How to cut retirement expenses in a recession

Boomers facing retirement in an uncertain economy, with your investments shrunken by the stock market decline, take heart: there are ways to make ends meet. From jettisoning a car to not spoiling the grandkids rotten, retirement does not have to suck -- or sound like one great sucking noise.

A recent "US News and World Report" article itemized 21 ways to cut expenses in retirement. Some seem obvious: sign up for Medicare, consider downsizing to a condo, move to a cheaper locale now that you no longer need good public schools or short commutes. So many early-bird discounts, so little time!