FOREST CITY, Mo. — Karen From is getting a lot of calls from people asking how to preserve homegrown fruits and vegetables.

Everyone is looking for places to pinch pennies and renewing their interest in gardening and canning, said Ms. From, a nutrition specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

In the new economy, old-fashioned skills are going up in value.

“This economy is bringing us back to where we’re grounded,” Ms. From said. “For the last five to 10 years, a lot of us became comfortable because we didn’t have to save. It’s a good refresher how we (can) get the most for our money.”

At a women’s conference in Forest City Wednesday, homemaking skills received full attention. When it comes to saving money on food, Ms. From said the No. 1 thing is to develop a menu, then write a shopping list and stick to it.

And, as one woman suggested, leave your husband at home. Not bad advice, Ms. From acknowledged.

“When you bring a child or husband with you, things end up in your cart that you normally wouldn’t have in your cart,” she said.

Get your list, then get in and get out; Extension research finds that for every minute you spend in the grocery store, you spend $2.17.

Some supposed cost-saving devices can end up costing more, Ms. From said. Even with a coupon, name brands may cost more than the store brand. Beware of bulk buys, too, because it doesn’t do any good to save money if you end up throwing away half the food or it sits in the pantry for a year.

Ms. From said interest in home canning and preserving is increasing, and Extension is considering offering classes for those who want to learn more about it.

Cutting energy costs is another big factor in this economy, said Jim Crawford, natural resource engineer with University of Missouri Extension in Atchison County.

“Everything has gone up; it’s tied to that price of oil,” Mr. Crawford said. “The end result is we have less disposable income. Everything gets stressed a little bit.”

In the home, energy can seem to disappear into thin air. Mr. Crawford noted that refrigeration consumes 8 percent of the energy in a typical household. He also said to look for “phantoms” that use energy you’re not aware of — such as anything with a clock, cell phone chargers that draw power even when the phone isn’t plugged in and anything with a converter box, such as a computer or printer.

Appliances have become so much more efficient in recent years, and a new water heater or furnace can yield big payoffs, Mr. Crawford said.

He will be offering home energy tips at classes in Rock Port next month.

Susan Mires can be reached at susanm@npgco.com.