Starving in the Land of Plenty? A guide to surviving life's curveballs.

At this point in America's seemingly unstoppable skid off the road into economic collision, there are so many of us about to go over the cliff that we don't know what to do next to survive. It's often a choice between eating or keeping the lights on or putting gas in the car (if, indeed, you can still afford your car)! I've been to that point of not being able to pay the rent and having my lights, gas, and cable turned off, and I've been petrified. I mean, who wouldn't be, and particularly when there is often no help for those who actually do try to help themselves?

So, I've had to do some soul-searching and get tough with myself about what's important, along with getting creative, which hasn't been a bad thing. Here are a few of the things I've figured out:

1. You have to eat
2. You don't need 200 TV channels or “lightening fast” internet
3. One basic phone will do
4. The kids will survive, and thrive, if you say no
5. You can't save the world by yourself
6. We're all in this together