Sir Winston Churchill famously urged the UK to both eat and dig for victory to help cope with the shortages during the Second World War. Now it would seem austerity is very much back in vogue to combat the global recession.

Sir Winston Churchill famously urged the UK to both eat and dig for victory to help cope with the shortages brought on by the war against the Nazis.

Now it would seem Second World War austerity is very much back in vogue to combat a newer but equally unforgiving enemy - the global recession.

According to new research, seven out of 10 people from the older generation are turning to 1940s-style thriftiness to make their money go further during the downturn and proving what many have always believed: that wartime Britons were far greener and more ethical than their modern counterparts.

A survey by the leading charities Age Concern and Help the Aged found that those over 50 are using "make do and mend" habits developed in times of rationing to stretch their resources.

The research comes as it emerged that more than half of the population were struggling to make ends meet on their current incomes, with around 58% of people claiming they did not currently have enough money to meet their household bills comfortably.

The average person claimed they would need a 17% rise in their income in order to stay on top of their regular outgoings, while one in 12 people claimed they would need a 50% pay rise, according to financial services firm MetLife UK.

Only 37% of those questioned said they were currently able to easily manage all of their bills.

Of the over-50s questioned about how they were coping with the recession, some 70% said they were using trusted money-saving strategies learnt in past times or from their parents.

Just over half, 54%, bought food at reduced prices, while half sewed or mended their own belongings and those of others. Over a quarter (29%) grew their own vegetables. Still more, 91%, said they budgeted carefully and spent within their means, while 87% cooked from scratch rather than buying prepared meals.

Nine out of 10 older people felt their mentality could help younger generations weather today's recession, while more than four in five of those aged 18 to 24 agreed they could benefit from skills honed in harsher times.

However, the older generation should not be forced into penny-pinching by straightened circumstances, charity bosses warned.

Michelle Mitchell, charity director of Help the Aged and Age Concern, said: "The set of thrifty skills many older people can tap into represents an invaluable resource in times of recession.

"However, pensioners in 21st-century Britain shouldn't end up in a situation where they are forced to return to a mindset born out of the hardship of the war period. With all their thriftiness, many older people simply have no slack left in their budget to tighten their belts any further as they battle against high food and fuel prices and shrinking income from savings."

She argued that the government should tackle poverty among old people by speeding up the implementation of a system for the automatic payment of means-tested benefits.

More than 2,000 people were interviewed for the survey, carried out at the end of last month.

Among them was Tina Watkin, 65, from Bradford, who has lived on pension credit since retiring as a market researcher.

She claims to belong to the generation that refuses to waste anything, from water to uneaten takeaways.

Ms Watkin said: "I have just started growing my own vegetables, using home-made compost from vegetable peelings, shredded newspaper and coffee grounds.

"I usually cook at home but if I buy myself a Chinese take-away as a rare treat, I will eat half and freeze the other half.

"Washing clothes is kept to a minimum and I never use half loads in the washing machine. When I've finished washing up, I use the dishwater to wash the car or wheelie bins and sometimes to water the flowers."

Ms Watkin, who cuts her own hair rather than visit the hairdressers, added: "I always mend clothes for my grand-daughter, with new zips or Velcro. It's a dying art, but I have taught my daughter to knit - there is real pride in wearing something that took three weeks to knit."

Famous campaigns revisited

Dig for Victory: A campaign launched by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1940 to help combat food shortage in Britain by promoting the planting of allotments in gardens and on public land. Translated for 2009 this means try and eat locally produced, seasonal fruit and vegetables or grow your own in a patch of garden or a window box.

Make do and Mend: Clothes rationing began in June 1941 because there was a major shortage of cloth reaching Britain and much of that was needed for military uniforms, tents and parachutes. Today, people are encouraged to try making the most of their existing wardrobe by customising, adapting or repairing clothes.

Walk Short Distances: The Ministry of War Transport and Ministry of Labour and National Service encouraged people to travel shorter distances by foot rather than using public transport. Updated for today this means walking or cycling to work to save on season ticket and fuel costs.

Save Fuel for Battle: The Fuel Saving Scheme was launched in 1942 and continued until the end of the war. Small changes such as boiling less water, turning the thermostat down by one degree or ensuring the home is fully insulated can lead up to savings of around £340 per year.

Save Kitchen Scraps to Feed the Pigs: In 1940 an anti-waste campaign was introduced that encouraged people not to throw away anything that could be consumed. Current advice states that over 30% of an average household bin can be composted at home.

Don't Waste Water: As part of the Fuel Saving Scheme households were encouraged to paint a line round their bath tub to ensure that they didn't use more than five inches of water. Mending a dripping tap washer could prevent the waste of up to 5500 litres of water and over £18 a year.

Waste Paper is Still Vital: In the 1940s the Ministry of Supply established a scheme that aimed to encourage people to put their waste paper, bones, string, rubber and cardboard to good use. In 2007, some 8.6m tonnes of paper were recovered in the UK, half of this was recycled by paper mills here.

Holiday at Home: The Holidays at Home' or Stay at Home Holidays' scheme encouraged civilians to spend their leisure and holiday time enjoying the delights of their local area, in order to keep the already over-worked transport system free for essential war traffic. During the forthcoming holidays Britons are again encouraged to visit their local area and enjoy local parks and attractions.