My two "luxuries" are a good haircut every 5 weeks (standing appointments through next January) AND I buy a bath soap that costs $3 a bar - Geranium Bourbon (www.coolcreekfarm.com). Online the soap is probably $5 a bar, I buy it locally at Drug Emporium. Those are my only personal luxuries!

We practically never eat out anymore, I buy what little clothing we need on clearance sales (which really isn't a problem - stores here always have seasonal merchandise stacked to the ceiling). I don't drive anywhere I don't have to go. Very occasionally I'll buy a plant or potting soil.

Everything is just so absurdly expensive. One of my neighbors just got a $350 water bill, ours will probably be $200. Electric bills are approaching $350-$400 a month. Gasoline is expensive, groceries are expensive - we both have health issues, doctors and prescription/OTC drugs are expensive. Every cause under the sun is begging for financial donations because they're struggling.

I'll soon be 65. I used to snicker to myself when I heard older people say, "I remember when __________." Gracious! If I told young people today what I remember as far as what things used to cost, they wouldn't believe me!

I remember when the absolute best mascara on earth, a "cake" mascara from Mabelline, was 20 cents. A huge can of hairspray was 49 cents. Nail polish was probably a quarter...now look at the prices!

I complimented someone recently on her perfume and asked what it was? She said it was "Opium". I'm not a perfume-person but I thought maybe I'd buy a bottle - it was $95 for the smallest size at Drug Emporium. I bought a $5 imitation at Walgreens!

How young families survive today boggles my mind! Shoes, clothing, all the stuff kids need and want - I don't know how anyone does it.

My grandmother used to say (among a million other "old sayings" ) that money doesn't grow on trees and you can't get blood out of a turnip!! I'm glad (I guess) that I'm a low-maintenance homebody who cannot manage what she's got much less need anything else but the cost of living today scares me.

I married in the 1960's. Back then every bride "registered" for china, crystal and sterling silver and I have a complete set of each - that I NEVER use. I told my husband I was going to sell the silver and he said no, to keep it - someday I might have to use a salad fork to buy a loaf of bread!