While we’re tightening our belts here at home in Wisconsin, we’re grateful that we’re still able to make our bills, afford food and gas, keep our home warm, and clothes as we need them.

Remembering all that we’ve been given, my husband and I are grateful for this. But we’re also remembering all those that do without, especially in this cold holiday season. We’ve put aside a couple hundred bucks for our Adopt a Family drive we do through his work, and are forgoing Christmas presents ourselves this year (because, really, we can get what we need WHEN we need it). He asked me to ramp up my couponing and bargain shopping to get as much as I can for free or pennies to donate to church, Love Inc here in town, the Humane Society, and to neighbors we know that need help. We’re adopting the old Depression motto of “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” in our home permanently - our economic struggles are a combination of things, but if folks learn to make it do or do without (the three homes, 4 cars, etc) and focus on essentials, we’ll be just fine.

During tough economic times, it isn’t easy for ANYONE, really. But remembering the charities and nonprofits is important too.

My only hope is that everyone helps ONE person during this recession. If one person helps another, then that person helps another, and so on…

Maybe I’ll get my church to organize a bake sale this holiday season…