I'm not eating out as often and went back to cooking from scratch. Also, I think long and hard before laying out big bucks for a luxury item.

I pray, asking God for strength and wisdom. I try to remember my blessings.

My boyfriend and I have found a great way to save money and calories-- we share meals at restaurants. We still have the fun social time but we don't leave feeling bad about how much we ate or spent. It helps to leave the "fun" in the equation so we don't feel completely deprived.

I constantly remind myself that some things are out of my control, so it's no use wasting my energy worrying about them. That's hard for someone who likes to be in control of her life!

In the meantime, I'm trying to be proactive about planting seeds that could hopefully sprout into other opportunities down the road. I'm learning that no matter what happens, somehow, I'll find a way to take care of myself. Reminding myself of this makes me feel better.

Through these hard times, I am lucky enough to continue to have my job. However, I have been preparing myself for what's to come as I see my company slowly slipping into hot water. What I have done was eliminate some financial liabilities. I paid off my car a few years back and have desperately wanted a new one. Instead of buying a new car and having another car payment, I take the money I would be spending on my car payment and put it toward my credit card or throw it into a savings account to earn a bit of interest. It's refreshing to know that I have that extra cash to play with or to use as a back up!! I have learned that I CAN go "without" for a little bit to get ahead money-wise. It isn't impossible to sacrifice a few things.

I have returned to my inner conservationist. It's amazing what healthy things I can make for dinner with seemingly nothing. I've also started to purchase only cleaning products that won't harm the environment; makes me feel like I'm taking control of my little part of the World. We've also been looking hard at our budget for places to cut the fat out. We're eating healthier, our budget's healthier, and we're even working out more so we're all-around healthier. Times may be tight, but it's good in the respect that it's drawn our focus inward.

My husband and I have been living frugally for the last several years - we've learned we love to be house proud, but not house poor. We have saved 6 months emergency money and have been contributing to our retirement fund and the kids education funds. It is a comfort to have that available if we need it and I think it helps to relieve a lot of stress. Aside from our mortgage we are debt free! When contemplating a big purchase we try to think how it will benefit the whole family and if it meets our goals for our family this year. It has been the same for us in good times and in lean. I try to remind myself it's been hard before and that we got through it then and we will again.

Life is full of things outside my control so this economic "crisis" isn't any different to me. Being the control freak I am, I've had to learn over and over again that I'm not the "one in charge." I find that starting each day by aligning myself with God through prayer and study keeps me grounded and helps me remember what's most important. The rest is in His hands. And that brings me the peace and hope I need to walk confidently forward into life's unexpected challenges.

I remember to count my blessings now. I am healthy, my husband is faithful and my children are respectful. I have a roof over my head, a little gas in my car and my windshield washer fluid is full. Someone called me a good friend today and I even have a couple of bucks in my wallet. Life may be uncertain but at least I can be thankful every day.

I've been doing a lot of praying, and reminding myself about all the difficulties that my grandparents went through (the great depression, WWII, loss of spouse, etc.) and reminding myself that they survived and eventually thrived. It made them stronger and more resilient, and gave them riveting stories to pass on to us.

I lost my job almost 3 weeks ago, and the job market in my area doesn't look good. I wasn't able to make this month's mortgage payment, and am waiting for my first unemployment check to arrive to stay on top of my car payments. I know I will have to leave the area to find work. The changes in my spending habits that I had already been doing will continue and I'm giving up some things - like cable TV and eating out - and I'm being more frugal in my utility usage. I stretched a half tank of gas to last over two weeks by limiting my driving to only absolutely necessary trips!
In spite of it all, I'm keeping the faith that when one door closes, another one opens. I know that there are new adventures ahead, new friends, opportunities, and perhaps even the love of my life. I can't wait to get started!

I have actually seen this poor economy coming for a few years. I sold real estate and now work part time as an adm. asst. for not much money. Thank God, I have learned to be grateful for what I have and to thank God every day for ev en the smallest things. He is in charge now, so I am only going along for the ride. I have not lost hope that things will improve as it is important to not lose heart.

My inner "Chicken Little" is Cluck, Cluck, GOD, Cluck, Cluck!!!!!

It is gratifying to hear that none of you have succumb to that "sky is falling" way of thinking. Hearing your practical and spiritual strategies gives me the assurance that we will come out of this period in our nation's history stronger and wiser with an eye on what is important.

Difficult times are a good time to "take inventory" and do major cleanouts (cupboards, closets, basement, attic). In doing so, you realize how plentiful your life has been, and resolve to simplify it by getting rid of clutter (clutter clouds the mind...!)and making you accountable for every new item you take in your house from that point on.... (Do I have a use for this? Where will I put it?). In doing this cleanout, trust that life will be plentiful again and that you will be ready and organized to enjoy it even more, putting what really matters first.
SuzAnne G. Tremblay, Québec Canada

I am in a lot of debt and worried about losing my almost full-time job. But I have been here before and recovered. I worry about the effect it is having on my teenage daughter. She has special needs - health, learning and others - and like many kids, doesn't necessarily understand the problems all around her. Support programs have been cut, wait lists for services are longer, my dollars pays for less and it is really hard to balance what needs are greatest against what interventions/therapies that will help her in the long run and are doable now.

Oddly, I don't care so much about my increasing debt when its necessary (much like the "stimulus package")...I have always managed in the past & will continue to do so some how, some way when things get better. I just hope it happens sooner rather than later.

I think the biggest thing is to decide whether you are spending money for a need or a want. I don't need an iPhone. Might want one, but don't need one.

Then I also tell myself that I can have ANYTHING I want, but I can't have EVERYTHING I want.

In the past several years, I have lived conservatively, though this is the first time I have purchased a home on my own. Intentionally, I calculated a very conservative mortgage payment. I also decided to purchase a two-family home in order to have a renter who would off-set my mortgage.

Still, during tense times, if I am unsure of a decision, I force myself to step back and ask, "In six months or in a year, how important will this situation seem? And at the end of my life, as I reflect, would this decision or event hold any significance?" When you ask yourself what eternal difference a decision makes, it certainly brings everything into perspective.

The past few months have been a nightmare for me and many of those I love. My husband was laid off in October; I was laid off a month later. My sister-in-law's husband has been told he could be laid off from his job any day, and their daughter has special medical needs. My best friend's fiance did something incredibly stupid and is now facing several months in jail. He will almost certainly lose his business, and without his income, she will lose her house. And to top it all off, in January my two-year old nephew died. He was diagnosed with cancer last summer, and his parents were told at the time that his chances of survival were less than 20 percent. He endured several surgeries and a hellish chemo regimen and fought bravely for six months, but in the end, the cancer won. I'll be honest; there are days when I don't even want to get out of bed. I just want to curl up and die. What's keeping me going right now is love; the love of my husband, my parents, my friends, my beautiful niece and the little angel in heaven that is my nephew. I know how I would grieve if I lost them, and they would grieve for me. They say that babies in orphanages and institutions die unless they are picked up, cradled and loved. I think that is true of all of us. It is the love and support of those I love and who love me who give me the strength to get out of bed and push forward, one day at a time.

Katy D., you and your loved ones have certainly been through some rough times. And you are right that love can help you weather those things that seem unbearable. So can faith. All you can do is get out of bed and go forward, moment by moment. Things may not miraculously change overnight but they will get better. And when they do you will appreciate them that much more. I wish you and your family all the best.

Living debt free! My husband and I have been debt free for 5 years now. We have no car payments and no credit cards. If we can't pay cash, we don't buy it. Changing our lifestyle years ago has helped us cope with economic uncertainty. The status of today's economy becomes small talk when we live within our means.

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