I tip my hairdresser $20.00 for haircut & highlights as she is a young lady, newly married with a husband out of work. She also will fit me in to trim my bangs in between appts. w/ no charge when I get fed up with them.

We also share knitting patterns, books & recipes. I'm 54 now & well remember when we were young marrieds w/ a very tight budget so I like to "play it forward" as many generous friends helped us out at those times with giving us their no longer wanted clothes or extra OJ or milk they bought to give us when they found it on sale.

I distinctly remember a young couple at church in those days who had children the same ages/sexes as ours & they went to school together & we were close friends as families, but they went out to Burger King every Sunday after church & often would suggest we go with them. We were so amazed that they could afford to go to Burger King & EVERY week!!

We had to say "no" & biked home (church close to home & we saved on gas money by biking--early environmentalists? This was 25 years ago!) to our thinly spread tuna sandwiches.

But those times really did build character in our children (& us) as both my husband & I came from affluent (though very dysfunctional for me) homes.--Suzy