WWII Ration Books And Stamps

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Rationing, instituted in the spring of 1942, was a system that provided everyone with the same amount of scarce goods. The system was designed to keep prices low and to make sure people had what they needed. Each member of the family was issued ration books, and it was the challenge of the homemaker to pool the stamps and plan the family's meals within the set limits. Lost ration books was a major headache because you couldn't buy the rationed items without the stamps. Grocers and other business people would post what your ration could buy that week. It was up to you to decide how to spend your stamps. Ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during World War II. Books were about the size of a postcard. Each one was filled with ration stamps. Ration stamps themselves were very small. You had to have ration stamps to buy things at the store. It still cost money, but you couldn't even buy it unless you had stamps.