What We Didn’t Have: Lessons From a Simple Upbringing in the 1970s

From Instant Coffee to Homemade Alternatives

I’m from rural Kansas, raised by parents deeply influenced by the Great Depression. Their experiences shaped the way I grew up, and we often did without many things that are considered staples today.

Take coffee, for example. I didn’t start drinking it until my mid-50s! Growing up, my mom was very strict about it. She was adamant that we were not allowed to have coffee or tea because, in her mind, it stunted growth.

It wasn’t until I was older that I learned how much I missed out on! My brothers all grew to be over six feet tall, while I’m 5’10". Maybe there was something to it after all!

Postum: The Childhood Drink I Never Knew About

My mom and her siblings grew up drinking something called Postum. Ever heard of it? It’s made from wheat germ, molasses, and roasted wheat.

My grandpa would take his wheat to a nearby mill to have it ground, and this mixture was brewed like coffee, minus the caffeine. Post Cereal Co. actually made Postum until 2007 when they discontinued it, but another company has since brought it back, and you can still buy it on Amazon today.

My 83-year-old aunt recently told me her kids found some Postum for her, and it brought back such sweet memories for her. For them, Postum was a healthier alternative to coffee, and they drank it with hot milk, almost like a hot chocolate.

Smaller Portions, Simpler Meals

The dishes I grew up with were modest, to say the least. When my mom made pudding, we were served small 4-ounce portions in little dishes.

Grocery Shopping: Then vs. Now

Shopping in the 70s was a completely different experience. The only crackers we had were Saltines and oyster crackers. Today, we’re overwhelmed with choices—different shapes, flavors, and textures in every aisle. Back then, we made do with what was available, and it was enough.

We didn’t have pre-packaged snacks or Lunchables. Lunch was packed from the kitchen using containers, and we made our food from scratch.

There were no boxed scalloped potatoes or macaroni and cheese in our home. My mom made everything fresh, and to this day, I can’t bring myself to enjoy the taste of boxed scalloped potatoes. They just don’t compare to the real thing.

The Set Menu of My Childhood

In our home, we had a set menu, and every day of the week, we ate the same foods. Sundays were always fried chicken and scalloped potatoes, and it was something we all looked forward to. There wasn’t any guessing about what was for dinner—it was predictable, simple, and satisfying. It’s a routine I still cherish today.

DIY Repairs and Living Simply

Growing up, the only repairman we ever had come to our house was to fix the picture tube in our television, and that only happened twice. Everything else was handled by my dad. He fixed things himself, from plumbing to carpentry. Nowadays, most people wouldn’t even think of fixing their own appliances, but that’s how we lived.

When it came to clothes, I didn’t get new school outfits until I was old enough to babysit and save my own money. Back-to-school shopping wasn’t a big deal in my house.

In fact, it wasn’t until Montgomery Ward introduced it in 1944 and Sears popularized it in the 60s that it became a billion-dollar industry. It’s wild to think that in 2023, Americans spent $42.3 billion on back-to-school shopping for K-12 and $36.4 billion for college students.

Did I Go Without? Not Really

Looking back, I never felt like I went without. We had everything we needed—clothes, food, shelter, running water, and heat in the winter. Sure, we didn’t have air conditioning, but we had box fans, and we managed just fine.

Growing up, my parents didn’t have electricity or running water in their homes, but they made do, and so did we. We learned to cope with the heat in the summer, just like we learned to live with less.

Are We Missing Something Today?

Today, many families take their kids through Starbucks for their own little coffee drinks, and kids are used to getting things that would’ve seemed luxurious when I was growing up.

But is that because we actually lacked anything, or is it because social media and modern marketing have changed what we view as “necessary”?

Back in the day, it was common to take shoes to the cobbler for new soles instead of buying a new pair. My husband recently had the soles of his work boots replaced, and they’re as good as new. It cost just $16, a fraction of the price of new boots. There’s still value in those old ways, but we have to remember them to put them into practice today.