Winner and runner-ups announced below!

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writter Yazmin Cruz.

I asked you to share how the recession has affected your financial situation for a chance to win Lorilee Craker’s “Money Secrets of the Amish” and my review post was flooded with comments. Many of you said you’ve cut down on frivolous things and are trying to save money on groceries. In need of coupons? Check out our Coupon Database to find all grocery and drugstore coupons available.

The first runner-up is Andrea Stempel who said her husband’s salary has been cut and they have been struggling to make ends meet for their family of six. The second runner-up is Christine Judd who recently graduated from college and is having a difficult time finding a job.

It was difficult picking the winner as there were many compelling stories, but I finally declared

Alison P. the winner because she’s turned saving money into a family affair. She wrote:

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

I was really excited to receive “Money Secrets of the Amish,” by Lorilee Craker, who is the author of eleven books including New York Times bestseller “Through the Storm” with Lynne Spears (Britney Spears’ mother). Win my copy below.

The title tickled my curiosity about the Amish way of life. How frugal are they?

Like me, Craker wanted to learn more about the Amish after hearing they were thriving during the recession on NPR. Being a Mennonite and a journalist, she wanted to know more as her own financial situation tightened. Craker writes:

In contrast to my paranoia about being overleveraged and underfunded, the Amish were at peace, unruffled, and rich in contentment. As I dug deeper, I realized that these Plain people could teach me a thing or two about money, and what I could do, not only to hold on for dear life during this recession, but to actually thrive.

In the 224-page book, Craker learns about the money decisions Amish people live by and pass down. She interviews several people about their savvy spending habits. She’ll teach you tips for secondhand shopping, saving for a rainy day, and more. My favorite chapter in the book is about talking to children about money to show them self control and delayed gratification. The book is an easy read as it’s not a traditional financial book.

To win my review copy, let me know how the recession changed your financial situation. Can’t wait to read the book? Buy it on Amazon for $10.87 (orig. $15.99). Comment by Thursday Oct. 20, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST to be eligible to win. The winner will be announced Friday!

Into Somerset / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Since the start of the recession people have been more aware of their spending habits, but for Tammy Strobel, a project manager with an investment management firm, her life began to change even before the recession hit. Tired of living a life filled with material goods that did not bring her or her husband satisfaction, she whittled down her possessions to only 100 items.

Strobel is not the only one giving up her material goods. According to a New York Times story about Strobel, consumers are gravitating more toward experiences than possessions and are opting to use their extra cash on things like spending time with their family, watching movies and playing games.

“I think many of these changes are permanent changes,” said Jennifer Black, president of the retailing research company Jennifer Black & Associates to the Times. “I think people are realizing they don’t need what they had. They’re more interested in creating memories.”

The notion that material goods do not bring happiness is old for me – I’ve heard this since I was a child. And yet, along the way, I have managed to accumulate material goods that I could do without and others like my laptop and cell phone (that I depend on to make a living), that I would not give up.

Like Strobel and her husband, one thing I could easily do away with is debt. After the couple got rid of their possessions they where also able to get rid of their $30,000 debt. Strobel now works less hours and volunteers the rest of the time. Here are some ideas to bring more happiness in your life by creating memories with your family.

• Volunteer – It will not only allow you to spend more time with your family, but you’ll be helping others in need. For family volunteer opportunities check out Idealist, a website that allows you to find an organization to provide your services. Some volunteering may come with perks as free admission to museums, events, classes, and more.
• Whittle down your possessions – Look at every room in your home and do away with anything that hasn’t been used in a while. Donate the any clothes, shoes or electronics to shelters or your local thrift store. Remember to keep your receipt for tax purposes and share with us the items you would not be able to live without.
• Explore the great outdoors – Take a trip with your family and visit a National Park to beat summer boredom or go camping for free.
• Family Night – Whether you decide to cook together or play board games, make it a habit to spend time together by unplugging and connecting with each other. Keep in mind that you can rent books and DVDs at the library to keep family night from going stale.
• Splurge – Spend money only on things that will help you create memories. Check out Bargain Babe’s splurges and share yours with us.

How do you create peace of mind? Does having fewer possessions help?

• 46% of credit card holders paid their bill in full each month in Feb. 2009
• 59% of credit card holders paid their bill in full each month in Feb. 2010
• The average American family had $2,000 in unexpected expenses last year
• Americans have reduced their debt by $101.2 billion in the past 14 months ($1,874 per household)
• We are currently saving at record rates, setting a 15-year high (Check out BillShrink’s super cool graphic about American’s personal savings and debt, which goes back to 1960).
• We still over pay for lots of stuff, including ATM fees, credit card late fees, and dealership auto maintenance (though I’m seeing coupons from dealers these days)

To get this data BillShrink surveyed 154,000 users on its site from February 2009-January 2010. The pay off rate has been steadily increasing each month, according to the responses below.

Yes, I pay off balance each month No, I don’t pay off balance each month
02-09 46.03% 53.97%
03-09 45.92% 54.08%
04-09 41.75% 58.25%
05-09 43.19% 56.81%
06-09 46.28% 53.72%
07-09 46.92% 53.08%
08-09 48.72% 51.28%
09-09 51.21% 48.79%
10-09 51.99% 48.01%
11-09 54.73% 45.27%
12-09 57.25% 42.75%
01-10 58.63% 41.37%

I’m curious how BargainBabe.com readers compare to the national average.

[poll id="55"]

That means the food at your friend’s holiday party is going to kick ass, but she won’t be giving you a present. To be fair, during this holiday season total spending on gifts ($82 billion) still whomps spending on food ($28 billion). But still – people are pulling back dramatically on gifts. The recession is over, folks!

“More people are pulling back the need to shop for unnecessary goods,” said Toon van Beeck, an analyst at IBISWorld. “It’s not all about giving someone a gift, but going back towards family values and spending time with friends.”

I’m curious if the BargainBabe.com community is pulling back their gift giving, or defying the trend.

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Nordstrom plans to open 13 stores this year, and 10 of them will belong to the discounted Rack chain.

More sample sales are being run online. The Budget Babe reviews three such sites.

More people are shopping at dollar stores, which contributed to Dollar Tree’s 11% rise in profits last quarter.

To lower the cost of higher education more colleges are offering three year degrees.

What other spending trends are you seeing?