This economic downturn has really affected my family. I have been blessed both my husband and I have managed to continue working. The problem is that we just can't seem to make enough. I am working 2 jobs, he works and in in the reserves. We are raising 2 teens and a 9 year old. My electric bill is never under 300 and is usually closer to 400. We live between two job sites in two different directions so our gas is horrendous. My kids are eating me out of house and home. I can't seem to be able to keep enough food in the house. They go through a gallon of milk (when I can manage to get it in the house) in less than one day.

The schools took my kids off of the free lunch program because, apparently, we 'make too much money'. So my 9 year old is standing in line to get his lunch and the lunch lady waterboards him over why he still has a balance on his lunch bill. Don't worry, I went to the school and took her out. I pulled the principal with me and nailed that lady big time. Lets just say that she had a bad day.

My oldest son keeps wearing his dad's jeans and now all of his good jeans have holes in them and are stained up. My husband wears a size 34 X 36 jeans. they are hard to find and usually very expensive.

My credit is going down the toilet because I have to creatively pay the bills and they just keep going up. How much more can we endure? I am not sure.

I have tried to alleviate it by selling things online, but my traffic is bad and of course I have been writing articles and I am sure I don't have to tell anyone here how that is. I just figure that everything helps.

breathing in..... ok I think I am back in control. Nope daughter just called to tell me that she needs $30 for her drama club.

One way the economy has affected our family (and many families in our community) is that with the declining economy came reduced school funding. We are now required to pay to send our children to Kindergarten full day every day, or opt to send them only every other day. Due to the economy, only my husband has been able to find work and with only one household income, it is hard at times to squeeze out just enough for extra bills. Needless to say, we are faced with accepting the burden of additional debt, as we are striving for our son to receive adequate fulltime Kindergarten education. He is a lively boy who enjoys going to school and learning. He thrives in a structured learning environment and I would hate to have to reduce him to part-time Kindergarten. I have been questioning the ethics of making cuts in the school system at the cost of children’s education. Is it okay grant more financially sound families’ children the advantage of better education while children of parents who are struggling at times may not receive that same benefit?

I have graduated this year. Got my business and marketing Ba degree and was hoping that I will get a great job straight away, so that my husband can go from full to part time and start studying towards his degree.

Then came recession - little jobs, fierce competition for openings, little hope for graduates. So now I am working as an intern full time for almost no monetary reward (commission based) and my husband's degree plans have been postponed.

But there is also something good - we have almost no disposable income, so we are quitting smoking.

Over a year ago I was living in a one bedroom basement apartment by myself. My dad is a draftsman and was laid off. He used his savings and unemployment to pay his mortgage until it ran out. He had nowhere to go but to live with me. Shortly after my brother and his girlfriend lost their place and also moved in with me. Dads sleeping on the couch, and my brother and his girlfriend on the otherside of the living room on a mattress on the floor and the WHOLE place overcrowded and piled high with all of our belongings. Again shortly after the landlord decides he needs to sell the place to afford to pay for his house and new baby. My dad was rehired at his old place and a few months later laid off again. I lost one of my jobs when we started to lose business. We are all having hard times paying rent and all our bills here. And I found out today my dads unemployment ran out after his latest lay-off. Which means we all have to figure out how to afford to live somewhere. Whether together or separately. Im trying to move closer to Atlanta in hopes of more job opportunities but have no one there to share rent with. I personally have no costly habits as I dont drink or smoke or anything. And I have never bought myself things I didnt need. Im the type of person who doesnt buy herself socks when needed! I have no ways to cut back! Im just glad I dont have kids to worry about like the others here. I couldnt imagine.

We had tighten our belt when it comes to budgeting, we had lessen some outings and just stayed at home watching DVD's instead of watching movies to the cinema's we even limit our electricity usage