Have We Forgotten?

As I stated before, I have several "Cash 4 Gold" stores. Nearly every week, a variety of old coins, currency and other antiquities make their way my direction.

Last week, a man brought in a hand full of early 20th century coins along with this War Ration Book.


It contains Ration Stamps that were used to purchase produce and other goods that the American Government rationed during World War II.

This particular Ration Book belonged to a 14 year old male and was issued in 1943.

I find it extremely hard to even fathom a world where I can only purchase one loaf of bread, one gallon of milk, etc. We have been raised in a world where this seems completely outlandish.

However, what really struck me was written on the back.


Here, on the back, they list out the rules...

What really made me stop and think though is what you see on the bottom in quotes and italics...


"If you don't need it, DON'T BUY IT."

WOW!! I thought. What a concept. Our culture today is the COMPLETE opposite.

"If you want it, BUY IT."

Could this be a cause of our current economic situation? We are bombarded with consumerism and the ability to spend beyond what we earn.

I often feel nostalgic when I hold these old items but in this particular case it made me feel sad. What have we become?

I want a nice car...
I want a nice house...
I want Modern Warfare Black Ops..
I want Halo Reach...
I want, I want, I want...

I'm not trying to be the Grinch here. I just think that many of us have lost track of what's important.

I today, can not think of ONE thing that I NEED.

I know that many people DO need things and I believe that is where my attention should go. Not towards my selfish wants.

Anyways, I may have rambled a bit here but I just wanted to remind everyone that it was only about 2 generations ago that WANTS were a luxury...

Lets try and apply the "If you don't need it, DONT BUY IT" mentality to our lives...