Book Description
Do you have too much month at the end of your money? Is your credit card screaming for relief? Are you tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul . . . whoever they are?
Meet Steve and Annette Economides. They’ve been called cheapskates, thriftaholics, and tightwads, but in these tough economic times, Steve and Annette have managed to feed their family of seven on just $350 per month, pay off their first house in nine years and purchase a second, larger home, buy cars with cash, take wonderful vacations, and put money in savings. Without degrees in finance or six-figure salaries, Steve and Annette have created a comfortable, debt-free life for themselves and their children. In
America’s Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money, they show you how they did it- and how you can do it too.
Steve and Annette share many down-to-earth principles and the simple spending plan that they have used since 1982. They have taught this economizing lifestyle to thousands of people worldwide through seminars and their newsletter, and they include lots of real-life stories to make you feel as if you’re having your own private coaching session. Not only will you find solutions to your financial dilemmas, you’ll also discover a whole new way of life.
You don’t need to be a CPA or a math wizard to learn their revolutionary system, which will teach you:
- hundreds of ways to save money on everyday household expenses, including groceries, clothing, and health care
- how to save in advance for major purchases such as homes, cars, and vacations
- how to stop living paycheck to paycheck
- how to eliminate debt . . . forever!
America’s Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money puts meeting your financial goals- and living well at the same time- in reach for every family.
Customer Reviews:
Practical ideas for frugal living.......2007-10-10
I loved this book! I read it cover to cover and have implememted great money saving techniques into my lifestyle. I feel I am already somewhat frugal, but this book gave me great ways to teach my children and to have an even more detailed budget. I ahve implemented some of the tips to save on groceries and am so pleased! I not only am saving money but also valuable time! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for practical money saving tips already put to the test!
It's worth reading.......2007-10-02
I'm a pretty good cheapskate myself so some of these ideas were not new to me. However, even though some of their ideas were so draconian I would never personally do them, it was interesting to read and I got a few ideas from them. I checked the book out of the library instead of buying it, proving another way to be frugal.
The budget that set us free.......2007-09-10
I read this book when my family was spiraling into financial doom. We were spending $250-350 MORE than we were earning--per month. We were looking into selling our home and only car because we couldn't afford our lifestyle. And we were totally sinking in debt.
Then I read AMERICA'S CHEAPEST FAMILY and decided to try the budget outlined in the book. It took me many hours of work at first to figure out all our expenses & debts, but it was so exciting when it started to come together. My husband and I were elated because we finally knew what was wrong with our finances. Before we put everything on paper using their worksheet, we couldn't pinpoint exactly why & how we had lost control. Once we finished listing our costs, our overspending was clear and we knew we could change it.
We've been doing this budget for 5 months now. We're now spending less than we earn. We have money set aside ahead of time for all our bills, even the big ones like car insurance. And I no longer have to pay with the payment plans--I pay the entire bill at once. We've got a now-thriving savings account too. We even pay a little extra for our mortgage each month. And we've also got money set aside for Christmas & birthdays, so we can splurge and have no credit card debt.
The one thing we do differently from the Economides' is that I pay all of our bills automatically (and free) online. It's way easier than checkbooks and you save on stamps and grief.
Utilizing their budget system saved our family. We still own our home and car and I am so grateful. Our son can still play in our yard, which means everything to me. I could see how this budget could be too much for some people... however I actually enjoy the time I spend on it. Seriously, it's all good news now! It's also our plan for the future.
This budget set us free. I never thought I'd ever say that, because you always hear how budgets restrict you, but for us it's the opposite. Now we have financial freedom.
Recently featured on a major news show, this is what you need to know.......2007-09-01
I saw the show. I already had the book. I bought another copy to give to my son. I use the tips in the book and, yes, we DO save money.
Here is the REALITY you have to face before you even buy this book:
To get the full benefit of this book, you do need to be willing to buck certain attitudes that are part of our society. The Economides family is willing to get clothing from the thrift shop. When your child comes to you and asks to have those designer jeans, will you have the courage to say "No" or will you cave in? Can you put off impulse buying? Are you willing to take the steps necessary to stay out of debt? Read the chapter on Attitude and if you think you don't have the guts to commit to a new attitude (and don't fool yourself, it does take guts), the this may not be the time for you to buy this book....just don't wait till you are drowning in debt to see the light. I personally think that one chapter is the MOST valuable one right there.
One MAJOR advantage of this book is that it offers options, depending on your comfort level with saving money. You can opt to be a bit frugal or save every spare penny. If you need to take some baby steps before moving to the next level - or just stick with a certain level of savings - each chapter offers options. Clearly, this family understands that not everyone can commit to their value system and they give a nod to those people. I found that refreshing and different.
