Thriftlady's wartime experiment

mardatha

K, I dont even know what the ration was. I just like a lot of butter :D:D

monnagran

Justamum wrote: »

They were far more active then because children played out all the time, people had to walk to places rather than use a car, there was far more physical work etc. My point was that I couldn't understand why butter had to be 'extended' to save it when there was plenty of fat in the ration. Sugar was the same, the weekly ration is far more than I would use these days!

I think that the point is, there was so little of anything. So little meat that it had to be padded out with dumplings, pastry, yorkshire pudding etc. all requiring fat. If you wanted biscuits, cake, pies, crumbles and any kind of pudding, you needed fat to make them.
The same with sugar. None of the adults in our family ever took sugar in their tea - which was eked out carefully. But to make cakes, puddings, stewed fruit, jam and drinks for children, (no bottles of squash or other drinks),and cocoa all required some sort of sweetening. In our house sugar was hoarded jealously for jam making, fruit preserving and for special birthday treats for the children. No popping out to get jelly crystals unless you were very lucky, and certainly no icing or butter cream on cakes - even for special occasions. No icecream or lollies.
My mother was thrifty to the point of obsession, but she had to be. For tea we were allowed either butter (or extender!) on our bread, or jam or paste but never both. We were fed adequately but boringly, although Mum did her best by growing and drying various herbs to give flavour to meals. We were fortunate that Mum kept chicken and grew all our own fruit and vegetables.
This was not for a week or a month but for years and years, in fact it was much worse AFTER the war when even bread was rationed.
I promise you, there was no butter mountain in our house.

bluebag

Justamum wrote: »

I mentioned earlier in the thread that I had intended to try living on rations for a while. When I measured out the fat allowance I was shocked at how much there was! I wouldn't have thought there was any need to stretch it out!

LOL, my mum says she never saw any of it because her mother sold it on the black market to buy more food. She could buy enough vegetables, potatoes and coal to feed her family of 26 kids ( yes you did read that right) for a week with the butter she sold.

Justamum

bluebag wrote: »

LOL, my mum says she never saw any of it because her mother sold it on the black market to buy more food. She could buy enough vegetables, potatoes and coal to feed her family of 26 kids ( yes you did read that right) for a week with the butter she sold.

26! :eek::eek:

Were there any multiple births in there. Please tell me they weren't from 26 single births? My bladder isn't what it was after 3. I'd hate to think what it would be after 26

bluebag

Justamum wrote: »

26! :eek::eek:

Were there any multiple births in there. Please tell me they weren't from 26 single births? My bladder isn't what it was after 3. I'd hate to think what it would be after 26

Yes two triplets and three twins, all born live, but quite sad really as a lot died in childhood, although 15 made it to retirement.

She says a lot of large families in those days, more than 10 was very common. They used to sleep 5 to a bed, it was like Dickens and not that long ago as my mum is nearly 80.

tumptyteapot

Oh I wish I'd found this thread at the start of the week - I'm on day 6 of a week on WW2 rations with my 8 year old - blogging it here - http://www.whataworld.co.uk/category/ww2-rations-week/
It's gone pretty well, we ate out yesterday which helped. I'm finding that there is far too much sugar and too little butter!

Blackpool_Saver

fascinating, good luck

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Hope you dont mind but I thought I would bump this brilliant thread started by thriftylady ...

We are all panicking well I am and I know a few others are by the response on the thread I starting about reaching breaking point.

In the past this thread, REALLY brought home to me about what panicking means, and realising even thought its tough now... how our families had to survive in the past.. on rations, make do and mend growing/rearing our own etc.

Even if bumping this thread will help/inspire some of the newbies and oldies ( me included) it will be worth it...

Right off to make a brew, settle down while everyone are still in their pits ( peace and quiet) and read the thread again:T

tumptyteapot

I blogged our week here -http://www.whataworld.co.uk/category/ww2-rations-week/
It wasn't that difficult at all, my son enjoyed it and still says that it's nice to be able to put a weeks ration of butter on his toast in the morning now.

[Deleted User]

Lovely to find this old friend again. Everything on here is so relevant to the world today, it is really worth reading again. Thanks for the re-introduction CTC - Cheers Lyn.