Someone may have touched on this already, but I think this article is great because this case is true on so many levels but a recession is a good excuse to bring this to light without hurting people's feelings.

I graduated from school and have been working for a while. I don't make much, but I make enough to pay my own way and take care of my own student loans. However, I have a friend still in graduate school who is unable to work (because her program doesn't allow for the time) and charges everything to her credit card. She realizes she is in a monumental amount of debt, but hasn't done anything to change her lifestyle - she still shops on a regular basis, eats out with her boyfriend and buys unnecessary things like shower curtains (to match the seasons).

In order to reach my savings goals, I have decided to stop driving the 2-hours to visit her and driving across town (usually a 1-2 hour drive in traffic) to do silly things like watch a ball game or have dinner out. She thinks I'm lame because I hang out with her less now and am less spontaneous than I used to be, but it's a lot of effort to spend the gas money to go see her. However, she never visits me (I live in her hometown).

I can identify with this article, but I have to say - it's not just in recessions. Being responsible with your money has always been an issue, but it doesn't seem to occur to anybody until we've hit rock bottom.