We're eating out less and using  coupons to buy groceries. We plan our meals each week and only buy what is on our list. We're shopping for as many groceries as possible at stores like Super Target or Costco. We have downgraded our wine to cheaper bottles.

We canceled our NetFlix subscription and we canceled our movie channels on cable. We are not buying clothes or gadgets or new furniture, even though we had planned and budgeted for new living room furniture.

We will not take our usual trip to Europe this spring and we won't take a vacation in the US.

We decided to save when our stock portfolio dropped by more than 50%.  We want cash on hand in case one of us loses our job. We have no credit card debt, but we do have one car loan and one mortgage that will be difficult to pay on one salary. My husband and I don't have children to put through school so we have a short term (2-5 year) strategy.

We decided to make these cuts because they don't feel like sacrifices to us, they just feel like being more financially responsible.  We might make deeper cuts if the economy doesn't improve, but for now, this allows us to save enough to feel safe.

I'm eating out less and focusing on what I already have in the freezer/house before grocery shopping.  I've been coupon-cutting which I haven't done in a long time and I'm making fewer visits to the grocery store.  I'm also shopping less at Target and Target type stores and am not purchasing anything that I already have (i.e. lotions, soaps, hair products, etc.).

This summer I will not take an extended vacation and possible home improvements may be put on hold.  That said, I do want to purchase a bike this summer so that I can spend more time exploring my own city via a bike, rather than using a car.

I cannot think of one event or moment in time that caused me to start holding back on spending.  I do recall looking at one investment summary one day and had the stark realization that my money was disappearing fast but I think at that point I had already started cutting back.  

The cutbacks I chose were chosen because they were easy to implement.  What I really need to do is sit back and look at the big picture and figure out what else I can do and get the ball rolling.  

Looked at stock statements and knew changes needed to be made. I scrutinize each bill that comes in now and am looking for ways to cut back on each, cutting services, and turning out lights!

Cut back on non-essentials everywhere. Changing vacation plans. Cutting back on dinners out and asking friends to share potlucks. Taking walks with people rather than meeting for food.

I work at a food bank and the most interesting thing is people don't cook anymore they are so used to fast food that many have no clue on how to make dinner from scratch or a pot of soup that will last for two or three meals.  

We got into this mess by spending too much and now we are swinging the other way. It  will take people having confidence in their jobs to start to swing back.

My students are all cutting back and are finding their hours at work greatly reduced.

We are eating eating out less and also holdng off on non essential clothing expenditures, furniture, etc.    I have put off buying a new car (or a used one that is new to me).   I am also making  fewer trips to Barnes and Noble.    We maximize discunted grocery shopping and use coupons.  Instead of building on to our home, we are only taking care of essential structural needs in the house.  I try to run ferrands on fewer occasions, and when I do I plan the route to be gas efficient.  

The event taht caused me to do this is the economic downturn.  My 401 K has decreased in value by 40% and I am glad I am not retiring soon.    I am placing extra cash into a money market account as opposed to investing right now in the market.  I want to have a ready access to reserves if needed.  I am continuing to pay intto my 401 K at the maximum rate.  I am not increasing any other investments, but am holding what I have.

I chose these cutbacks as they were easy and a relatively painless way to cut back.  

I have close friends and family who have faced salary cuts, hourly cutbacks and layoffs since  January.  While my own situation is relatively stable I have become much more cautious and conservative in my own spending due to the steady drumbeat all around me.

I have put the credit cards away,. I'm using coupons, cooking at home more and really thinkng about every dollar that I spend right now. Impulse  purchases are out.  I have put a home improvement project, travel plans  and a new car decision on hold for now.  

I am definitely working to save money now more than ever before. Spending on meals out, groceries, shopping and apartment-improvements have been minimized.  And I love to shop, so this has required self-control I didn't know I had!  In terms of grocery shopping, it's definitely true that I make sure my cabinets are practically empty and fridge shelves bare before I go shopping again.  And I'm mad at myself if anything happens to go bad before I can eat it.; seems especially wasteful now.

While my spending around Christmas time was probably only slightly less than it was last year, January is really when the saving kicked in.  I'm actually getting married this summer and so not only am I worried about a sinking economy, shrinking 401K & job security, but we have a looming expense in the near future.  The combination of a New Year, wedding planning and endless reminders that the sky is falling prompted my new thriftiness.  And I think it's going well.  The fact that everyone really seems to be in the same boat makes it easier.  If everyone were going out and spending lots of money, it would be harder to bring my lunch to work or go home for a homemade dinner, but everyone is doing the same thing.  

I would like to meet the people who haven’t changed! Everything virtually in our household has gone under the two piles. Needs & Wants. You would be surprised how much you analyze something and it can move from the need pile to the want pile. Thank goodness there are no small children in the household or I think this would be even harder. My mother and I are the only 2 people in the house.

Packing a lunch every day is a must and we only eat out maybe once a week now. Just by making sure lunch is packed daily, that makes you plans our meals each week and only buy what is needed.

Certain things are brought in bulk at Sam’s Club and certain things are at the market.

We are not splurging on clothes even using the credit card.

Traveling however is something that is hard to give up. But we have found a way to do that on a budget. Stay in the United States and take advantage of specials, discounts and perks.

Having 2 family members who work for the airlines and another 2 family members who work at hotels allow us to travel and apply discounts where we want to stay.

Other leisure things that had to change were getting the hair done every other week, which is now 1 or 2 a month. Driving everywhere because gas is so high. Hosting a lot of different holidays and party’s because of the expense of alcohol and food.

We have also set a date for a yard sale to empty out some of the excess in our basement. We did this last year for the first time and ended up making 250 in the process of cleansing. My mother definitely likes to hold onto things but once she saw the amount of space that was left after just a few things went, she was pleasantly surprised