I have to tighten my belt this month.

That would be a bad idea at any time; in a period when the state must tighten its belt it is an extraordinary proposal.

There are step-by-step manuals with photographs documenting how to repair torn pages, properly dry a waterlogged book, mend a spine, repair and tighten book hinges, and other minor and major repairs.

We need to tighten out belts and make plans for the future based on it.

Consumers seem only concerned, not panicked, and many say they remain optimistic about the economy's long-term prospects even as they do some modest belt-tightening.