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yup. Since I lost my job we have cut:

Cable-we watch very little “free” tv now (I miss fox news)
Cell phones ( I have a pay as you go so my kids can get me in case of emergency)
switched from broadband to a 19.95 per month internet-need to stay in touch with news somehow (thank God for FR)
started ordering Angel Food Ministry boxes of food to supplement meat
Making everything from scratch-haven’t eaten even takeout in almost a year
non necessities all but gone
Couponing out the wazoo to fill my emergency supplies
planted large garden, but with the recent cold in FL, alot has been lost. Getting ready to raise rabbits for meat.

Son is getting married next weekend-can’t even afford to pay for his honeymoon, so he is delaying it for now (just wants to take his new bride on a couple day cruise to the bahamas or such but I can’t swing it right now)

middle son is graduating from high school in June-lettered in band, can’t afford his jacket or ring because every penny is going toward getting us dressed for other sons wedding. Youngest looks like a ragbag cause he is wearing t shirts and gym short hand me downs til I get a job again. My current wardrobe consists of clothes I got from a family member who passed 2 years ago cause every penny I do get goes to dress my kids for school (fortunately hubby gets uniforms).

Yeah, all this sucks, but you know what, we are ok. Many have it much worse than we do. We have a very strong marriage and deep faith. God has met every need we have and I could not be more thankful. It does burn me that welfare has become a way of life instead of a safety net. I think it should only be used when there is nothing left to sell or give up and the fridge is empty. It should also be uncomfortable and people should be expected to trade dollars for hours, just like the rest of us. I also think they should attach some things to the receipt of government assistance like; your kids have to get good grades, you cant have any more children while on assistance or they don’t qualify anymore, the people on assistance have to go for job training at least 20 hours a week or do some sort of public works for their check (let them empty the garbage cans or maintain parking lots of govt buildings etc).

Sorry for the rant.