It is not an "all or nothing" book, although the family themselves describe how far they'll go to save money. They get by on about 35K a year and have 7 children, so it doesn't take a lot of imagination to figure out that they have to be cutting back in a MAJOR way.
We don't save quite as drastically as they do. Even so, we have learned a lot from this book. One of the most important facets of a longterm savings plan is maintaining the right attitude and not giving in to peer pressure or temptation. When I feel like I'm weakening, I turn to this book and am inspired again.
Be prepared to save real money using these tips!.......2007-07-05
What takes courage, commitment, creativity, idealism, faith, and the help of others? And isn't homeschooling? Choosing to live a frugal lifestyle, especially during the good economic times.
The biggest negative about this book - use it and you'll soon realize that not everyone cares to be smart about how they spend their money. It could be an elderly parent on a fixed income who says, "I'm not /that/ desperate," when you tell them how to save $20 a month on their AOL bill. A sibling who thinks coupon clipping is only for lonely housewives who need something to do while watching soap operas between loads of laundry. Or maybe a good friend who swears their current method for teaching their children responsible money habits works perfectly fine, but admits they rarely remember to actually use it with their kids. When faced with these people, its best to avoid asking for the $240 per year in AOL savings, fast food coupons, and money their kids may very well waste themselves "forgetting" to pay their own bills, as they learned from mom and dad forgetting to pay them during their childhoods.
Don't panic - this is not an all or nothing book that will force you to live on ramon and peanut butter just to pay off bills as early as possible. Every helpful chapter ends with three options: Timid Mouse for those wishing to start slowly, Wise Owl for those ready to make more of a commitment to frugality, and Amazing Ant for those eager to stop wasting their money needlessly and wanting to change now. Nor do you have to read this as a start to finish system with each chapter requiring you've read and implemented the previous chapters. Instead, you can start where you wish to dive in and bounce around as your interests and needs dictate.
Our family has enjoyed many benefits already from the tips given to the reader by Steve and Annette Economides. Yes, that is their real last name. The day after my copy arrived, it paid for itself in a single grocery tip regarding lunchmeat. We used the money we saved the first month on medical expenses to buy new bedroom furniture. Think clipping coupons is a waste of time for just a few pennies? We didn't change our eating habits or purchases a bit, yet with coupon savings, we financed not one but two vacations to San Diego, complete with annual passes to Sea World, the Wild Animal Park, and the Zoo for the whole family.
Throughout the book, the Economides' children chime in with their thoughts on the ideas and, more importantly, their implementation is a real homeschooling household. With that in mind, here is what our son thinks of our new lifestyle.
I like the kid's paycheck. I get money for doing stuff like cleaning animal cages, feeding the cats, and even exercise. It's helping me save up to buy a used X-Box.
Living a frugal lifestyle isn't about depriving yourself, it's about keeping as much of your money in your hands as possible. This book is full of tips to help you do just that as painlessly as possible.
Customer Reviews:
Good basic foods.......2002-02-10
The book offers very easy to make dishes that need only a few ingredients. Some are very good as they are but many offer themselves as a springboard to making dishes of your own. There are great "how to" type photos. The nutritional information they give for each dish is nice too.
Average customer rating:
- I WAS THERE
- Great Burger cookbook!
- INTERESTING RECIPES BUT WILL YOU MAKE THEM?
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Build A Better Burger: Celebrating Sutter Home's Annual Search for America's Best Burgers
James K. McNair
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Meats
| Meat, Poultry & Seafood
| Cooking by Ingredient
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
General
| U.S. Regional
| Regional & International
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
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Hamburgers and Fries
ASIN: 1580087205 |
Book Description
Each summer, thousands of cooks complete in the Build a Better Burger recipe contest, a winner-takes-all national cook-off at Sutter Home Family Vineyards in Napa Valley, In this collection marking the 15th Anniversary of the cook-off best-selling cookbook author James McNair presents a mouth-watering look at the contest, including each of the 44 recipes that have won awards since BBB began. Twelve of the illustrious chefs and cookbook authors who have judged the cook-off also have their creative burgers, Sutter Home's culinary director and executive chef, Jeffrey Starr, suggests a wine match for each and offers general burger-and wine pairing tips. With recipes bound to please every backyard cook, BUILD A BETTER BURGER is perfect summer companion.
Customer Reviews:
I WAS THERE.......2005-09-25
I was lucky enough to be a finalist in the 2003 Build A Better Burger Contest in the potato contest. The book features my name.
