Nearly every person raised during the Great Depression was faced with conditions quite different from those of the current recession. Unemployment reached almost 25% and, in one way or another, affected nearly every family.

In those days, there was usually only one wage earner. Father worked and Mother ran the house. The years following World War I were good as earnings grew and creature comforts became available to most. In October of 1929, however, the bottom dropped out. The stock market crash took its toll and families suddenly found their source of income was no more. Unless there was family wealth on which to rely, people found themselves in dire straits. Relatives and friends did what they could to help the most unfortunate.

The Federal Government tried a number of “Stimulus Aids” such as the Works Progress Administration (WPA), Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the National Recovery Administration (NRA). We are told that these efforts were not successful in breaking the recession. Today, we have several programs intended as “stimulus”. The success of these is a matter of personal opinion.

The preceding is only to provide a basis for what follows. We, of the Great Depression, can be considered fortunate in a way because we were taught the value of thrift. Today’s generations are in trouble because thrift has only seemed to be a word.

Neither of my parents finished school, not unusual in their era. All but my paternal grandmother were deceased long before my birth. My Dad, at an early age, had to work to help support six older sisters and a baby brother. My Mother went to live with a spinster aunt who entered her in a secretarial school to learn a trade. She was working as a secretary when my Dad met her. In time they were married.

The Twenties were years of growth. Dad’s career was successful and the family enjoyed vacation trips, Christmas, and Birthdays. Festive occasions were the time for presents and celebration.

Things came to a sudden stop, however. Dad’s investments were wiped out in the 1929 crash. The firm for which he had been a star salesman for many years was suddenly no more. He tried to find employment, but his specialty was no longer needed. I remember the day we piled into one of the cars he owned with our luggage in the trunk. We were on our way to a new town in his search for a job. All of our possessions, including the second car, were left in payment for past due rent.

This was the beginning of a new life. There were days of hunger. It was also the beginning of my lessons on thrift. It was a shock, as a pre-teen, to hear my parents explain the circumstances. I was told there was a big difference between wants and needs. If I wanted something special now, I would have to earn it. There was no such thing then as an allowance. And when I did earn a few coins, I had to save part of it. “Put it aside for a rainy day” was the first admonition I remember hearing and learned that it didn’t mean for a day of precipitation, but for a time when things go wrong or there was a special need.

“Don’t let it burn a hole in your pocket” my aunt said as she gave me a quarter, another favorite admonition. “A penny saved is a penny earned”, “Waste not, want not” were an almost daily reminder.

As the years went by and a variety of jobs made possible my contributions to the family, I became quite aware of the sacrifices that both parents, particularly my Mother, made for my younger sister and me. There was no health insurance in those days, but as we needed treatment, they found the means. That included tonsillectomy and all of the childhood diseases. I became ill with pneumonia which required doctor’s home visits and home nursing care. My parents found the way to do without their wants and kept solvent.

Mother was the “treasurer”. She made a budget and ruled over all expenditures. She insisted that I save part of my earnings and became the banker to see that I did so.

The admonitions that followed were a constant reminder to put something aside for future unknown needs. “Buy only what you can afford”, “Live within your income”, “Don’t bite off more than you can chew”. These kept you constantly aware.

I think of the lessons my parents gave me and wince at the rampant case of many, many people today. It is apparent that they were never admonished and went through a long period of “want it, buy it”. Television advertisements ask those with credit card debts over $10,000.00 to contact them for help. They claim they have helped “millions” with their debts.

We wish that these unfortunates had been forewarned and followed those admonitions. I thank my parents for giving me a lesson well learned.