How AmericansAre Coping in 2008

In Search of a Simpler Life

Kathy Gunn (shown seated) was an executive at a consumer electronics company and Josh Gunn was a crop systems specialist. Despite their combined salary of nearly $200,000 a year, they longed for a simpler life and decided to trade it all for country living.

The Gunn family left their hip neighborhood in downtown Atlanta and moved to a cattle farm 45 miles north of Nashville with their daughters Morgan, 5, Anna, 2 and Katie, 1. Only problem: The simple life they envisioned isn't turning out quite as they planned.
Next: More of the Gunn's Story

The Trials of 'Simple Living'

Between the demands of the farm and a gourmet beef business they've launched as a sideline, the Gunns are working seven days a week from morning till dusk, close to the 24/7 description associated with high-pressure city jobs. Notes Kathy, wryly: "It's not exactly a relaxed life." But the greatest challenges they face are financial. Commodity prices may be soaring, but farming is still a tough way to make a living. Most family farms rely on other sources of income to survive, and the Gunns are no exception. Kathy puts in 30 hours a week as a consultant.
Next: What Their Finances Are Like

The Financial Tightrope

Even with Kathy's job and their sideline business, the couple make only about a third of what they earned in Atlanta; they can pay their basic bills but not much else. An emergency like the furnace breaking down means a scramble for cash. The farmhouse needs repair -- a new air-conditioning system, for starters -- but the Gunns can't afford it. They haven't taken a vacation in five years. And they've stopped saving for college and retirement entirely.
' Full Story: See What They Did Right

Next Profile: The Gas Crunch

The Gas Crunch Hits Home

Michael James, 37 is a manufacturing operator in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. High gas prices are hitting him where it hurts -- keeping him away from his daughters, Kayla and Ashley. He says, "I stay at my mom's house when I work. I won't come home. It's a sad thing as I can't get back home so I can see my kids during a work week. The money I'm saving is going to them for food and other living costs."
' See More Gas Crunch Stories

Next Profile: Food Costs Sting

Food Costs Sting

Jennifer Yueill is a a single, working mom of two kids under the age of 8. She makes $13 an hour as a phlebotomist and pays $500 per month in daycare alone. Making ends meet has gone from difficult to nearly impossible. She has had to cut down or even eliminate some groceries. She used to buy a lot of fresh produce such as apples and oranges. Her kids love cheese sticks and shredded cheese, but the cost has nearly doubled over the last year. She is planting a garden and buying generic.
' See More Money Struggles
Next Profile: Employment Woes

Bad Time for Older Workers

Too young to retire, too old to get a new job. That's how many older workers are feeling these days. While it's not easy to land a job in this weak economy, older workers are in a particularly tough spot. Corporate downsizings are hitting this group hard, with many companies looking to shed the higher-paid positions these employees often occupy. Even worse, many employers shy away from hiring those closer to retirement. Dale Booth, 54, shown here with his wife Nancy, has had only one interview after sending out hundreds of resumes. More on This Trend
Next: It's Not All Bad News

It's Not All Bad News

Take a deep breath. Don't lose hope. Just as there are families out there barely surviving, there are those that have found a way to keep thriving. Be inspired by their stories.

Next Profile: No Credit Card Debt

No Credit Card Debt

At one time Suzi and Terry Tolliver charged everything: gas, dinners, wedding expenses. And they had a $70,000 credit-card bill to show for it. With an income of $150,000, they could handle the minimum payments of nearly $2,000 a month. But the debt was weighing them down. We were still paying interest on gas we charged three years ago," says Suzi. So they closed their accounts, drew up their first budget and spent the next four years erasing their debt with great success.
' 10 Families That Cut the Cards
Next Profile: Getting Rich

Millionaires in the Making

The Wisneskis and their 6-month-old daughter Ashlyn live in Oneida Wis., home to the Oneida Indian Nation. Nate, 27, is a member of the tribe and works for its newspaper. Nicki, 27, is a claims specialist at Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance. Together they earn about $90,000 a year and -- except for a $200,000 mortgage -- have little in the way of liabilities. The couple, who started dating in the 7th grade, kept a log of all their spending before they were married.
' More on the Wisneskis

Next: Tips for Tough Times

Tips for Tough Times

Now that you've seen a sampling of how Americans are coping in today's dicey economy. How will you cope? What will you do to make ends meet, to cut costs and to better survive your financial situation? CNNMoney.com has some ideas to help.

Next: Gas-Wasters to Avoid

Six Ways You're Wasting Gas

It's not easy to break bad driving habits, but if you don't, the money you lose on gas could wind up breaking your bank. From racing away from green lights to tailgating, here are six ways drivers typically waste gas on every trip.
' Don't Drive Like This

Next: 18 Ways to Beat Inflation

18 Ways to Beat Inflation

Cut out some waste and take advantage of a few overlooked deals, and you can rein in your budget without feeling like a penny-pincher.
' Here's 18 Ways to Beat Inflation

Next: Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half

Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half

Nearly $5 for a box of cereal is outrageous -- and it's probably only going to get worse. But there's a crop of new online resources that can help take the sticker shock out of food shopping. The average U.S. household spent $3,240 on groceries last year and prices have risen substantially since then. Of course, clipping coupons can help, but it's time consuming and tedious. The good news is that now there are Web sites that can help make saving much easier.
' How to Slash Your Bill
Next: Trick to Prevent Foreclosure

Prevent Foreclosure

Foreclosure prevention is a messy business -- more art than science. CNNMoney takes an inside look at why some people get a loan workout and others don't.
' The Trick to Getting a Mortgage Fixed

More on AOL: Pay Down Debt

More on AOL:
How to Pay Down Debt

Sure, we all want to get out of debt. But once you've made that decision, and have unlocked a source of cash (big hurdles, to be sure), there is a question of just what is the best way to pay it off? That, depends on your goals.

Whether you are afraid of losing your home, are closing in on retirement or want to get a big loan in the near future, WalletPop shares 6 common reasons people want to reduce their debt load and the best strategy for each.

Six Smart Ways to Pay Down Debt