How was the focus of civilians supposed to change in light of the war effort?

During World War II, the civilian population of the United States, and other countries for that matter, was rationed to the bare necessities when it came to goods needed by the military. Rationed items included food as well as items made from materials used in the manufacture of military supplies, equipment and arms. Such things as clothing fabrics, shoes & other leather goods, metals, oil products and rubber were hard to obtain. When such goods were available, citizens could purchase them with a combination of cash and a specified amount of ration stamps, but as the stamps themselves were rationed and those allotted applied to numerous types of items, difficult choices sometimes had to be made.

Civilians also contributed to the war effort with the purchase of U.S. Government Defense Savings Bonds or "War Bonds." These were purchased at a discounted price and redeemed for full value at maturity. Those who could not afford the full price of a Bond could purchase them in incremental amounts by buying $.25 cent stamps at the Post Office and redeeming them for a Bond when the total amount was saved. Children were encouraged to save this way so stamps could also be purchased at school.