My husband is also out of work and I explained to her what a sacrifice this was.
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I would do as one of my daughters did when she was a single mother.
She sat the kids down for a grim look at her finances, since at age 9 and 11
they were old enough to count pennies and dollars. This much for rent, this
much for insurance, this much for asthma meds, etc. As the kids themselves
tried to work out more money for themselves with the rigid budget, the reality
of it became real to them and all the "Mom, all the kids have it so I gotta get
it too" stopped flat out. They are both now married and VERY careful with their
money.