They were made of cotton and some even had nice prints and patterns on them, which made excellent fabric to make new clothes out of. Flour bagsįlour and grain sacks were also very versatile during the Depression. Everybody darned their socks back then, which is difficult today because most socks are made out of synthetic material and don’t hold the stitch. Rags were then used as-is or they were patched together to make new clothes or linens or turned into rag rugs. ![]() Then, if there was fabric that could be salvaged, it was repurposed into new clothes or linens or washcloths or rags. Old clothing, sheets and towelsĬlothing was worn until it was down to the bare threads. Here are 10 common items people reused during the Great Depression: 10 Things People Reused During the Great Depression 1. But there are a few common items that many people saved, and many innovative ways they were used. Pretty much anything that people got their hands on was put to good use over and over again. So what exactly did people save, and how exactly did they repurpose the scraps that could no longer be used? The list is extensive. Finding creative ways to reuse and repurpose everyday items became a life skill that sometimes even meant the difference between life and death, and could even be exchanged as a currency in the trade and barter system that emerged when money all but ceased to exist for many people. ![]() Without any money to depend on, people had to become very resourceful. Many folks did have their money in the bank, however, and when the stock market crashed they lost everything. Nobody trusted the banks after the crash of 1929 threw the country into an economic collapse, and understandably so. My great grandmother lived through the Great Depression and she saved everything her entire life: plastic, aluminum foil, twist ties, jars and containers… She was even known for rationing her toilet paper!Īnd she kept her savings in paint tins in the basement. This period in history stayed with the people who were affected by it too.
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