DAPHNE, Ala.—America was once a culture of excess: It found a way to put bacon and cheddar cheese on everything; its gas-guzzling vehicles were bigger than the rest of the world’s—and it liked it that way. 

But times have changed. A dwindling economy has left 9.5 percent of the nation unemployed and a host of major corporations filing for bankruptcy or performing massive structural overhauls to cut spending.

But hardest hit is the middle class. People who once enjoyed a mild sense of luxury—or at the very least, rarely went without necessities—are now forced to scrape out a meager living as wages have plunged and unemployment rates skyrocket.

Enter “Frugality 101,” a cost-cutting workshop that provides budgeting tips and ways to limit spending for those feeling the financial pressure.

The Daphne Public Library will present the economic seminar—led by lecturers Susan and Michael Rife—at 10 a.m. Saturday in its community room.

The workshop will cover topics such as where to get coupons and how to use them to their highest potential.

“It’ll cover how to save on everything from fabric softener to dining out,” Mrs. Rife said.

Some cost-cutting measures, according to organizers, include: changing air filters once per month; shopping at local outdoor markets for seasonal produce; and making home-cooked meals.

“And by home-cooked,” Mrs. Rife said, “I mean not out of a box.”

She expects seminar attendees to leave informed and prepared to start saving.

“I expect them to leave excited,” she said. “Saving and being frugal is not what some consider to be enjoyable. But when you walk out of Walgreens or CVS with items for free it’s exciting.” She was referring to a credit-based rewards program that some stores use as shopping incentives. “Just think what you could do with all the money saved: new shoes, (a) new car or vacation in St. Martin,” she said.

Mrs. Rife said this is a crucial time to hold “Frugality,” for so many people have been affected by the recession.

“It’s time we Americans slow down and pay attention to what we are doing with our time and money,” she said. “We must get back to home cooking, playing ball in the backyard with our kids and getting ourselves healthy.”

On the shelves

The Daphne Public Library provides a vast selection of resources that can help readers plan budgets and cope with the shortfalls of a slumping economy. Below is a list of books that can be checked out:

<“America’s Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money,” by Steve Economides.

<“Making Your Money Count,” by Kenneth Ulmer.

<“Live It Up without Outliving Your Money,” by Paul Merriman.

<“A Total Money Makeover,” by Dave Ramsey.

•“The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Roadmap to True Riches: A Practical and Fun Guide to Enjoying Life More by Spending Less,” by Jeff Yeager.

<“Saving on a a Shoestring,” by Barbara O’Neill.

For kids and teens:

<“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Money for Teens,” by Susan Shelly.

<“Early to Rise: A Young Adult’s Guide to Saving, Investing and Financial Decisions that Can Shape Your Life,” by Michael Z. Stahl.

<“Making Cents: Every Kid’s Guide to Money,” by Elizabeth Wilkinson.

“Patrons can not only check out books and other materials such as local newspapers to help them with spending tips, they can print out coupons from the Internet, research prices and sales online and use library computers to create a budget in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet,” director Tonja Young said.

Files viewed from library resources can be saved to a disk or flash drive for future use.

Available resources include: computers and software; financial books; local newspapers such as the Daphne Bulletin; Internet access; use of printers; National Automobile Dealers Association car-buying guides; magazines such as ‘Consumer Reports,’ copies of the ‘Jubilee Breeze’ and information on prescription drug assistance programs.

Visitors can also find information about free city of Daphne events for planning budget-friendly family outings.

Young plans to have a coupon exchange box available on the ‘free magazines’ table at the library.

“It’ll be a container where people can bring in coupons they’re not going to use and then others can pick them up and use them,” she said.

For more information, contact the Daphne Public Library at 621-2818.