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Home › Money

Cynthia McFadden | 10/08/2008 12:00 am

Cynthia McFadden's 'Just-in-Case' Food Supply

By Cynthia McFadden RSS
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In response to: Do your families have any stories of surviving the Great Depression and, if so, how did they influence you?
Cynthia McFadden

My parents both lived through the Depression. While I wasn’t born until the late ’50s, that legacy was alive and well in our house in Auburn, ME. As a child I thought "The Depression" was located in our basement. It was certainly dark and "depressing" down there and my parents kept enough canned goods in that dank place to permit months of chowing down on creamed corn and green beans. I confess to thinking that not eating might be a better option, although those thoughts were fueled by a full belly. It was the "just in case" food supply, also fueled by a vibrant "duck and cover" arms race. 

My parents, I realize, talked about the Depression a lot. My father’s father owned a tiny corner grocery store, "McFadden’s Market," in those days and my father was proud that his father, Charlie McFadden, was well-known for "trading" with his neighbors. Shoes for food. Sweaters for food. Milk for meat. That kind of thing. He also extended credit — lots and lots of credit — to his neighbors who needed to feed their families. Needless to say, grandfather was never paid back for most of what he lent and ultimately lost the store. I wonder if that is part of the reason my father refused to borrow money. His philosophy was, "If I can’t afford to pay cash, I can’t afford to buy it." He never owned a credit card until the 1980s when a car-rental company refused to rent him a car without one. I don’t think he ever used it but that once.

Read more about: Business, Career, Culture, Depression, Economy, Family, Friendship, Great Depression, Lifestyle, Meltdown, Money, Parenting, Shopping, U.S.

3 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Sandbee (FB) 54
My husband was born into a very large family in 1932 so he understands the depression way of thinking. I had a hard time making him understand that having one credit card was almost required in todays world until he too flew back to visit his children and couldn’t rent a car. Now he has one, but if anything gets charged, it is paid off immediately.
By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 10/08/2008 8:50 am
Latasha Hoard
Obviously I have seen how his example has worked in your life. I do remember seeing your fridge. Man! It was filled to the rim! I was shocked to hear it was the “other” fridge. Then you even named it. That was cool.
By Latasha Hoard on 10/12/2008 9:44 pm
Karen Fiala
I am a futurist and my husband is a retired economist. Together we both predicted this economic downturn…. and if we’re right, there will only be a short reprieve before it slides again. The trick to surviving what is coming, means you must be prepared. The concept of storing food is fine but you must mark the food with the date you bought it. You can also start growing your own food - either in your garden, a community garden (ask permission first) or in pots if you only live in an apartment. Use non-hybrid seeds.Regardless of whether the recession/depression hits, you will always have a supply of organic vegetables this way and if you have surplus, you can barter them for other things. Many communities are starting local economies and local currencies (See www.ithacahours.com) or LET barter systems. This way you can use your talents or sell your goods and be paid - in full or part payment - in ‘local’ money which you can then use to purchase other items. Those who invest in some alternate energy may not have such high bills to pay to the utility companies. Did you know you can buy a machine which you can attach to a bicycle or exercise bike and as you cycle, you are making power? Wow! That’s innovative and you’ll get thin. So, if you can’t afford those high gym fees plus the cost of electricity - you can solve both problems simultaneously. There are many truly fantastic ideas which we can use to be prepared before the next wave of economic uncertainty hits. I’d love to tell everyone more because I think the more prepared we women are, the more likely it is that our families will survive what is to come. This is the knowledge I really want to share with everyone. My life’s work it to help others to find new answers and practical solutions so they can survive and thrive.
By Karen Fiala on 10/31/2008 9:51 pm