---
title: How to Keep Your Food Bill Down
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/how-to-keep-your-food-bill-down-1941/
description: 'Nine-panel leaflet: a woman shopper clips a newspaper price list, compares it with shelf prices, reports an overcharge to the rationing board.'
section: Collection
---

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3. How to Keep Your Food Bill Down

[![How to Keep Your Food Bill Down, 1941 US poster: Nine-panel leaflet](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/how-to-keep-your-food-bill-down-1941.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/how-to-keep-your-food-bill-down-1941.jpg)

# How to Keep Your Food Bill Down

Nine-panel leaflet: a woman shopper clips a newspaper price list, compares it with shelf prices, reports an overcharge to the rationing board, and the last panels show a price panel and a judge. The footer says to clip it as a reminder. The technique is faint: an ordinary shopper models each step.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
HOW TO KEEP YOUR FOOD BILL DOWN
CUT THE OPA LIST OF TOP LEGAL PRICES FROM YOUR NEWSPAPER
[on newspaper:] OPA PRICE LIST
TAKE THE PRICE LIST WITH YOU WHEN YOU SHOP
[on sign:] OUR CEILING PRICES ARE IN OPA GROUP 1
[price tag:] 9c
[on list:] OPA PRICE LIST GROUP I J'S BREAD, 12 OZ. 9c
COMPARE PRICES IN THE STORE WITH THOSE ON YOUR LIST. RETAILERS MUST DISPLAY PRICES.
(tell them this)
"Dear War Price and Rationing Board"
1. NAME OF STORE
2. ADDRESS OF STORE
3. NATURE OF VIOLATION
4. DATE OF VIOLATION
5. YOUR NAME
6. YOUR ADDRESS
[on envelope:] RATIONING BOARD
IF WRONG PRICES ARE DISPLAYED OR IF NO PRICES ARE DISPLAYED, WRITE YOUR RATIONING BOARD.
IF YOU ARE OVERCHARGED GET ITEMIZED SALES SLIP AND MAIL IT TO YOUR LOCAL RATIONING BOARD.
[on report:] YOUR REPORT
AT THE RATIONING BOARD A PRICE PANEL STUDIES THE CASE AND ASKS THE RETAILER TO COMPLY. IF NECESSARY, OPA WILL TAKE LEGAL ACTION.
WILFUL PRICE VIOLATORS ARE SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF 1 YEAR IN JAIL AND $5000 FINE.
CHECK THESE POINTS
Everytime you shop
1 DO YOU HAVE YOUR OPA PRICE LIST?
2 ARE PRICES DISPLAYED IN THE STORE?
3 ARE DISPLAYED PRICES SAME AS OR LOWER THAN YOUR LIST?
4 ARE YOU CHARGED MORE THAN LEGAL PRICES?
CLIP THIS OUT AS A REMINDER
```

[← How to Keep Warm With Less Fuel This Winter](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/how-to-keep-warm-with-less-fuel-owi-1941/) [How to Make Your Household Linens Last Longer →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/how-to-make-household-linens-last-longer-1941/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)