There are lots of wonderful recipes in the book. I am sure you can adapt them for indoor cooking. And, you can mix and match---a burger from one recipe with the toppings from another recipe. As a plus, Chef Star (the head chef at Sutter Home Wine) gives a wine paring for each burger.
You will get a year's worth of burgers from this book.
Great Burger cookbook!.......2005-09-06
Interesting burger recipes. most are not that difficult. Great ideas to spice up your bbq!
INTERESTING RECIPES BUT WILL YOU MAKE THEM?.......2005-07-20
Build a Better Burger presents the winning recipes from the annual Build a Better Burger National Cook-off held annually and sponsored by Sutter Home. Recipes begin trickling in during the Summer and the best are invited to compete in early Fall in the beautiful Napa Valley where the grand prize is a whopping $50,000. With that kind of money on the line, you know that these are people who take their burgers seriously. The book begins with a brief but breezy history of the burger as well as some of the notable fast food burger chains such as McDonald's and White Castle.
The book presents the winning recipes by year beginning with 1990. These are no everyday burgers, however. These creative recipes use just about any ingredient you can think of. Not limited to just beef, these recipes call for ground turkey, chicken, pork, buffalo, lamb, tuna, Salmon, even Italian sausage and shrimp! Among the exotic burger recipes contained in the book are such gems as: Three nut turkey Burgers with tropical fruit salsa, Peppered Lamb Burgers with hot tomato jam, Salmon Burgers with Lemon cilantro mayonnaise, Samurai Burgers made with tuna, plum jam, and fish broth, and Chipolte Honey BBQ Bacon Burgers with Gorgonzola cheese. No...these are not your everyday backyard burgers.
That's its appeal and maybe a bit of its weakness as well. First, many of the recipes contain some rather unusual ingredients. Items such as Moscato, South African peppadew, and dried Guajillo chiles are things you probably won't find in the average grocery store. The recipes are well presented with gorgeous color photography of the finished creations. They're certainly mouth-watering to view but I wonder if they will have broad appeal. Honestly looking through the dozens of recipes I could only pick a handful that I'd really want to try out. Perhaps others are more adventurous than me. If you are, then this is certainly a great place to start for some new and exciting recipes.
Book Description
Here's the "Best of the Best!" Better Homes and Gardens has searched all the community cookbooks in the country and put some delicious recipes together in one inspiring book ... rich with the heartwarming tradition of families and neighbors swapping recipes and tips. More than 200 family-appealing recipes from community cookbooks across the United States. Step-By-Step instructions and nutrition facts. Features main meals, appetizers and desserts. Every recipe tested and approved in the Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen. Hundreds of tried and true kitchen tips. Each recipe includes a photo of the finished dish, plus instructional photographs.
Customer Reviews:
The Best cookbooks I have ever had!.......2005-03-30
As soon as I took the books out their package I knew I would love them, and as soon as I started to turn each page, I was so amazed at the quality of the book. I highly recommend it. It is packed with beautiful pictures and excellent recipes. I bought this book after reading other reviews about them. I purchased Vol.I,II. Both are amazing and are my favorite cookbooks so far. Now I am going to purchase both for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day!
Absolutely amazing!.......2004-06-19
When I first got this book as a gift I wondered to myself "how good can some collection of random people's recipes be?" After trying a few of the recipes I discovered that the answer was "VERY good." Now I just need to find Volume I.
This is an incredibly diversified mix of American cooking recipes in easy-to-read sections and bright and beautiful color photographs. The sections include: poutry, meats, fish & seafood, soups & stews, pasta rice & legumes, salads & dressings, vegetables, breads muffins & sandwiches, cakes & cookies, desserts, and appetizers beverages & snacks.
I have never had a bad experience with any of the recipes in this book. For that reason it has earned its place with my other two all-time favorite cookbooks "Betty Crocker Cooking Basics" and "Farmhand's Favorite Pies" as an "ACK! Company's Coming!" type of cookbook... a book that I can run and grab off the shelf and with a little bit of effort turn out a flawless and decadent meal.
Just in case you were wondering, my favorite recipe in this book is that of "Grasshopper Bars" featured on page 366. It's a fudgy brownie base topped with a sinfully rich mint cream, and a cool chocolate topping. Try it; you'll LOVE IT!
Diversified Hometown Recipes.......2001-07-19
Each little town has probably put out a small cookbook sometime, Best Loved Community Recipes highlights the tastiest.
You'll find tried and true favorites along with new twists on old recipes. Eggplant Appetizers, Mary's Cheeseball, and Mini Calzones could spice up a gathering.
