Are You Brave Enough for�the �1,000 Challenge?� Middle-class incomes are stretched more than ever. Feeling the strain�himself, personal finance columnist Brian O Connor decided to put his�own family s spending to the test. He began a ten-week experiment to see�if his family could cut its monthly living expenses by �1,000 without�sacrificing anything truly important. From groceries and transportation�to entertainment and insurance, O Connor ruthlessly tackled his family s�Top 10 spending categories with an eye on rooting out big savings. As he shares his family s cost-cutting adventures, O Connor offers�helpful strategies for getting your own finances back on track. Whether�he s sharing secrets to shrinking your grocery tab or helping you scour�bills for unnecessary fees, O Connor tackles the frustrations and fears of�controlling your own financial fate.