Thrift Chic has its Day

Well, it's official. Scraping by is now a popular type of "thrift chic". In today's issue of the Globe and Mail, columnist Elizabeth Renzetti reports, "It's easy to see why wartime thrift is enjoying such a vogue: It's virtuous, it's green, and you're going to lose weight eating soup from parsnips that you pulled from your victory garden." The stories of the Great Depression home economies are wildly inspiring. While the hardships of not having enough are always easier to talk about than to live through, and the tough road behind is always remembered more fondly than it usually plays out; remember that whatever money issues you're facing today will likely not always be there -- the economy will improve, kids will grow up, and you will have your turn at feeling flush. In the meantime, read a little Helen Forrester or pick up Renzetti's recommended "Eating for Victory: Healthy Home Front Cooking on War Rations".