Save like Nana did. Rationing.

Last week a friend came to visit with her Mother and the conversation turned to the current Middle East conflict.   This led us on to the days of rationing in Australia and my friends Mum said she still has her ration books!    Since I have spoken to Mum about what she remembers.  She recalls Nana and her sisters swapping ration tickets for clothing.   

I started doing a bit more research and found that rationing in Australia began in 1942  and although things were very tight our rationing was not as severe as in some countries.   Most people reading here will have had Grandparents or Great Grandparents who experienced it.   In fact it seems that during times of war rationing comes in one way or another.    Along with that all kinds of extra efforts by each family to contribute including growing food in every garden patch available,  keeping chickens,  recycling clothing, rations in other areas like fuel.  

During the pandemic we did not have government rationing but instead another form where supermarkets set up rules where we could get two milk, one pack of toilet paper, two bread and so on.   We still have a limit of two over the counter pain medications in most places.  

It is very interesting to look at what were the most restricted/in shortage items in the past.   In 1942 in Australia rationing included clothing, tea, sugar, butter and meat and later,  to some extend,  also eggs and milk.   Eggs and milk were prioritised for the needy.    Soap and other items were also rationed in the UK.   If you know what was rationed in your country please let us know in the comments.  I do know that soap was highly valuable everywhere and so I have always kept a lot of soap in my home.  My linen cupboards and clothing drawers all have many bars of beautifully scented soaps hidden away in them. 

Since Nana lived through WW1 and the Depression they may have anticipated rationing when WW2 broke out.  But when war breaks out it doesn't have the name "WW2" at that time... we look back and try and identify when exactly did a long series of escalations become WW2?   When you do you that you are "in" a war?   Northern Australia was hit in attacks but we escaped direct conflict in the southern states.  We were still part of the war,  the war effort,  sending supplies to the troops,  helping other countries with food and supplies... everyone in one way or another was part of the war effort.  And the effort was massive.  Some time ago I shared how a friends Grandmother began to build up a supply of items that were in grave shortages in WW1.   She figured should there be another way these items would help her family.  She was one smart woman and her stockpile made an absolute world of difference to her whole family through the years of the next war.  And the items were mostly not expensive to accumulate,  had no expiry dates, did not deteriorate... and would have been used by the family anyway if no war eventuated!   But war was on the horizon.   When do you see the writing on the wall, what has to happen before you decide well maybe now is a wise time to get ahead?   

There were things that were not rationed,  just scarce.   Herbs and spices were scarce since a lot of normal shipping routes were no longer.   So if you had some in your supplies I guess you rationed them!  Many things would become scarce in any larger conflict, it is mind boggling to think we depend (in Australia) largely on China even for such vital things as antibiotics.

So... if you knew rationing was coming what would you do?   You already know my answer.

But, apart from war,  rations are called for at other times,  even given other names.   We might say we are cutting back,  limiting something or reducing the number or cost of Christmas presents this year.  In a time of job loss or illness a family might begin to seriously cut back on everything.   This is essentially rationing.   A lot of people now struggling with power bills, fuel prices, mortgage increases and the cost of food are essentially, to some extent,  rationing.   As fuel goes up more of us are rationing in the form of less trips in the car,  less trips to town.   Driving somewhere in order to save a few cents, well it doesn't make any sense! 

I mentioned recently that Vicky and I are working on a list to publish in the instance that we found "a storm" is upon us and what to do in the last remaining time.   On that list is to begin to ration IMMEDIATELY.   Measure each serve of food so there is no waste at all.  Use half the amount of detergents,  dish washing, shampoo, laundry power...   half the toothpaste etc.   We usually can make things go a lot further than we do.  

Ideally, we have already taken an inventory and know exactly what areas need building up most urgently. 

And ideally we have been working on our pantry and preparedness since I have been flogging this poor dead horse for so long.   

My next posts are going to be on the subjects of how to quietly introduce rationing into your house without anyone really noticing followed by how to implement serious and urgent rationing and get every one on board.   For whatever reason we need to decrease our consumption they are good skills to have.

What do you know about rationing that was in place in your country?  How did people get by?   I know that here everyone used every bit of garden possible for fruit trees and vegetables, chickens etc.  Some families formed co ops where one kept pigs and all families helped feed them.  Then the meat was shared. Lots of cooperation with families and neighbours!   The best indicator of the future is to take a good look at what happened last time.   Are we in a war?  I don't know.  We have sent troops.  Will the history books call now WW3?   I don't know.  But like my friends Grandmother I see now as a very good opportunity to be prepared just in case. xxx