Well, I thought I would not give up coffee again, but did this week.

Reason: The stuff just does not taste the same.

Yes, due to budget limits I had to resort to the "cheaper" version and while my boyfriend is okay with the substitute, I just cannot do it.

I am surprised that this time around I did not have any migraines - I usually have them when I miss my first cup (lol).

So maybe that is a sign that I need to stay off the stuff permanently.

Anyone else gave up the stuff?

My Blog: A Story of Hope!
http://survivingunemployment.weebly.com

My Hubby is active duty military, which at times has made my job search more difficult. Well today I was catching up on news (ie looking into headlines I ignored while burying my head in the sand), and read the multiple articles on the Military Pay Freeze. I am now really afraid while our pay has not gone up anywhere near enough to cover the inflation rate we have always found a way to pay our bills and not drown in debt. With this pay freeze that statement will no longer be true unless I find work. After over a year of looking for work I still do not have the prized job.

This might sound completely stupid, but during this long period of financial stress I have been unable to quit smoking though I tried several times. Nicotine, I am convinced, is the most addictive substance on the planet. If it were illegal, people would rob, cheat, and kill to get it. They could raise the taxes until it cost $20 a day to smoke, and people would still smoke.

How to save between $505 and $3,370 every month

The second you find out that you are unemployed, you should be thinking about your budget and how to trim it. Over the years, I have become an expert on frugality, and I owe it all to joblessness. (See, there really is a silver lining in every dark cloud!) All ten of these tips are things that I, personally, do or have done. If you have others, please add them in the comments. (It makes me so happy when people comment!)

Nine ways to stretch your unemployment budget:

Get the whole story.

So you're unemployed and bummed out about not having enough scratch to afford a halfway decent HanuKwanzmas for your family. Not that it's any consolation, but you're not alone. At least one other person knows the feeling: me.

What helps me feel better is the realization that even though I don't have money for the latest plastic toys hand-made by Santa's little elves in sweatworkshops in a far away land called China, I still have a lot to give.

Below are

Ten wonderful presents to give even if you're flat broke: