Chimney Sweep

We Can Be taught a Lot About Saving Cash From Victorian England

This article exists as part of HuffPost Canada’s online archive, which has been closed in 2021.

A horse-drawn carriage rolls down the street, a chimney sweep makes his way to work, and a chamber pot is emptied from a window on the second floor. This is the image we have of the Victorian era that got its name from the woman we celebrate every May, Queen Victoria.

The people of the Victorian era, including the Queen herself, lived lives of remarkable thrift and ingenuity. They were satisfied with what they had and worked hard to get it. Consolidated Credit looked at the way the people of England lived 150-200 years ago and found some things that we could learn.

Public transportation – Victorian England and public transport go together like tea and flatbread. That period marked the rise of such transportation options as horse trams, steam trains, and even the creation of a real subway – which was to become the subway. In modern times, however, we have a love affair with our vehicles. Most people avoid public transport for their own car. This not only harms the environment, it also costs more. A quick way to eliminate a huge expense in your budget is to give up the car and travel with the crowds.

Hobbies – The 19th century English didn’t need a plane ticket to the Caribbean to enjoy their lives. Rather, they used their free time to pursue hobbies that benefited both their mind and body, but cost little. Things like riding a bike, playing cricket, and reading books became popular during this period.

Can you live without a smartphone, plasma TV and computer? People in the Victorian era got none of it and could still enjoy themselves. So how about going to a park to play soccer with friends? It will make your body healthier, cost nothing, and even save you money since you don’t need a gym membership! If this doesn’t suit you, try a hobby like woodworking so you can make your own furniture instead of buying it. Save money now!

Grow it yourself – Many Victorians took advantage of the space they had to grow vegetables. This was an easy, inexpensive way to get nutritious food and save money. That helped to keep the stomach full and certainly to avoid having to embarrassingly ask the neighbors for a few potatoes because they forgot to go to the supermarket before cooking a stew.

Who spends more time in your garden – you or your dog? We have all that extra space that basically just became nothing more than Fido’s bathroom. Little did they know he was fertilizing the soil all the time so you can grow your own vegetable garden. Carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and more can be grown with just a few seeds. Give it a try and watch your grocery bills go down. And there is nothing like a salad made with home-grown ingredients.

Top tips for saving money

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