I'm late on the commenting... but THANK YOU for this. I have abandoned recipes that call for "cream of ___ " soups because I didn't know how to substitute. Thanks for giving me my recipe box back!

We fall between the "moderate" and "low-cost" plans. We'd be even lower, but within the past two months or so I started buying one or two "treats" - something we would not typically buy (fruit we've never tried before, specialty jam, prepared food, doughnuts, etc.) - every time I go grocery shopping. It feels so luxurious - maybe too much so! I'll have to cut back to one per trip, or only once or twice a month.

I especially like the "control your limbs" idea. I have an awful habit of tidying my desk, or noticing that the curtains aren't hanging right, or rearranging the coats on the coat rack.... all while my husband is talking to me. It's easy to take our discussions for granted because we with each other all of the time, but I have to remind myself that I should be as focused (MORE focused, really) on what he has to say than as with anyone else.