The big squeeze I remember is in the early 1970's when decimalisation came In then we joined the Common Market. My mother still complains bitterly about it even now.
Prices rose steeply in a matter of months and didn't go back down.
There are old ways of making ends meet, it's not pleasant or easy but it is possible.
We walked everywhere, I remember my mum having to buy new solid rubber tyres for the pram as they had worn down to the metal!
We heated one room during the day and none at night. Wore layers to keep warm. In the morning children were wrapped in a blanket and carried down to the 'warm' room to get dressed. Our house was freezing apart from that one room.
No snacking because in the 1970's there were no snacks,
Porridge for breakfast. A home made sandwich for lunch with a flask of tea to warm you up. Supper was vegetable rich, a simple but filling one.
The oven was on strictly only once a week and every inch was utilised. Meals were then chilled and reheated on the gas hob as the cheapest fuel option. Still today a favourite pudding is stale cupcake with a spoonful of golden syrup and some hot custard poured over.
We foraged for food, field mushroom (we knew what we were doing) berries and nettles. Nettles are delicious.
We dug up our small garden to grow vegetables and pickled and canned and made chutney.
We had a hot bath once a week on Sundays. The water was shared children first. We strip washed with water from a kettle every day in between so we were always clean.
Washing machine went on once a week and was a twin tub so the hot water was reused.
Clothes in those days were homemade as it was the cheapest way back then, and made with growing room so things were taken in and up for the next wearer. Jumpers were unpicked and good wool re knitted to form new jumpers.
Frugal times but happy times.
People today mostly have never had to live like this. But I know it's possible from experience.
That was an era of choosing heating or eating and I fear we will be seeing similar to the 1970's again now.
It had settled by the 1980's. I remember having daily showers and heating by then and even the odd take-a-way.
I had a wood burner stove fitted last year so I can forage for firewood (seasoned for the coming years) as we live in a wood it makes sense. I bought a large metal pot for the top so I can have water simmering for evening hot drinks.
But I'm not looking forward to helping teenagers adjust to this type of living. Everything is electronic and plugged in now. And as PP have said, eating out is normal to the youth now. They think nothing of grabbing a take a way from a fast food chain for lunch.
I was raised frugally and still live frugally. I don't think it ever leaves you. I can't recall the last time I bought full price or new clothes for myself.
I've signed up as a volunteer to help-out with young families who are struggling. A lot of people won't know how to make this work because they have never had to.