We have also been getting ready for a bad market. Doomsayers have been saying potential Depression, but for now it's a recession and we'll see how things go.

Our home is paid for, as are our cars. We had to do a lot of remodeling on the house and that has left us with some debt on a credit card, and we are working like crazy to get that paid off.

One of my side jobs is at an organic bakery & market. I work for organic produce and bring home about $50 worth every week. That would be the majority of our food bill as we're vegetarian (more vegan than tarian but we all have to cheat on cheese sometimes!). I also have a pretty good organic garden of my own going and have stocked up on jars so I can be canning things as those 34 tomato plants start producing. I'm freezing just about everything - broccoli, spinach, green beans, corn, shredded zucchini... The panicky side of me wonders what winter grocery costs will be when nobody can grow much and the powers that be can raise it all they want - we have to eat.

Other than that, just the usual cost-cutting methods. I'm an opinionated little snot so I'm not changing to CFL bulbs with their mercury content and constant flickering and buzzing. I HATE that! I'll use candles and hurricane lamps before I give up my incandescents.