A few weeks ago, as Kiki Rough became increasingly concerned about the financial situation, she began to consider her previous financial difficulties.

She learned the skills to make groceries extend in rough thinking about the tough times she encountered in the past economic downturn. Facing a sense of similar uncertainty about the country’s financial future, she began making video guides from recipes published in previous recessions, depression and wartime.

The 28-year-old told her followers that she is not a professional chef but learns the stripes of cooking on food stamps. From the Rough Yellow-Black kitchen in suburban Chicago, she teaches viewers how to make cheap meals and at-home alternatives, such as breakfast patterns or donuts. She often reminds people to replace ingredients with alternatives they already have in the pantry.

“I’ve been seeing this joke over and over in the comments: Ancient Poors teach new Poors,” Rough told CNBC. “We just need to share knowledge now because everyone is scared and learning will provide people with a safe and secure.”

Self-employed consultant video Soon in tiktok and Instagram. Between the two platforms, she gained 350,000 followers in her video last month and received about 21 million views.

President Donald Trump announced broad and steep tariffs in early April, sparking concerns about the U.S. economy Stumble into a recession In recent weeks. As Americans like Rough are increasingly concerned about the path forward, they are returning to the tips and tricks they use in dark financial chapters, such as the global financial crisis that exploded in 2008.

Google predicts that the peak of search volume this month involves clauses related to the economic downturn related to the late 2000s. Searches for the Global Financial Crisis are expected to be unavailable since 2010, and inquiries about the Great Depression are scheduled to be at their highest rate since the communist pandemic began.

On Tiktok, a group of millennials and generals Xers have stepped in to the role of older siblings, Dedication Flashback And provide advice to young people on how to pinch pennies. Some Gen Zers launched Call the elders To understand what recession might look like at this stage of life, it’s too young to feel the full impact of the financial crisis.

“This is at least largely the first time millennials have become ‘experts’ for something,” said Scott Sills, a 33-year-old Louisiana marketer. “We are experts in pulling out the carpet from under us.”

Those suggestions were to travel along Memory Lane to the end of the aughts. Cheap vacation Go to Florida It is the norm, not the lush travel abroad. They have Receipt folder If a large purchase starts selling later. Business casual clothing It is common in social activities because they can’t afford a variety of styles of clothing.

Pork is one Staple food dinner Given their relative affordability, a creator declares them “smell” The Great Depression. They drank “Jungle Juice” At the House party, include a mix of cheap wines and mixers instead of cocktails at the bar.

“What I didn’t realize is “Recession Indicators” For the first time I thought it was just a trend,” said Ma Lakewood, a writer and professional fundraiser in upstate New York. “Now, you can see it coming from 10 miles away. ”

To be sure, some discourse revolves around how inflationary pressures make these hackers cause a few insertions. Some content creators point out that federal minimum wages already exist Set to $7.25 Since 2009, although the cost of living has soared.

Kimberly Casamento has recently started Tiktok series Guide the audience from a recipe for a 2009 cookbook that focuses on affordable meals published. The New Jersey-based digital media manager said she found the cost of what was considered a low-budget meal at the time, which was between about 100 and 150 percent. In addition to sharing price changes, the 33-year-old also offers viewers some tips on how to reduce costs.

“Every aspect of life is so expensive that it’s hard for anyone to survive,” Casamando said. “If you can cut your meals by $5, that’s a victory.”

Wei said Americans quickly reviewed the guide to the Great Depression because the recession was so shocking and broad. But, she said, this economic situation is key differences from the U.S. today, for example Bad debt This triggered a collapse in the housing market.

She still says there are broad uncertainties today in several ways — whether related to economic, geopolitical or domestic policy priorities, such as cutting federal labor or restricting immigration. This could rekindle the feeling of unpredictability that will be crucial in the Great Depression in the future, Way said.

In 2025, it is clear that economic confidence among ordinary Americans is rapidly acidifying. The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index records one of the worst readings in more than seventy years this month.

With the negative economic outlook, the pressure continues to increase. When the Battle of Lucas makes a sarcastic tiktok, people feel that divorce is More and more common During the Great Depression, the 27-year-old’s remarks were related to the recent conversation about the split in parents. (Although divorce has been seen as a cultural symbol of the financial crisis, the data show interest rates Actually refused During this period. )

“There was a second round of divorce when we spoke,” Bart said.

This is one of several similarities between social media users in the late stage and today. Several commenters on X reported feeling as the video surfaced and danced with Doechii’s hit song “Anxiety.” Have seen it When FlashMob performances are common.

Disney‘ Restart In the animated show “Phineas and Ferb,” ​​which premiered in the late 2000s, it was the era.

“The recession is prevalent.” One phrase mainly refers to the fashion music subgenre that has declined during the global financial crisis, and in the past year, the second wave of Americans competing for inflation and high interest rates.

Now, in 2025, as a voice chorus Predicting recession Growing up, pop music has some familiar sounds.

In 2008, artists such as Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry often appeared on the music charts. Both Cyrus and Gaga released new songs this year. Perry started a world tour this week.

“Whether it’s through songs or something else, it’s almost a permissible feeling,” said Louisiana-based marketer Sears. “It doesn’t necessarily ignore the issues here, but just find some kind of joy or fun in all of them.”