Stock market declines have laid waste to many people's retirement plans, including my own. Since my wife and I don't expect the market to retrace its highs anytime soon, we are trying to replenish our nest egg another way--by attacking our budget. We're on a mission to make up the losses and add to our principal so we're ready to pounce on opportunities when the market turns. A couple in our mid-40s with a child, we are using this crisis to rid ourselves of bad habits and to impart some valuable lessons to our son.