Comment today for a chance to win this book!
Today is your last chance to win our review copy of “Money Secrets of the Amish,” by Lorilee Craker. So far 41 readers have entered. The title tickled our curiosity about the Amish way of life. How frugal are they?
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 our 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 today, Thursday Oct. 20, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST to be eligible to win. The winner will be announced Friday!
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
Taking clothes to consignment stores and selling items on Craigslist has helped.
I have been using coupons for everything that has one. Before we even think about going out, say for dinner, I will either have a coupon or will (sometimes) find a way to save. I dont spend on unnecessary items and will shop at thrift stores for “new” clothes. I believe my thriftyness has rubbed off onto my 11 yr old son because when he sees something, for example a caramel apple at the fair for $4, he looks at me and says “Thats waaaay to expensive for a simple caramel apple”. Then he just moves along.
I cut more coupons now and sell the kids clothes at consignment stores. This has helped me stay a float..
We live on retirement income and have had to support an adult son who was unemployed for 2 1/2 years. (He now lives with us…) Coupons are my major saving. Less food is served at dinner and credit card use is out.
The recession has changed my spending and consuming habits in many ways. I shop at the Good Will more, I regularly use coupons, I buy my food local and use local artists as girt resourses. My husband and I car pool to work, I use groupons and restaurant coupons for our to eat, I make crafts and sell for extra spending cash, I have several bank accounts that I use to budget money for presents and vacations. We eat more veggies and fruit than meat and cheeses. I use my heat pump to keep the house at an even temp during the day and use my woodstove when I get home. I coast down a hill in my vehicle instead of gunning it all the way down. I would be curious to see how far off I am from the Amish!
Like most commenters here, I cut more coupons now and stockpile more when things are on sale. I have also been working my way through Grocery U. after getting a sweet discount on it right here. Thanks Bargain Babe! I am looking for ways to increase my bartering skills and would love to read this book to see what the Amish have to teach me.
buy more generic products, save our aluminum cans and cash them in. make meals using groceries from weekly circulars
I try to buy only things on sale and stockpile a little. If we want to go out to eat somewhere, we check to see where we have a coupon before we decide.
Both my husband and I lost our jobs. Thankfully we had a large(ish) emergency fund and are still making our mortgage problems without issue. BUT, it inspired me to go back to school! And I am very excited to be learning a new field.
I cook a lot more. I learned how to work discounts and specials. I also learned to graciously accept when friends and family offered to buy a meal or something for me. I’ve been temporarily employed and on unemployment since I was laid off from my job in April 2009.
Living on social security coupled with the recession has been a challenge of the times. Coupons always, rebates, no eating out, no new clothes, minimize use of gas in car, share coupons and discoveries with others…it all helps. Would love to have this book. Thank you.
I am using more coupons for just about everything. Most of my meals are made from scratch. Don’t forget the free books and DVDs from (my) local library. Consignment, consignment, consignment…
I eat in more, carpool whenever I can and look for more FREE things to do. October was a good month for street festivals.
I also look at the meat in the market that is marked down 30 – 50% on the last sales date. If it was on sale that week with the club card, you can get a really good deal. I either eat some that day or freeze it for later.
For the most part, I don’t buy anything unless it’s on sale or unless I have a coupon. I don’t go out to eat for full-price–gotta have a Groupon-type deal!
I love books but have limited storage space. So if I see something promising at Barnes and Nole, I reserve it online at my neighborhood library.
We don’t eat out as much as we used to, and we go loaded down with coupons when we go grocery shopping. We also use the library more often now rather than buy new books.
DH and I are cooking from scratch and baking our own goodies. We make big pots of soup, stews, chili and share with neighbors who are having a rough time. The ‘Net has been a wonderful resource for ideas, coupons, free samples and hot deals – all of which helps to make a positive difference to our “bottom line”.
Since I am a family of three, and my parents live close to my home, we combine resources and cook dinner together. I plan, shop, and cook for two weeks out of the month and my mom shares the duties the other two weeks. We have been sharing cooking duties for two years now and it really helps to budget food costs for the month.
Well, I no longer buy anything I don’t actually need. And, I get a bit more mileage out of the things I do have.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
We have 5 children and if that doesn’t make things tight enough, two years ago our son was diagnosed with leukemia 6 days before his 8th birthday. I was in nursing school at the time and managed to hang in there but even with me as an LPN we struggle. To get by we shop at resale shops,yard sales, grocery shop at aldis or with coupons. I could use all the pointers I can get to make ends meet cause it seems next to impossible with extra trips to the childrens hospital over an hr away.