I myself use this low-level-we-need-the-command-line-for-this method:
http://linuxmint.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3969
Or:
Take a look here .... the backup tool they discuss there is called "hubackup" and you can install it via "Synaptic":
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HomeUserBackup
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...89#post3795689