Articles like this one by CNN make me grateful that I a) have no children–except my cats– and b) have a relatively “stable” job. Of course, I don’t take my job for granted. I’m still worried about it and what I would do if the worst should happen.

We spend $50 a week on food. That’s it unless we have more money, which is rarely the case. But even then, we don’t spend too much more. I’m paying off my bills a little quicker so that I can start saving. My entertainment bill? $15 a month—World of Warcraft is pretty much all I do to entertain my brain. And, if you play it regularly, it’s a better value than going out to the movies every week–especially since I play every day for an hour, at least. And cable too, I guess, but that’s the TV, internet, and phone.

No, I’m not giving up my WoW. I have too many friends on there.

However, I am most definitely scaling back on what I spend. Hell, I felt guilty about spending some of my tax refund on bedsheets and a set of headphones. (Ok, and a Disturbed CD too.) The items just seemed to me to be so extravagant.

Times are tough and they are going to get tougher before they get better.