I ran across this interesting blog from a CNN correspondent: Living on Food Stamps.

CNN correspondent Sean Callebs spent February eating only what could be purchased the amount of money he would be allowed ($176) if he qualified for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

As noted in the name of the program, the allotment is supposed to be a supplement, not the entire budget. In the current economic downturn, however, it becomes not a supplement, but a mainstay.

It's an interesting read, primarily because many of us don't realize how much we spend on convenience. And Callebs notes that he received many e-mails from people who say "I could do it!" - but they don't HAVE to do it. It's a different story when you HAVE to.

How about it? Could you give up soda pop, fast food, dinner out with friends, the occasional cup of espresso?

Thank you for stopping in at FrugalYou.com.

There are plenty of sites on the internet that post current deals and coupons - and we're going to tell you how to find them. The primary focus of this web site is going to be on managing your home on a budget, including the somewhat lost art of homemaking.

Whether you're a full-time, stay-at-home mom or dad, single parent trying to stretch your income as far as it will go, or whether you're just looking to learn how to make it through tough economic times, FrugalYou will try and give you the information you need to transition to living well within your means and changing the way you think about spending money. We are committed to not only teaching you how to spend your money better, but to convincing you that the things you've been spending money on aren't necessary. We're on a crusade to get you to reject the commercials that tell you "you can have anything you want as long as you have a Mastercard!" We want you to not only reject the credit life - we want you to feel good about rejecting the things you've been led to believe you need to have a good life.

Just to avoid confusion, let's make something clear: these are not time-saving tips. Either you have time, or you have money. If you want to save money, you have to spend time.  If you are unwilling or unable to commit a certain amount of time on a regular basis to practicing homemaking and money-saving skills, you will have to resign yourself to spending more money - money you could be saving.