If you need a good basic recipe like Caramel Corn, Oatmeal Bread, or Hot Cross Buns- this is your cookbook.
From muffins to rolls, cookies, cakes and pies, you'll find what you need. Try the delicious Apple Dessert Pancake, I served it for dinner one night with rave reviews!
Grand recipes for fish and seafood as well as meats, pizzas and noodle dishes fill the 464 pages.
Do yourself or someone else a favor and add this cookbook to your collection. Your crew will thank you time and time again.
Fantastic.......2001-06-08
America's Best Loved Community Recipes Better Homes and Gardens Published by: BH&G ISBN:0-696-200095-3
Imagine if you could sit down and open a book of your Grandmothers, Aunts and Ladies of the Church Auxiliary's favorite recipes. That is exactly what this book is. Imagine being able to bake that perfect egg custard pie just like your Grandmother used to make. Or perhaps make that wonderful chicken casserole like Mrs. Smith in the church choir. You never could get her to write down what that secret ingredient was.
It takes all the recipes from the many community cookbooks from around the United States and picks out the most popular and requested ones. They are then nicely pictured with a photograph of the finished dish as well as illustrations on how to do some of the techniques. Also included is information about the cookbook it was taken from and a quote or information from the person who contributed it
Reaching for this cookbook is just like reaching out to touch a dear and trusted friend. Not only are all the ingredients listed but also those techniques you are a little unsure about are explained well and then they are illustrated also. I was never sure how the best way was to take the skin off chicken pieces and this book shows exactly where to start and how the pieces should look when you are finished
Throw the rest of your cookbooks out!.......2001-02-23
This is by far my favorite cookbook. It is wonderfully laid out, and every recipe I've tested has been wonderfully delicious. Every friend I've lent it to has gone out and bought their own copy, after deciding that they'd like copies of more than half the recipes!!! Every recipe has a finished product picture, complete list of ingredients in a sidebar, step-by-step instructions with pictures if anything is unclear, as well as tips and tricks (e.g. if something can be done ahead of time)
It's not like the type of cookbooks where you can look up a chocolate chip cookie recipe and make it... but I've made approximately 15% of the recipes so far and loved each one. I highly recommend Better Home and Gardens America's Best-Loved Community Recipes Volume I and II. My favorite recipes are in Volume I, though it's somewhat difficult to find. Also, don't loan this out, I've had to buy another copy of Volume II because my first one was borrowed and never returned.
Book Description
Red plaid classics with nostalgic appeal.
Recipes updated for todayÂ's tastes and for use with modern appliances.
Includes historical snippets, nostalgic illustrations, cooking tips, and nutrition facts.
Chapters include Main Dishes, Sides, Desserts, Snacks, Appetizers, and Beverages.
Customer Reviews:
Great cookbook.......2003-07-01
You can't go wrong with this. It's a small cookbook jam-packed with great recipes. This is one of the best cookbooks I've ever had. I heartily recommend it!
Book Description
Tried and true winners from the most trusted name in the kitchen.
Book-of-the-Month Club Feature Selection.
Recipes collected from Better Homes and Gardens magazineÂ's Prize Tested Recipe ContestÂAmericaÂ's longest-running recipe contestÂsince 1924!
More than half of recipes pictured in full color.
Customer Reviews:
Definitely one for my ready reference shelf.......2003-01-11
The magazine's editors began the Better Homes & Gardens Prize Tested Recipes Contest in 1923 and it has been a popular source of inspiration for home cooks ever since. This volume offers more than two hundred of the best from the past seventy-five years -- though, presumably because of changes in tastes, most actually date from the 1970s and later. Along with a large number of excellent recipes, many of them enticingly photographed, there are fascinating bits of culinary trivia: the circumstances behind the introduction of sangria, zucchini, and Belgian waffles to the U.S., the ups and downs of coffee-drinking, the invention of instant biscuit mix, the fudge brownie, and white chocolate, and many other subjects of interest. As always with the magazine, the recipes are clear and easily reproducible.
My new favorite cookbook!.......2001-04-11
This book is full of great dishes in all categories. The recipes are all winners in various contests by BHG, and recipes even date back to the 1930's. Full of classic recipes, not just the latest trends. Beautiful photographs and easy-to-read layout. This is a classic cookbook, would make a great gift (but only after you've bought one for yourself first!).
Customer Reviews:
Detailed but lacks variety.......2006-08-02
This is a good canning book. The recipes are detailed and easy to follow. Unfortunately, the book is 'light' on recipes and variety. I didn't notice anything extraordinary about the recipes in the book. This would be a good canning book for the beginning canner but advanced canners should keep looking.
