Although the 1940s may feel like so long ago it could be the 1640s, we are experiencing a lot of the same difficulties that our elderly relatives did 60 years ago.

During the Second World War people in Britain needed to save energy, reduce waste and grow their own food. Sound familiar? Although in the 1940s the war was the reason for having to make savings, in 2011 we need to take similar steps for different reasons.

Due to climate change and because oil and coal, which we use for power and heat, are fossil fuels and will run out one day, we need to reduce the amount of energy we use. To save energy heating water, hotels in the 1940s posted signs saying: “As part of your personal share in the Battle for Fuel you are asked NOT to exceed five inches (13cm) of water in this bath.” We all need to reduce the amount of water and energy we use, so do you fancy bathing in 13cm of hot water?!

Wasting food was frowned upon during the war and now Government waste agency WRAP tell us that we throw away one third of the food we buy – should we be as strict as our great-grandparents were about food waste?

It’s not all about scrimping and saving though. Just as there was the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign during the war, now lots of people love to grow fruit and vegetables in their back gardens and in pots on their balconies.

What do you think? Should we take some tips from our great-grandparents or would that be making our lives unnecessarily hard?

Vote on our poll at www.firstnews.co.uk/polls to tell us what YOU think!