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.