Did you know that people during the Great Depression sometimes made salads out of dandelion greens? (Depending on who you are, you’re either about to shut off your computer in disgust, or you’re starting to head outside to pick some dandelions. But either way, stay with us a few more minutes! It will be worth it.) 

We’re not telling you that you have to start putting weeds in all your salads (although who knows? You might end up loving it!). However, in the wake of unexpected supply shortages and the constantly increasing prices of food and fuel, there certainly are a lot of Depression-era “hacks” that we can start utilizing in order to stretch and save in the midst of our basically always uncertain world.

Back in the day, Americans had a common expression they used when navigating the always TEMPORARY circumstances (nothing is PERMANENT!!):  

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” 

And it generally served the purpose.  

Let’s talk about that little maxim, especially as it applies to the kitchen. I don’t know about you, but I certainly spend my fair share of time in the kitchen. Leftovers are 100% a go-to meal option in my house. In fact, we often cook more than we need so that we can have extra, ready-made meals for later. But what do you do when not much food remains in a leftover container? 

When I was growing up, “soup of the week” was a staple. Any extra food that wasn’t eaten throughout the week was tossed into a pot with water and spices, heated over the stove, and ladled into our bowls for dinner. While some bowls were filled with strange concoctions, I must admit that all in all, “soup of the week” was a pretty great success.

There are also plenty of things you can do around the house to “pinch those pennies” to make them last longer. Instead of flipping on a light switch, opt for natural light when it’s available.

Open windows around the house instead of blowing your air conditioning bill sky-high. 

Make sure you’re being mindful of the amount of water you’re using; turning the tap off when you don’t need it can help lower your bill and will keep the water from being wasted. 

While most of these just sound like common sense, there are lots of not-so-common ways to save money and resources as well. 

I greatly enjoyed this article about how to save money like they did during the Great Depression.  By being creative and flexible, we can scrimp and save even more. As Benjamin Franklin is believed to have said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” So, how can we at Perka aid you in saving/earning those pennies (and dimes and quarters and dollars!)?

I’m glad you asked! Whether you are looking for a place to store all your cans and jars or all your other newly homemade goods, we’ve got storage! Lots and LOTS of storage. 

In the midst of some of the lack around us, we’re focusing on wisely consuming resources in order to have enough as needed for everyone.

Maybe you’re searching for a place to live or work that has more efficient heating and cooling. Our customizable designs have got you covered (both figuratively and literally)! 

And we’ll be talking more on “shouses”/barndominiums in an upcoming blog post! 

We’re constantly looking for ways to evolve to better ourselves and our service; so let us know how we can partner with and serve you. One of our company’s key values is resilience. As we live through more and more difficult times, we can’t be beaten down easily, and neither can our buildings. 

Contact us here, and check out our website to view all that Perka can offer you. We would be delighted to help you craft a building that fulfills all your needs and desires. We hope you will join us as we strive to stretch ourselves, preserving and optimizing as much as we can, and “do the right thing by doing things right”.  Have a blessed day!