In America, spending no longer fashionable

Single mother Kelly Dukes has lost her house, her car and her salary, but rather than curse the US recession, the Cincinnati mom said she's grateful to have learned a whole new way to live.

"Now I understand the difference between want and need," said Dukes, 27, as she shopped for a pared-down Christmas for her 3-year-old daughter at discount retailer Target.

"I used to go shopping every other day ... but now I know I don't need the same pair of shoes in three different colors," said Dukes, who worked at a non-profit organization helping children until it lost funding and couldn't pay her salary.