What have you or your family done personally to survive the recession?

"Expand the food I grow, thrift store shopping, cut down on going out to eat, dumpster diving, harvesting food that is going to waste. Questioning every purchase I make."
--Amanda Sharrai, 33, a community organizer from Athens

"I would have been categorized as "working poor" before the recession, and that's where I still am. To be honest, the only thing I've done differently is be more conscious about carelessly spending money on things that aren't truly necessities."
--Erin Hyman, 28, an office manager/delivery driver from Athens

"Cut back on unnecessary spending, such as seeing shows or going to movies, or going out to eat."
--Catherine Maynard, 22, graduate student from Nelsonville

"We have tightened up on the little expenses that really add up. I have always been a big advocate of buying no-name, generic items so that has not changed."
--Amie Nogrady, 42, a freelance writer from Glouster

"We were saddened by the decline of our retirement savings, which have now recovered some. As retired people, with no mortgage or current car loan, we are better off than those who stupidly got spending money by putting up their homes as an 'ATM.' Bank ads encouraged this stupidity. It is maddening that the Federal Reserve has put interest at 0, in the vain hope of loosening up bank credit to strengthen individual and business borrowing and to stimulate spending. Many banks have responded apparently by hoarding their cash and reporting big profits, and many are not helping the struggling homeowners and genuine small businesses. Meanwhile, our savings are earning less than 1 percent! Government regulators have not helped savers with policies which supposedly (but not actually) were to stimulate credit for middle-class types."
--Lois D. Whealey, 78, a citizen activist/independent humanities scholar from Athens

"Aside from making the obvious changes of living a little more frugally and learning how to shop a bit more wisely, which are lessons I think it's important for everyone to learn, we haven't had to make too many changes. It's just me and my husband, and like any couple, we're facing the challenges of getting established - we're lucky because we were already in a tough spot to begin with and didn't feel things as tough as other people."
--Caitlin Seida, 21, a freelance writer from Nelsonville

"Basically, the same way we have lived for years. We budget $50-$60 a week for food. We limit the trips to town by combining necessary tasks/appointments. Vacations are day trips. I had to laugh at news articles that came out when the recession hit, especially the ones with examples of how to save money. 'Make homemade meals instead of going out.' My family has been making meals from scratch and dining out less forever! It is a way of life. I guess I was a little surprised that people needed this information."
--Jennifer Cooper, 42, with a non-profit from Stewart

"My family has never had a lot of money growing up, so even though there is a recession, I don't feel the effects as much as someone who has had to leisure of spending money. Although now that I am going to college I see the financial hardships my family faces while trying to help me through school and take care of their own debts and my other sisters."
--Kari Lowery, 18, a student from Athens

"I used to work fulltime, but now I can only get part-time work. We have downsized our living arrangements and now, instead of going out, we stay in and watch movies or have friends over. Actually, it is now nicer, because we are connecting as human beings again."
--Anne Whitman, 60, an adjunct instructor from Athens

"FIrst and foremost, we have tried to remain positive. There are many challenges in the economy and within our country at the present time. How we react will certainly affect our attitudes and also foster a behavior that may or may not be favorable. Times such as this are temporary and every little measure that you can do within reason to adjust makes a difference. Most important, in my opinion, is how we persevere."
--Tomma Shuler, 37, in health-care management from Athens

"I have been lucky enough to have a steady job as have my parents/family. I have actually gone from living paycheck to paycheck to living a bit more comfortable. So I guess I am one of the lucky ones."
--Kate, Nelsonville, 24, a cook/dietary aide from Nelsonville

"My husband was laid off last year for the first time in his career. Luckily for us, it only lasted about four weeks. We are very fortunate and have not experienced any other adverse effects from the recession."
--Missy Brown, 40, an RN Clinical Manager from The Plains

"Only use one car for long trips, started saving coupons, cutting back on shopping for things we don't need, eating in more."
--Amber Skorpenske, 20, a student from Pittsburgh

"When things get tough, I feel I have two choices: lay down and cry, or get busy. Getting busy always works for me, even though things don't always work out the way I thought they would."
--Jessie Daniel, 38, a realtor from Glouster

"Our family has reduced utilities costs by minimizing the energy we use at home. We are definitely more conscious about gas prices and tend to car pool more often."
--Billie Handa, 29, Director of Development, NBIA, from Nelsonville

"Personally, I have taken several different jobs so that I can pay my own bills while my dad handles my tuition. My mom has looked for a lot of ways to expand her horse-training business, such as selling manure."
--Daniella Limoli, 20, a student from Athens

"I've had to look at all aspects of my business (publishing and graphic design) to see what works and what does not. But I've been very fortunate in that the work I do is not affected that much by the recession and, for my book design work, my competition are often designers in California or New York and I can beat their fees."
--Janice Phelps Williams, 54, a publisher, writer, illustrator from Athens

"Being a student, I was not affected nearly as much as those already working fulltime. I guess I did what everyone else did. I just started watching where my money was going. I became more aware of my AC. I stopped spending money at the fast-food chains and started packing my lunches. If it was cold, instead of turning up the heat, I grabbed a sweater and some slippers. It's all about compromise and everything isn't so excessive nowadays, and I hope that even when the money starts rolling back into everyone's pockets that we remember how to save and we stop doing things so big!"
--Shana Snyder, 22, graduate student/substitute teacher from Athens

"I come from a mother who was always careful about her money. This has been instilled in me. I don't buy anything that I don't need, and I always use coupons and buy groceries on sale. I've often joked that I never pay full price for anything, and this is usually the case. Why spend so much money on something that doesn't really matter?"
--Marisa Welch, 23, a sales associate and student library assistant from Athens

"My family and I have basically just been trying to cut down on bills and spending. We try to turn off anything electric when not in use, be water efficient, and just use cell phones now instead of having a home phone as well. All of these have significantly reduced the amount of bills we pay. We have also become more aware of the amount of money we spend on groceries and other (sometimes non-essential) items, and cut back on our spending in this area too, although it can be hard with as many people that live in our house, including a pit bull who eats like a pig and the cutest niece/daughter/granddaughter who makes it hard to deny her anything. So, while the recession has affected us, I can definitely say that my family has fared much better than a lot of other folks in the nation."
--Ellen Lambert, 27, a full-time aunt from Albany

"We have depended on my husband's Social Security, my last job which included housing and utilities, plus the house acquired cheaply at a sheriff's sale."
--Alexa Ross, Nelsonville, 63, a retired motel manager/actress from Nelsonville

"We have cut back on all essentials. We are more aware of where every dollar goes. We are more conscious of energy consumption, food costs, and basic necessities."
--Tabitha Bond, 40, a business owner from Coolville

"Spent less, saved more. We both need new vehicles but can't afford it at this time."
--Debbie Williams, 60, a paralegal from Millfield

"Save money. Cut unnecessary expenses."
--Darcie Hartley, 36, office assistant -- ABH, from Albany