What was it like to live with food and gas rationing during World War II?
Each town or city had rationing boards who evaluated family needs [farmers got more gas for their tractors, doctors had unlimited gas privileges, etc.] and issued books of ration coupons. One book for gas, one for sugar, one for meat and cheese, and one for canned/tinned fruits. Later in the war, there were also coupons required for shoes. The number of stamps allotted in each category was decided on the basis of how many people in your family. Each driver was issued a stick-on stamp to place on the windshield of your car…as I recall, they had either an A or a B or a C on them. Each category meant you could only take so many gallons per month on your coupons. My dad had an ‘A’ sticker on his car, which was probably the lowest – he was a civil engineer who worked out of his office at home and thus didn’t need to drive to work. Sugar rationing was perhaps the most unpopular – and swapping coupons around [taking sugar coupons in exchange for meat coupons, etc.] was discouraged and deeme
