Food Prices During the Great Depression

Food prices of the Great Depression in the 30s, were somewhat of a paradox, when you look back and consider how everything was so cheap, and yet, at the same time, too expensive for many people living through those times .

Food prices were not so much a problem for those who were employed during the Great Depression, as they could afford the daily essentials, and perhaps some extras, like a movie or ice cream; but, for the unfortunate ones who were unemployed, even the every-day, basic necessities were completely out of reach.

Actually, it was not that the food prices were high, but it was the lack of, or absence of

Imagine not being able to run into the store and grab your desired food items, clothing, and more. , if you needed it, medicine; and then not being able to afford the mortgage or rent, or the electricity or gas for cooking. Could you go without?

Who, in our first affluent day-and-age, could deal with that kind of inconvenience when we used to flipping the light switch on the morning and turning on the automatic coffee machine to dilute some of those twelve-dollar-a-pound grounds we bought from the specialty coffee beanery-after already enjoying a six-dollar mocha great with friends

No such thing for families during the great depression, under their poor circumstances . Imagine buying just a plain (if you can get one today) cup of coffee with cream and sugar, for five cents; two-egg-bacon-and-toast-with-a-piece-of-pie-and-cup-of-coffee breakfast, for 25 cents; or a candy bar for a dime.

It does not sound like a lot, except those who were employed could only have been earning $ 2 or $ 3 a-day, but when you do not have those few small coins, food prices of the great depression seemed pretty high! For those who had money, life was, undoubtedly, more comfortable even considering the times, but for those who had to scrimp and scrape to put food on the table, their days were filled with worry and strife.

Many mothers often went without food, so their children had more to eat. She did not spend her pennies foolishly, if she had them, but used them for the things that were vital to her family's survival.

With the money during the great depression being so scarce, families often ran out of the little bit they may have acquired, from some type of labor, or perhaps from hocking something of sentimental value .

And, to make things worse, families were often compromised, or draskedly challenged, as the men would set out for other parts of the country seeking employment. Some people, never returned, but instead turned to illegal activities in hopes of gaining or alcohol, only making their own, and their family's problems worse. Some even chose suicide.

At any rate, most people had no place to turn, since borrowing from their neighbors or relatives would cause them further problems. Local stores could have extended credit to certain people, but they rarely let off the hook to pay, as some people were still paying off bills that were outstanding, long after the war, which followed The Great Depression,

Money -or, the lack of it-was the main thing that dominated millions of lives for many years during the earlier part of this century. And, it's no different today. Money, for many people, in one way or another, still rules.

Tough times are coming again for those who do not think so, as many people around the world are already experiencing our plummeting economy. I know the current rising food prices (or, more realistically, decreasing dollar value), as it costs more for a half-empty grocery bag today, than it did not so long ago.

But, hey! There is hope, and for those who are informed, there is no need to be surprised and led to despair by these coming hard times. We can take precaution, and plan and prepare for our now, and our future lifestyle management, by getting ahead of the game.

We can learn more about food prices of the great depression and valuable ways how we can prepare ourselves and our families, for what will likely, in some form or other, depending on our circumstances, be much like, or worse than, the Great Depression of the 30s.

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