#60: Recession Busters

1. Watch one of Clara’s videos or search online for one recession recipe and post the recipe or video onto your blog.

My Mom was a child of the Great Depression and never outgrew her love for "spaghetti" made with boiled macaroni shells with a sauce of canned tomatoes. She was also big on onion sandwiches. I had to laugh when I saw some of the "recession" recipes listed on the websites noted. Take the "Chilaquiles al Guajillo." Supposedly it is a recession buster because the chilaquiles (a kind of Mexican chile pepper) cost only $1.79 a serving. However, reading the recipe, you find that you also need tomatoes, cilantro, eggs, chicken broth, tortilla chips, Mexican crema, garlic, red onions, and sugar. Doesn't sound like a time or money-saver to me.

I wasn't very impress with the $5.00 martinis or the $49.01 per person "stimulus package dining offers" either. Where do these restaurants get their customers if they think this is a bargain?

2. Share a few recession busters that you have heard or seen about in the media over the last few weeks, either on the local or national level.

The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, housed in the building that was once the old Cypress Creek Library, offers free admission at all times. The exhibits are always high quality, and anyone who visited the dark and dingy old library will be impressed by the transformation of the space.

Watch this video clip to learn about the free boat trips at the Port of Houston. You might see someone you recognize. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/video?id=6449537

I went on the Port of Houston trip with the Academy of Lifelong Learning based at the North Harris campus of Lonestar College. You join ALL for a $20 annual fee, and then get to take free classes and trips throughout the year. http://www.lonestar.edu/all-nharris.htm

Some "senior" discounts are known only by word-of-mouth. For example, at McDonald's you can ask for the "sausage biscuit and hash brown special" with a "senior" coffee, and pay less than $1.50 for breakfast.

I watched a great show about places to visit locally for a stay-at-home vacation, and I was excited until I realized I was watching WGN out of Chicago, one of my favorite stations.

Reviving the habit of getting together with friends to play cards or board games is a great way to save and a wonderful social outlet, especially if everyone brings a "recession" dish to share. Do they still sell wine in big cardboard boxes?

Take a look back at my post of 9/6/08 on the book "The Happy Minimalist." It lists many good reasons for saving money and "going green" by using your public library.

3.List any tips you may have recently discovered or have been using for some time regarding saving money during difficult economic times.

Carry a little packet of tea bags into your purse or wallet, and ask for a cup of hot water at a restaurant.

Marry someone -- male or female -- who can change the oil in your vehicle, do minor plumbing and electrical repairs, etc., or learn to do them yourself.

Do comparison shopping on the Internet.

With friends, do a "progressive dinner": wine at one home; dinner at a restaurant with salads for everyone and a couple of shared entrees; dessert at a third home.