During the 1930s, the Great Depression forced American families to completely change how they lived. Because finding a job was so difficult, people had to learn to adapt to a way of life they could never have imagined before.

Many children had to quit school to help their parents find jobs and look for work to bring in extra money. Families learned how to make every single dollar last because they never knew when or if they would get more. Most people stopped driving. They either lost their cars or simply could not afford gas.

Homes did not have air conditioning, kitchens lacked running water (requiring a pump from an outdoor well), and schools did not have cafeterias. If you were lucky enough to have a home, you had to use kerosene lamps. If a family could not afford kerosene, they had to go without light at night.

Most young children grew up not realizing they were poor because everyone around them was in poverty too. During this time, if a family made $700.00 a year, they were considered to be doing very well!

Prices look very low today, but remember that most people had very little money or no job at all! Below is a look at what everyday items typically cost during the Great Depression compared to a standard good income of $700 a year: