Our grandparents had a magic touch with keeping house but little did we know, it wasn’t magic. They just had some good old-fashioned know-how! Unfortunately, many of us have forgotten these skills and it’s time we brought them back. So, let’s look at 12 essential tips that our grandparents knew that we could all learn from.
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Budgeting and Expense Tracking
In those days, people didn’t rely on apps to manage their money. Instead, they kept track of every cent manually and it really helped them understand where their money was going. Try setting up a simple budgeting system using an app or even a paper ledger because tracking what comes in & what goes out is the first step in taking control of your finances—just like Grandma and Grandpa did.
Meal Planning and Cooking from Scratch
Meal planning is one of the best ways to manage your money and no one knew it better than our grandparents. They used to plan their meals each week & cook from scratch, which also meant they’d waste very little. You can start by planning your meals for the week before you shop then cooking them with whole, basic ingredients. Better yet, you’ll also avoid those unpronounceable additives in pre-packaged foods!
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Inventory and Stocking Pantry
Speaking of food, our grandparents were proud of having a well-stocked pantry because it was the backbone of all their cooking. They kept basics like flour & sugar on hand, buying in bulk when things were on sale and avoiding emergency grocery runs. Having a full pantry also made meal planning easier—a win-win!
Resourceful Reuse and Repurposing
Long before recycling bins, repurposing was the way to go. Old jars became new storage solutions and worn-out clothes turned into quilts or rags—it’s really not as difficult as it sounds. Take a second look at what you’re about to throw out and you might discover a new use for it. You can keep your home organized without the extra cost.
Bartering and Trading
Our grandparents often swapped goods or services with neighbors instead of shopping. For example, they might have a surplus of tomatoes in their garden and their neighbor might’ve been great at fixing things—it’s a match made in heaven! If that wasn’t enough, trading can create stronger community ties and get you both what you need for free.
Hand-Washing and Caring for Fabrics
Our grandparents knew how to take care of their clothes and they were strong supporters of hand-washing garments. It’s a great way to clean anything that’s easily damaged. And let’s not forget that hand-washing can also be pretty relaxing, allowing you to take care of the things you love so that they last as long as possible.
DIY Decorating
Instead of buying new, our grandparents often made their homes look nice with what they had, such as crafting their own curtains or reupholstering a chair. Whatever you decide, you can get creative and make your space your own. It doesn’t have to cost much at all—just fix up some of the stuff you already have.
Making Homemade Cleaning Rags
Buying rolls of paper towels was a foreign concept to our grandparents as they would repurpose old clothes & linens into cleaning rags. You can do the same with torn T-shirts or towels past their prime! Just cut them down to size and you’ll have reusable cloths for all sorts of cleaning. No more throwing money away on single-use paper products!
Preserving Seeds for Gardening
If your grandparents were gardeners, they probably saved seeds from their best plants to use the following year. So why not try it yourself? You just need to harvest your veggies and dry the seeds on a paper towel, then store them in a cool spot and plant them next season. Doing so means you’ll get to keep your garden going for absolutely free.
Drying Herbs for Long-Term Use
Speaking of gardening, drying herbs was more than a simple hobby for our grandparents—it guaranteed them flavorful cooking all year long. If you’ve got a garden or pick up fresh herbs at the store, try drying them at home. You just need to tie them in small bunches and hang them upside down. It makes your meals taste a lot fresher!
Writing Down Family Recipes
Our grandparents didn’t always cook with written recipes but when they did, they passed them down. It’s well worth trying. Simply keep a notebook of family favorites, along with any tweaks you’ve made over the years and you’re finished. You’ll be able to honor tradition while making sure any future generations can whip up those dishes you grew up loving.
Wrapping Gifts Creatively at Home
Our grandparents often reused newspapers and fabric scraps (sometimes even brown paper bags) to wrap presents. They were firm believers in “waste not, want not”—you can do the same! Just get creative with what you have at home by adding a ribbon or even a hand-drawn decoration. Once you’re finished, everyone will appreciate how personal each gift is.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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