamp looking things. He gave me some but put most of them back in the box "cause we might need 'em again someday". I still have them somewhere.

**sunshine** · 03-28-2008, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by della92

My biggest fear would be that some people would rather resort to violence/theft than learning new ways.

Yeah -- I think you may be right, sadly.

**sunshine** · 03-28-2008, 12:37 PM

I was talking to my mom, about this thread. . . her comment was

"people should already be rationing themselves on their own - cut back on gas, eat less meat. . . then it wouldn't be such a shock if it comes to actual rationing by the government"

**FrugalWitch** · 03-28-2008, 12:57 PM

I remember my Ninny talking about the Depression and WW2 rationing all the time when I was growing up. Luckily she drummed a frugal mindset into me (along with the attitude of never taking things for granted) so I think I'll do rather well.

In addition to her teachings (cooking, money management etc) my DH and I also have our little library of FoxFire books and other old-timey instruction guides. Cookbooks from the 40s are often geared for rationed supplies! We are very conscientious about re-using items and stockpiling. We use things until they have no possible use left. If people have tossed usable items out onto the curb DH and I drag them home.

Since moving into Momma's house to take care of her, the distance to DH's job is now only 5 miles (before it was 11 miles) We try our level best to get all errands run on the work-drive to save gas.

**Darlene** · 03-28-2008, 01:48 PM

I think it's a good thing to be self sufficient as much as possible in everyday life, no matter what the economy. With the way I live my life, I think I'm doing what I can to be ready for just about anything and am able to bend/improvise/do without when I need to.

**C@rol** · 03-28-2008, 02:39 PM

How about you all ??? If there was rationing today how drastically would it effect you? Can you pretty quickly pick out what you would put in place??

I know that we could adjust with no problems. Both of our families came through some very tough times and we both come from very large families.

Rationing any and everything, passing down and sharing clothing, stretching meals and adding substitutes I think we could handle pretty well.

**Hannahs mom** · 03-28-2008, 03:51 PM

Gas rationing would affect me and the majority of people where I work. Only a handful live close to work - the rest of us drive the 25-30 mile distance because of the higher pay and better job stability. Some of them could carpool but no one lives my direction. I guess I'd ask stay at home family members if I could run errands for them in town in exchange for their coupons. And, I know I'd be driving slower to get better gas mileage.
I think we'd be ok with limited amounts of sugar and butter as we don't use much of them anyway. But,
I really don't know what all was rationed in the Depression. Could someone post a list of things?

**sunshine** · 03-28-2008, 04:07 PM

Maybe this will help with what items were rationed?

http://freespace.virgin.net/dawnd.davidson/page15.html

**MirandaK** · 03-28-2008, 04:14 PM

I could make due...mostly. I could learn to substitute in teh kitchen and sew. I'm crafty and resourceful. But Gas...that would just kill me!! I work 30 minutes away from my home. I suppose I could do what someone else suggested and get a Vespa or something but I would really struggle there.

**POOTERSMOMMY** · 03-28-2008, 06:20 PM

Good thread. I think we pretty well ration ourselves now. I don't really see us doing anything different. Neither work, so gas is just for errands or visiting.
I think people will need to start carpooling, and i think that's a good thing anyway.
We have prob. a 6 mo. stockpile in freezer and pantry. We will be growing a garden again - so will be canning and freezing.
I can stay home a lot (although I might go stircrazy!)
There's plenty to do here, and plenty to read. I could walk to library if neccessary.
Maybe the younger generation needs to go through a recession. Many may learn some much needed skills. We learned from our parents who went through a full fledged Depression!!!
We all need to just take it easy, and not pannic