Last summer we didn't take a vacation with the family, but had fund raised through our church to have my daughters go to Bible Camp, and fund raised for my middle daughter's chess tournament.

Our church had worked at the local civic center for a number of volunteer services, and received a percentage from what was sold, and that gave kids in my church a chance to go to camp.

We wrote a number of letters to friends, businesses, and more to help us get my daughter and myself to a national chess competition.

I was in the mortgage industry, and it wasn't bringing in enough money to help us put food on the table. We were lucky enough to liquidate an annuity we had been putting money towards, and luckily we had received some money from a government stimulus.

We started to use a program called SHARE America. SHARE America is a program where you order food at a reduced price, and can help fill your pantry or freezer with some very good foods. We also continued to use Wal-Mart for various things, but we didn't over spend on clothes, or more. We watched what we spent.

My husband and I wanted to be the ones who could bring home the money and get our kids to their next level of chess competitions so he was lucky enough to score a second job.

It helped us out with Christmas buying but we bought very modestly.

We also had been lucky to payoff one of our cars, and it is ten years old, but it still runs so we have declined to buy a new one or used one until we feel that we are back on track.

We don't eat out, and cook a lot of meals at home. My daughter in the meantime has overwhelmed us with such God given talents for cooking, and likes to get the recipe cards at Wal-Mart or any grocery store to make such good dishes. We continue to cook in bulk, planning our meals a head, and buying lower valued foods.

Since leaving the mortgage industry it has been difficult to find something that I either have experience in, or have a degree in. But I have from time to time done temp work when it is available. I also help people in my community by doing volunteer work through church or my civic club to help children bring out the best in them, by funds we have raised, and given to others less fortunate.

Saying no to my children has been a tough thing for us, and not doing a lot of things as we use to can put a lot of pressure on our nerves. We are exercising at home instead of belonging to a club, and found a very good deal on a workout machine. My children say I am a cheapskate but at least we still have our home.

We are trying to save money, and put it away for vacation. We are eating better because we aren't eating out, and spending more time with our kids.

Now if I could just find a job that I could help others balance their budget?