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Who hasn't learned to live on less these days. With prices at an all time high, I dread going to the grocery store. I have had to cut out many of the items my family enjoys, just to keep the necessities in the fridge. I feel like a food ogre. I feel bad when they come home from school or work and look for the variety of snacks of yesteryear. These days, they'll be lucky to find a package of cookies or some pudding in the fridge. There's always Kool-aid, I say, sounding like my mother.

Eating out has all but stopped for my family. Last year, we were eating out once, maybe twice per week. Sometimes we would all go out as a family to the neighborhood restaurant. It was nice . We let the kids order what they wanted and everyone had fun. Those days seem over for us. The restaurant has had to raise their prices so high we can't afford the luxury - not with Pasta being so affordable. I feel bad for the restaurant owners, I heard they may be closing down. Times are so tough.

Every Friday night, after a long week of work, we enjoyed ordering pizza and having it delivered. I looked forward to the meal with ease. Friday night was about me taking a night off. I miss that the most. I don't remember the last time we ordered out. Maybe three months.

Our bills are sort of paid. We use the lottery system. When we hit the lottery, we'll pay them all off. For now, it's a little cash on each until the balances come down. The mortgage is paid. After that, there is little money for the extras. No money being put aside for retirement scares me. Health Insurance premiums paid on the last possible day before cancellation is as stressful as having no insurance. Now my health-care provider wants to increase rates 18%. What will I have to give up to have the extra money for that? Heat? Talk about taxing a human being's heart.

I feel bad for the millions who have lost everything. They lost jobs and homes to the economy. Others have lost sons and daughters to the war and everyone has lost a sense of freedom to people we don't know or see. This economy has everyone sacrificing. This decade is one of great losses.

So many things have changed in order to survive this recession. It has helped a great deal making small sacrifices. Not just by eating out less. We no longer stop for Dunkin Donuts coffee on the way to work. Nor do we stop after work . That alone saves quite a few dollars a week. It has been a while since I have shopped for new clothes for myself. We hardly ever take a Sunday drive for ice cream. Nor do we go to the movies very often. Sacrifice is how I learn to live on less. Sacrifice.

Learn more about this author, Cyn Lee.
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