Remember how your granny would sit to sow clothes or when your grandpa had a large toolbox to fix broken stuff around the house? With modern conveniences and easy accessibility to things, it’s easy to overlook the wisdom of past generations. Although our grandparents lived through tough economic times, they always found ingenious ways to survive.
Incorporating some of these past practices into our modern lives can make our lives easier and more sustainable.
Here are some time-honored practices our grandparents followed that we should bring back.
Making Their Products
Our grandparents learned how to be self-sufficient by doing simple things themselves. They would knit sweaters, cut firewood, bake bread, make laundry soap, and even create furniture from the cut wood.
They did not rely on supermarkets or retail stores for their goods or needs and would instead trade or barter for what they needed. Being self-sufficient allowed them to save money for things like sending the kids to college or paying for utilities.
Growing and Preserving Their Food
Back then, grandparents had gardens where they grew fruit and vegetables. Some even kept chickens and other livestock that provided meat and milk for consumption. They would pickle, can, or dry their produce during harvest to preserve it for the other dry seasons.
That reduced food waste and allowed us to enjoy a variety of foods all year round. You can grow vegetables for home use and save money on groceries if you have a small yard.
Cooking and Baking From Scratch
Our grandparents enjoyed cooking and baking from scratch. They had a collection of recipes to explore and would invite the children to help in the kitchen. Although there were store-bought food versions, they preferred to create meals from scratch.
Learning to cook meals from scratch is a fantastic way to enjoy the process, control the ingredients, and save money you’d have spent on dining out or takeout.
Repairing Items Instead of Replacing
Our grandparents were great at DIY; you’d find them sewing, fixing simple home repairs, or making crafts to sell. Instead of buying a new faucet, Grandpa would find creative ways to seal the leak, while Grandma would sew back in a button that came off to avoid taking it to the tailor.
By learning some DIY skills, we can save money on costly replacements and prolong the life of an item.
Conserving Energy
Our grandparents were conscious about how they used energy in their homes. They found ways to conserve energy, like using natural light more, drying their clothes outside, and switching off lights when no one was using them.
We can incorporate some of their energy-saving techniques by turning the thermostat down, air-drying clothes outside, and investing in energy-efficient appliances.
Participating in Outdoor Activities More
Before the digital age, our grandparents always found more outdoor activities to keep them busy when not cooking, cleaning, or repairing items at home. They would go for walks, take children to the park, visit the farmer’s market, or have a picnic.
All these fun outdoor activities allowed them to reconnect with nature. We can spend less on entertainment by exploring some outdoor activities around our surroundings.
Reuse and Repurpose Old Items
Our grandparents never spent a dime on paper towels or plastic storage bags. They would use cotton clothes as paper towels to clean. Burlap sacks were repurposed for gardening projects, while coffee cans were used to store sugar or flour. They could save money by reusing and repurposing items in their homes.
Thrifting and Secondhand Shopping
Remember how your grandma would insist on finding unique items at the thrift store? That was for a good reason. Thrift shops have quality toys, clothing, and furniture for a fraction of the cost, which saves you money and gets you a durable item.
Our grandparents emphasized the need for self-sufficiency, sustainability, and creativity. These traits allowed them to survive tough economic times. Incorporating these practices today can also ensure we meet our financial goals and still enjoy modern conveniences.