Better Homes and Garden Presents: America's All Time Favorite Canning & Preserving Recipes.......2005-09-15
The book itself was packeged well and as described. Only problem ~ wasn't shipped until one week after the purchase date.
Very Easy to Understand.......2005-08-22
This book was very easy to understand. There are not a lot of recipes in it, but the ones that I tried were extremely good. The recipes are in easy to understand terms and make small family sized batches of goods, using products you have on hand.
You can not go wrong buying this book.
better homes and garden presents: America's all time favorite canning and preserving recipes.......2005-08-14
very nice book, easy to use. Very nice pictures of finished product.
Not much.......2003-06-28
Very disappointing. Not much a selection of recipes. Very small book. I've bought other "Better Homes and Gardens" recipe books and this is definitely not their best.
Customer Reviews:
The Sweetened Condense Milk Cookbook.......2002-04-29
I was lucky to find this book that is now "OOP" out of print if you can find it. GET IT!! It has all those wonderful desserts that are featured on the back of the "Bordan's" sweetened condense milk wrapping like; Magic Cookie Bars, Rich Cheesecake, Key Lime Pie just to name a few.
Happy Baking
It's like having your neighbors over for a social.......1999-05-10
Thumbing through this book with my mother, I felt like a child again. All the desserts I grew up on were pictured here.Seeing the names of the towns where the recipe came from, felt like that person made the treat just for me. I have tried many of the recipes and my family and friends rave of my culinary skills. (thanks to the wonderful recipes) This is a book that has to be tried. It will become a favorite in your home like it has in mine.
Average customer rating:
- American History in Food . . .
- My favorite cookbook of all times
- Best Resource in My Kitchen
- Excellent book. Wish was still in print
- Definitive
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Better Homes and Gardens Heritage of America Cookbook (Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen)
Jennifer Darling
Manufacturer: Meredith Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Baking
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
General
| U.S. Regional
| Regional & International
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0696019957 |
Customer Reviews:
American History in Food . . ........2007-01-21
I'm pretty sure this book is the same one I purchased in the 1970's. The cover is a bit different, as is the title: "The Better Homes and Gardens Heritage Cook Book." I read and reread it many times - while enjoying the many recipes and trying them out on my then young family - along with a dose of "Mom's History Lesson" at the dinner table. I just recently bought some dark molasses - with intensions of making some "Joe Frogger" soft, buttery, dark ginger cookies - but when I looked for the source of this old recipe . . . my American Heritage cookbook - - it was no where to be found. Must have lost this cookbook in the many moves since the seventies. So, I will order this one and anticipate not only a trip down my own memory lane, but also a chance to reread the familiar old stories about the recipes and food of our country's beginnings. If you love food and the history of how a recipe came to be, this is a one of a kind book that will not dissappoint- someone else said it was their favorite - I would also put it in that catagory.
My favorite cookbook of all times.......2004-02-21
Excellent, tested recipes make you a good cook and I can make any recipe in this book with confidence that it will be one that people will ask for the recipe. I love good food and learning the history of how each region of the country came to be famous for certain dishes deepens your appreciation for it. Every recipe has a picture,too!
No one I know has this book (it was a gift to me) so I loved reading other people's five star reviews. I finally found some out of print editions on Amazon.
Best Resource in My Kitchen.......2002-06-25
If I could only keep one cookbook, this would be it. I find myself going to this book time after time for both classic and unique recipes. It has given me a much richer sense of the history of the nation as a whole, and even of my own geographic region. The recipes are wonderful, but the explanations of how and why the dishes were used...well, they're what makes this book truly special! I have the original and the book jacket is pretty worn, but it will always have the most prominent place on my shelf.
Excellent book. Wish was still in print.......2002-02-13
I have been using this book since I received as a gift, original print (approx. 1976). Even received notice in my local newspaper many years ago when I submitted the "Joe Frogger Molasses Cookie" recipe with history, to a request for molasses cookies that had shelf life. I think they loved the history attached to it.
I am a Culinary Arts graduate and I find this book to be a "back to" favorite. One of my favorites. Many cooks in my family use it, and another is searching for it. Buying used...wish me luck.
Definitive.......1999-06-19
Absolutely beautiful...and imminently useable (the recipes, not the oversized hardback format). Every recipe that I expected in an all-American book was in here--Key lime pie, lemon chess pie, posole, Parker House rolls--it's really wonderful and complete. I would love to see this in a trade paperback edition, so more people could afford and use this beautiful book of delicious recipes and regional cooking history. A great gift for your foreign friends, or someone going to live abroad (permanently, if you're going to lug somethin of this size around!).
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