Today we begin our one year journey into 1943. We have strict rationing. We have 64 red stamps and 48 blue stamps to last one month. We have one coffee stamp for 1 lb of coffee for 5 weeks, 3 gallons of gas for one week at a time, we have one sugar stamp for 1 pound of sugar (4 ounces per week), one shoe stamp for entire year. These rations are for one person. The stamps count as points.
We have packed away all items that were not in homes in 1943. We have no internet, no television in our home. We have simple soap, no shampoo, no hair dryer. And other things....
The numbers to the left of the item is how many points that you must have in stamps then the money to purchase the item.
Following along the week I am posting this, July 1st, we are on row P Red Stamps which are pictured below. Notice the P 8, P 5, P 2 and P 1. Those are our stamp points for this week to be used to purchase butter, cheese, meats, oils etc. Red stamps are normally released one row at a time, per week and then overlap throughout the month. Example N one week, the next week will be N and P and the next week will be N, P and Q etc. Then they all expire at the end of the month.
Each stamp has a point value. If you need to purchase something that is 12 points you must use stamps to total that amount. Remember this has to last a month! Blue stamps pictured above are for Processed goods such as Canned vegetables, Canned fruits, fruit juices, dried soups and frozen vegetables and other goods.
Blue stamps are released three rows at a time for one month. There are months where they overlap.
The good news is fresh fruits and vegetables were not rationed. looks like we will be eating vegetables. BUT there were shortages of many food items and you ate mostly seasonal vegetables and fruits in 1943. :(
I am posting assorted ads that I cut out from the 1943 newspapers.
Soap was much different and I will post another article about soap.
And something to look forward to after working hard all week long. Going to the picture show on a Friday or Saturday night!
See my other articles about living like WW2, 1943 and pop on over and visit Catherine's blog because she and her husband are doing this too Catherine is the one that brought up the conversation about living on rations of WW2 and now here we are. http://elsiesgranddaughter.blogspot.com
