How It All Started

Growing Up with Great Depression-Era Parents: How It Shaped a Generation

Most of the time, they are referred to as Baby Boomers or simply Boomers, but sometimes they’re called the Vietnam Generation or even the Me Generation. No matter what they’re called, these unique people have lived through the entirety of the Cold War, the beginning of cable television, Reaganomics, a war in the Middle East, the tech boom, 9/11, another war in the Middle East, the Great Recession, and much more. All of these events have shaped the way they live their lives to this day; however, one thing that most people from the era have in common started with their parents. Their parents lived through the Great Depression and World War 2 and those experiences shaped not only their own worldviews but also the way they raised their children. This generation, often called the Silent Generation (born between 1928 and 1945), grew up in homes where frugality, resilience, and resourcefulness weren’t just values—they were survival skills.

Lessons in Frugality

For many Depression-era parents, waste was unthinkable. They saved everything—rubber bands, glass jars, tin foil—because you never knew when you might need it. This mindset carried over to their children, who often grew up in homes where:

• Leftovers were never thrown away but repurposed into new meals.

• Clothes were mended rather than replaced.

• Household items were repaired instead of discarded.

• Coupons and discounts were essential shopping tools.

Children of these great people are, not surprisingly, cautious about spending, preferring to get the most value out of every dollar. Likewise, they are very hesitant to let go of things and have vast collections of household items that are kept in their homes. Having all of this stuff was once considered essential has morphed into clutter. This clutter still has its uses, but can be a burden to these people and their loved ones as they age.

It is important to know the history of why seniors have collected so much to understand the challenges that many go through as they attempt to downsize their living circumstances. It’s not that having this array of stuff is bad, but it can be a hindrance to people and their loved ones as they move into different stages in their lives.