Deborah Harold - Depression Era Frugality : Tips, Tricks & Life Hacks from the Great Depression Era that We Can Use Today - How to Enjoy Life and Be Comfortable No Matter Your Income, Even in Poverty

The first area where you can use depression-era hacks is to stretch your food budget. You can do this by saving money when you shop and making your food go further, you can grow a garden, you can meal plan, and you can stock up a depression-era pantry. Lets look in-depth at each of these areas so youll be able to get the most out of your food.

When it comes to stretching a food budget, most people think they have to cut out or reduce healthy foods. This isnt the case; there are quite a few healthy foods you can purchase for less than a dollar a serving that can be stretched to make a range of meals and provide you with food for a week or more. Lets look at some of the top healthy foods you can purchase for cheap.

Black beans are high in fiber, calcium, and folic acid. By purchasing them dry and boiling, you will preserve a lot of antioxidants. Cooking them is easy, and you can use them to make soup. Youll often be able to buy the dry beans for less than 30 cents a pound.

These are one of the most versatile healthy foods for less than a dollar. There are a variety of ways you can use them. They are a simple breakfast that gives you protein to get your day started. You can also use them to make vegetable frittatas that can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator. Eggs are also an item you can get on your own if you raise chickens.

This is a great healthy snack for those on the go. You can often get almonds for about 60 cents a serving of 20 to 25 almonds.

High in fiber, these are a great addition to salads or can be used to make your own hummus for cheaper than the store-bought option. You can often get about a half cup for about 30 cents or in a can for about a dollar.

These are very affordable, often about one dollar a pound. Homemade oatmeal is a great cheap breakfast option and can even be used in place of flour to make cookies.

Refried beans are cheap and easy to make on your own; and provide more health benefits when you do so. At about 25 cents a half-cup, they add fiber and protein to your diet.

This has long been a frugal pantry staple. This is especially true if you cook it from scratch. Youll have a range of options to choose from, and most are under a dollar a pound. Rice can be used as a base for dinner, in soups, or as its own side dish. You can cook it in bulk and then use it in meals throughout the week.

This is another option, similar to beans. You can get them for less than a dollar a pound. However, these dont require soaking like beans, so they can be prepared in less time. They can be used in soup or make an excellent side dish.

Depending on the part of the chicken, this can be a little more expensive than other healthy foods. However, if you want to include meat in your diet, this can be the cheapest option. You can keep chicken in the freezer for up to six months, and it can be used in a wide variety of recipes. You can even use chicken bones to make broth for use in other recipes.

If you want to add calcium and protein to your diet, then yogurt is a great choice. A cup of yogurt will cost about 75 cents to a dollar. You can also save money by making your own yogurt.

There are a number of dishes you can make with pasta, and whole-grain pasta makes it healthier. Whole grain pasta comes with a higher nutritional value than regular pasta without costing you a whole lot more.