My husband and I feel so lucky in these tough times. We're both employed full time with no real fear of being laid off. We've been able to keep out debt down to student loans, 1 car payment, and minimal credit cards. We've lived in the same 2 bedroom apartment for almost five years and rent has only marginally increased during that time. My husband rides the bus to work and he prefers it to driving everyday. I have a 15 minute long commute and everything we need (grocery, hardware etc...) is with in only a few miles. So transportaion expenses are low.

I budget our groceries, and we enjoy cooking, so we don't go out too much. (1-2 times a month)  and we don't subscribe to cable TV.

We are lucky. We're among only a few of our friends that are emplyed full time.I've seen several of my friends laid off just in the past few months.

We've not always been so lucky. One year before our wedding, my husband battled an aggressive from of leukemia. He was just out of college. Financial times were tough then and we are continuing to pay medical bills.

We are in such a lucky position that we will be closing on our first home in February!

Good luck to everyone out there.