I just think...What would Obama Do?....and I spend spend spend.

We definitely don't buy as much as we used to. We are sticking with our older cars until they just die and cannot be fixed anymore. We had to scrap one a few months ago.
We don't eat out as much, and if we do, it doesn't cost us much more that $20 for 2 people. We buy less at the grocery store and have gone back to basic foods. Not much junk food...ever.
I guess what I'm saying is that we now live like our parents did, but maybe that is a good, healthier, thing to do.

Personally, hub and I actually spend our change and don't always put it in the bond jar for the grandchildren. Publicly, I witnessed my first robbery at my local CVS. It was more than shoplifting as the young ladies had filled two shopping carts, while waiting for just the right moment to push them outside of the store. The lines were long and the checkers were distracted with customers when the girls walked quickly to the carts previously abandoned by the exit door. One partially filled cart was recovered. It was filled with baby stuff. Sad, but true.

I cut back on my wants a long time ago. I am now cutting back on my needs. Unemployed since early March, and in a technical engineering field, nearing age sixty, there aren't many jobs out there. I'd rate that as a serious change in my life.

I have had to re-evaluate the difference between my "wants" & my "needs". I found that some of my needs were really wants & in that way I was able to cut back, and in some instances cut out. I remember this saying when I get to feeling sorry for myself "I complained because I had no shoes & then I met a man who had no feet". Makes like REAL simple with that thought for me.

Rather than venting into the blogosphere, people need to be letting their Congressman and Senators know how they feel about the issues, frequently. I know I do.