Before turning to organizations like Tomchei Shabbos for food, people should start selling things that they have – jewelry, furs, expensive cars. They should downgrade. They should not buy new clothing or shoes unless absolutely neccesary. Every expense should be looked at as *essential for living* or *non-essential* and budgeted accordingly. Find cheaper alternatives to eating healthy (such as eating beans for protein instead of meat/chicken/fish). Dont make weddings you cannot afford and dont buy things you cannot afford. Save the little you can. Make your kids get jobs to help out if they are old enough – they should understand that the economy is tough on everyone and if they want to eat, the families need money.
OK, I could rant and rant for a while…