Surviving The Recession

What are you doing to survive the recession? What creative things are you doing to cust costs until the economy comes back? This is what one woman did:

http://www.stylelist.com/2010/04/29/how-to-wear-the-same-dress-for-an-entire-year/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl4|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stylelist.com%2F2010%2F04%2F29%2Fhow-to-wear-the-same-dress-for-an-entire-year%2F

I really admire the woman. I couldn't tell from the pictures that she was wearing the same dress!

The main thing I am doing to cut costs until the economy turns around is clipping coupons. Watching for sales and using coupons combined with double off coupons I've been able to reduce my grocery bill by about thirty per-cent. I've also did more free types of entertainment. Walking, museums, etc. The entertainment that I do that costs I've been fortunate enough to have been given gift cards for.

I do think the economy is turning around. I have two small tests that I do. Traffic and want ads. More traffic and more want ads means we are starting the economic turn around. There is definitely more traffic, a lot more. In this week's Sunday's paper there were thee pages of want ads. Three weeks ago their were only three columns of want ads.

The questions for the day are what creative ways are you surviving the recession? Do you think the economic turn around has started?

Today's Who Am I?

I was born in Missouri in 1826 and died in Washington D.C. in 1902. I was the fifth of eight children of a plantation owner. I was raised as a Methodist. My mother was raied in a cultured, educated manner so she made sure all eight of us kids were educated as well. In 1848 I married a man that one day would be president whom I met at West Point when I visited my brother. The first four years of our marriage were spent in Detroit and New York. The marriage was rough. I was separated from my husband when he was sent out West to command an infantry division. He was forced to resign for insubordination. He returned home in 1854 and failed at everything he tried. Everything changed when a war started. Experienced officers were in short supply so he was sent to make a disciplined fighting unit out of a rebellious volunteer regiment in Illinois. He went on to trap the enemy army in Richmond and became the most revered man in the army. During the war I tended wounded soldiers and sewed uniforms. I also joined my husband as often as was safe and took enormous pride in his accomplishments. Unlike many officers my husband insisted that I be with him. My steady nature, cheerfulness, and common sense helped him stay focused. He often would succumb to doubts, depression and alcoholism (which became a problem when he was out West) and I helped buoy his spirits. After the honest man appointed my husband commander during the battle of the river the President would send me to my husband knowing I was a good influence. I also became the center of attention and grew to love being the focus. When my husband was elected head honcho I transferred the famous shabby House into one of elegance and warmth, welcoming visitors with grace and compassion. I was described by many as unpretentious and friendly. The media wrote of my "propriety and dignity." I opened The House on Tuesday afternoons with receptions for "any and all" -- even saying, "Admit all," when asked about colored visitors. However, my staff denied entrance to such visitors without me knowing it. Knowing how much I loved the house my husband kept secret that he wasn't going to run for another term. When my husband was diagnosed with incurable throat cancer he wanted to leave me financially supported. Racing against time, bundled in blankets and wracked with pain, he wrote his memoirs, hoping its sale would support me. He finished it just days before his death with me remaining by his side throughout. I was so overcome I couldn't attend his funeral. I was lost, frightened and severely depressed for quite some time. My husband memoirs -- prompted and arranged by the most famous Mark of the time -- were a huge success, enabling me to move back to Washington, D.C. Living in comfort as a sort of "Grand Dame." I supported Susan B. Anthony and the suffragists. Over time my mental state improved enough to write my memoirs. I was the first woman that held a position to write memoirs. In 1902 I died at the age of 76. I was laid alongside her husband in a national monument. Who Am I?