I've never had the money to have any luxuries- really. I read that article. I can't imagine having that sort of money. I just never have.

bottled water?? I'd buy a case at the grocery store for 3.50 on sale, and it would last 6 months or more with us refilling and re-freezing the bottles.
I've not ever been able to afford starbucks, 100.00 jeans, spa nordstrom ( what's that??) and I haven't been to a movie theater since high school.

really. lets hear about some REAL cut backs. People that cut off cable. People eating like the menues on hillbilly housewife. People making thier own clothes out of existing lcothes. People walking and biking and selling off a car.

I'm really not impressed by stories of people who have to drink plain water.

Well said, Girlscoutmom, you put into words what I've been feeling. I get so sick of hearing about the "latte factor". There are those of us who don't buy coffees, or bottled water, or power bars. We don't have cable or gym memberships to cancel. The little luxuries we enjoy are inexpensive or free. Cutting back for us takes a great deal more creativity and sacrifice.

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We've definitely cut back on luxuries. We used to go out to eat at least twice a week and go to the movies once a week or so, but now we eat at home every night and use Netflix or watch movies on TV. DH used to go to Dunkin Donuts every morning, so now I just buy the DD brand coffee and brew it at home for him to take in a travel mug. I've gone from buying Ben & Jerry's ice cream to buying store brand, which is still good!

No, we have not changed anything, but I don't buy much junk anyway.

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A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.-Eleanor Roosevelt

I agree with Stacia. We haven't changed a thing. We don't really waste a lot on junk anyways, but I live beneath my means which means if I want an ice cream sundae on occasion, I WILL NOT be denied, lol.

I haven't changed a thing, in fact I actually treat myself more now than I have in the past few years.

In fact I just turned cable back on, after being without for a few years.

We are always trying to spend sensibly.... we try to rent movies more than go to the theater and even though we eat out at least once a week, we pick places like "Chipotle" we can eat for $15 and it is practically lunch and dinner. My husband and I are trying to save as much as possible before we expand of family.

We have been cutting for a while now, mostly because we want to get rid of our debt. The talk of the recession only makes me want to get rid of our debt even more. We made some bad choices in the past and now we want to pay it off and go on. Our new life is much simplier. The little luxuries we have now we have kept by choice. We make choices now instead of just spending without thinking. Still the recession talk scares me a little bit since we have debt and we practically have no savings.

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Marie - SAHM of DS Benjamin (april 2004) and DD Rose (march 2006).

We have changed some things. DH and I used to have a small monthly allotment for "hobby" money that has significantly decreased. We are now using what we get for birthdays/Christmas almost exclusively to fund our creative outlets. We're also not really going to movies anymore. We used to go before we had kids, and we've taken DD (4 1/2) to a couple, but we have gotten DVDs instead for quite a while. The hardest thing to give up has been our occasional book purchase or breakfast out, though. One of our dearest friends officiated at DS's blessing ceremony in late September. We took him to breakfast at a local diner the weekend before to finalize details, and the bill was $54 plus tip for bacon, eggs, etc. for three adults and pancakes for one child. Yikes! So, that's a "luxury" we're happy to give up.

Michelle