Every family was different in the 1930s, but there were some things that many of them had
in common. What was day to day life like in the 1930s? What did families do?
A typical family during the Great Depression would have consisted of a father, mother,
and several children. The average day would commence with the father of the family leaving
for work. That is, of course, if he was lucky enough to still be employed. Shortly after
he had left, the children would leave for school.
Most children walked to school or rode the school bus.
The mother of the family usually did laundry on Monday mornings. Some families had new,
labor-saving washing machines, but washing clothes by hand was still common. The clothes
were hung out to dry on a clothes line. Tuesday was ironing day. Some families had electric
irons, but many women still used a heavy, black flat-iron that was heated on the stove.
The most common form of entertainment was the radio. Radio programs would entertain
families throughout the day with various kinds of programming. During the day, soap operas
would interest mothers while they worked in the home. After school, action and adventure
programs for kids were common. In the evening, programs that the entire family might enjoy
would take over the airwaves. If the family didn't want to listen to the
radio, they might choose to play a board game, which were becoming popular in the '30s. Sorry!
was released by Parker Brothers in 1934 and still remains popular today. By far, the most
successful board game was Monopoly. This game gave people the chance to buy and sell property
with money they could only dream of having. On Saturday evening, it was common for a family
to go shopping, if they had the money to do so. There were a variety of stores downtown,
from shoe stores, to clothing, sporting goods, and music shops.
Most families didn't have a lot of money to spend at these stores. The average take home
pay was about $17 a week. Some made as little as $7 a week. Doctors made about $60 a week.
The prices of products reflected the economic conditions. A men's shirt cost about $1. A
washing machine could be purchased for about $33. A winter coat might cost anywhere from
$18 to $28. A milkshake might cost a dime, and a bag of roasted peanuts could be purchased
for a penny. Since many families had so little money, certain
things that were once commonplace became luxuries. For example, going to the barber was no longer
an option for many families. Haircuts at home became standard practice. Families also stopped
going to the dentist for regular check-ups, and doctor visits were saved for very serious
conditions. Some women even started giving birth at home in an effort to save money.
Unfortunately, not every family could afford to go shopping or purchase new clothes. Some
families were forced to patch shoes with rubber from worn out tires. Even families that had
once been affluent began dressing their children in hand-me-downs.
The Great Depression made life extremely difficult for many people. Unemployment rates reached
unbelievable numbers, with as much as 25% of the population unable to find work. This
meant that an estimated 13-15 million Americans did not have a job.
Those looking for work were desperate. A business would advertise for six positions that needed
to be filled and more than 15,000 applicants would apply. Some of those who couldn't find
work began riding the rails. Known as hobos, they illegally boarded boxcars on trains,
hoping to find work in the next town. Those who were fortunate enough to keep their
job saw their wages slashed by as much as 60%. A worker who had once made $1 an hour
would be reduced to 40 cents and be happy to have it. All across the nation, fathers
who had once held important positions in companies were now searching dumpsters for their family's
next meal. Food was scarce for many. Cabbage soup became
a common meal. Meat and vegetables could no longer be afforded. Some families even resorted
to taking turns eating. Some members of the family would eat on Mondays, Wednesday, and
Fridays, while others ate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays (with perhaps the entire family
eating together on Sunday). In order to cut heating costs, families resigned
to heating only one room of their house. They used many different heating sources, from
wood, to coal that they had found, or even corncobs.
In an effort to save money, many families shared homes. Some younger children were sent
away to live with relatives in a different part of the country. In other cases, kids
as young as 13 were told to leave home and go find work.
Obviously, every family was different, and each had its own set of circumstances. However,
each family did everything it could to make it through one of the most difficult times
in American history.