This will come as a surprise to absolutely no one, but journalism isn't exactly the most lucrative career.
Even with freelance work and side gigs, raising three kids in central New Jersey is expensive. Over the past few years, thrifting has gone from something I did occasionally to one of the ways our family stretches the budget. I've picked up everything from furniture and dishes to kids' clothes — and when my son broke his ankle last fall, I even found a pair of crutches at a thrift store instead of paying full price.
