8 good things about bad times

Tighter times don't necessarily equal doom and gloom-and cutting back doesn't have to hurt. Here, a few reasons to love living on less:

• You finally have the time to check out your local museums, historical sites, and parks during your staycation.
• You discover that you're still killer at Boggle/Scrabble/gin rummy.
• Rather than wasting time shopping online, you waste time filling your Netflix queue: Much cheaper, and everything fits perfectly!
• You are no longer stressed out about what you don't have. Instead, you feel good and grateful for what you do have.
• You realize that generic products really do work just as well as name-brand ones.
• Spending less and saving more gives you an incredible feeling of control over your finances. (Priceless!)
• Who needs Starbucks?
• You actually have a good excuse to invite your girlfriends over instead of shopping, it's clothing-swap time.